His Forsaken Luna-Chapter 111: Strange Happenings (1)

Once again, we were all in the strategy room. The chamber was dark and cold, a dripping sound echoing from the side. The soft candlelight provided little light and warmth, but nobody complained. The Southern Weres, Eryx and Cohnal probably had their heated gems to keep them warm and Alaric, Rykan, and I were used to it.

We didn’t want anyone to know about our discussion. They’d kept the witnesses to a minimum about the bodies, but it wouldn’t be enough. I knew how quickly rumours spread. It only took one person.

The public will soon learn about the attacks. The guards searched the area but came back empty. There were no witnesses or any evidence to suggest who might have done this.

Ivar and Sigurd had been sent on a mission to the mountain. It was only when Eryx asked after the warriors that I remembered Alaric ordered them to see Deyanira. Had she schemed something that would ultimately bring her back to the palace?

I rid my thoughts of her. Deyanira was the last thing on my mind right now. If she was stuck because of the storm or even attacked, I didn’t care and focused on the issue at hand.

Alaric’s face was grave as he looked at his clasped hands. "If those children show no signs of improving..."

"We need answers, Alaric," I implored, my voice quiet as I looked at my brother. "If they’re..." I hated the term. "Put down, we won’t know if this is something that could spread wildly out of control. Those children... It’s clear those Blood Wraiths have done something to them."

Rykan made a face. "Is that what a Blood Wraith is?"

I thought back to what happened in the infirmary. They’d bitten the servant’s necks and attacked them. "We know so little about them..." I murmur, leaning back into my chair.

"How could they be wiped out if it was this easy to create more?" Alaric questioned, his voice a low rumble of authority in the chamber. "It’s like an infectious disease... Four bodies turned up like the victims of the attacks around the mountains."

Indeed, that was a good question. The book I read doesn’t have a lot of information on Blood Wraiths, so it has been hard to understand anything so far. Does their bite create more like themselves? Yet they seem to drink blood to survive.

"It cannot be the children..." I voice. "They’re restrained in those beds, and the others are so healthy. Their behaviour has been quite normal." My finger circles around the rim of the glass in front of me.

Alaric considers my words. But it is Cohnal who speaks up. "Maybe they weren’t infected," Cohnal suggested from where he stood.

Even though there were chairs, he still remained standing, highly alert and on guard. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

"It’s possible they left only a few ’infected’ to try and kill you off from the inside out... It’s a smart strategy if their end goal is the downfall of the Snorravik line and potentially the Northern Weres," Eryx stated thoughtfully.

Alaric leaned forward, his eyes narrowing as he considered Eryx’s words.

"I will gather forces to try and find these creatures. This needs to be contained and..." He looked at me sheepishly, and then his face hardened. "Those children are victims, I cannot deny that, but our people come first even if we need answers. You know they will become test subjects, Idalia. I do not want that guilt on your shoulders when all you wanted to do was help."

My lips part to argue, but words fail me. Alaric was right; the remaining ’infected’ children would become test subjects. That’s no life to live. But were we any better by putting them down?

I was almost in a daze for the rest of the meeting and left feeling drained and fatigued. My orders were the same as before, speak with the healthy children and see what I can find out.

My sigh is loud as I drag my feet.

"Where are you going?" Eryx called out to me; his knowing tone made me sigh. Kharis had been trailing behind me. I should have expected his Prince to arrive.

"I just need a walk to refresh my mind," I murmur, and show a little weakness by rubbing my eyes.

Eryx frowned, walking to my side. "They will be asleep."

"I know. I truly am going for a walk," I say gently, hoping my tone will relax his ’watchdog, overprotective Alpha mode’.

"Faidon and I are patrolling the woods." Eryx sighed and stepped closer, his thumb and forefinger pinching my chin and tilting my head back slightly so our eyes were locked. "Stay out of trouble."

"It’s just a walk..."

"The last time it was ’just a walk’, a fire fairy attacked the palace," he smirked, still holding my chin. "Trouble finds you, Lia. I won’t be far."

I scoff at his words but can’t help the smile tugging at my lips. "I’m surprised you aren’t guarding me as well." Considering I was to be his mate. I’m not sure when I accepted it or if I haven’t quite registered it throughout everything that seems to keep happening.

Eryx’s eyes crinkled. "You said I keep making choices for you. You’re independent; I like that about you. So, I decided to take a step back. If you need me, call for me."

My eyebrows rose at his words. Eryx smirked and tapped my chin up. Ugh, it’s so embarrassing. His thumb then grazed along my bottom lip before backing away with an arrogant smirk, enjoying my dumbfounded expression.

I felt Kharis’ presence and could almost hear his thoughts poking into my head. "Don’t," I warned.

Kharis held his hands up. "I didn’t say anything."

"You didn’t have to," I huffed, feeling my cheeks heat as I stormed off.

After some time, I wandered to the old courtyard I frequented. The halls were quiet at this time of night, and I nodded at guards as I passed.

After a long walk, enjoying the cold breeze and the darkness, we looped around, passing near the hall the children were in. The courtyard in front of it was silent except for the crunching of snow beneath our feet.

"There you are!"

I snapped out of my daze and looked up at a servant rushing forward. She was one of the ladies who looked after the healthy children of the attack. Kharis stepped in front of me protectively.

My hand went to his shoulder. "It’s just a child," I reassure him.

Kharis shook his head. "Can you not see it?"

I peer around him. The woman picks the brown-haired little girl up. She had to be about six? What was she doing out here in the middle of the night?

The woman turned and froze when she spotted us. I breathed in through my nose sharply. Blood trickled down the side of the woman’s neck from two puncture holes. The child in her arms stared at us unnervingly with red smeared over her mouth. It was blood.