His Dark Angel Part III

Tyr was at a loss for what to do. For the most part, he avoided Luna, even though he was a logical being; things as of late were weighing heavily on his mind. Nothing he found out changed the way he felt about her. No, it was her emotional state that bothered him; he knew the creature within her accepted him. Hell, it acted as if it was his mate already, affectionate and attentive.  But Luna herself acted strangely 

*sigh* Who was he kidding? Nothing the female did was like any other he had ever known. 

He had already hurt her feelings once today; strangely, he could tell by the look on her face. All he did was pull away from her this morning. ‘My female seems to have no idea how lying next to her gloriously naked self affects me.’ My Goddess, he had to get away from her before it was a replay of his last dream. And as much as he wanted to engage in hot, sweaty, passionate sex with his female, he thought it best to beat a hasty retreat.

Tyr noted the fact that Luna seemed to notice his avoidance; she herself had even left any room he entered. An air of saddening acceptance surrounded her all morning, he noticed, but what could he do? She never seemed to want him to comfort her, but it was killing him to see her so tormented.

Gram sighed, watching Tyr and Luna all morning. Usually, the two were always together and seemed to carry an air of contentment about them. He had tried to get Luna to smile or maybe a small laugh, like most times, but she kept silent as stone. Sometimes he swears he smelt tears from her, though he never saw any.

He couldn’t understand what had happened. The night was quiet enough, or maybe something did happen, and he was unaware of it. Whatever it was, it had to be bad for his brother to be going on this way. Gram rose from his place on the sofa and looked again at Luna. Who seemed to be hiding in the sitting room corner as she sat folded up in a chair, reading. The only way he knew it was her was the end of the braid that seemed to hang from the arm of the chair.

Enough was enough, he thought as he marched from the room, intent on finding Tyr and making him see reason. He couldn’t take the sick feeling that sat like a brick in his stomach when he was around her.

The doorbell rang as he walked past his father’s study with a sigh he answered it. When he opened the door, he was greeted by the sight of a beautiful female with knee-length white hair, pale skin, and striking red eyes. She was dressed in a brown UPS uniform; her eyes scanned the clipboard and then looked at him. 

“What do you want?” he snapped.

“Um, is there a Lady Sano in residence?”

“Why do you want to know?” She gave him a look that said ‘Duh’ 

“Delivery for Lady Sano,” she jested toward the two boxes in her arms.

“I’ll make sure she gets them”

“Fine, sign your name here,” she thrust the pen and clipboard into his face. He scribbled his name, took the boxes from her arms, and slammed the door shut. Setting the boxes on the hall table, he started up the stairs, but the bell rang again.  

“Damn it,” he looked hatefully at the door.

“Staring at the door will not open it,” came Tyr’s cold voice as he came down the stairs. Gram huffed and opened the door, finally.

“About time, Inu-Turd,” Kouga growled. Ayame pushed Kouga out of the way and smiled.

“Is Luna here?” Her green eyes scanned the hall, looking for Luna.

Luna wandered into the hall, taking one look at Tyr; she turned around and reentered the sitting room, closing the door. She leaned against the door with a sigh, shutting her eyes. damn, I should have paid more attention’ she thought with another sigh. Goddess, her eyes burned, and there was this ache in her chest that was driving her crazy. 

“What’s wrong with me?” she whispered, her hands fisted in her shirt over her heart. Nothing ever helped in times like these, and Goddess, how she hated them. A slight whimper left her lips; it felt as if someone had her heart in their fist, crushing it. She looked around for something to take her mind off the pain. And found nothing, she knew Rin was there but couldn’t hear or feel her. ’must be in Hakon’s office’

Someone was in the kitchen, ‘possibly Pader or the cook,’ in the hall, Kage Ayame, Gram, and him. Luna stiffens as she listens to Gram yelling at his brother. The creature within her was urging her to go and defend him, but she held herself back, confused. Then the pain returned full force as she heard.

“If you don’t want her here anymore, you should just tell her you know. What the hell is wrong with you? Don’t string Luna along like those other girls you had.” All she heard was Tyr growl, but he said nothing. 

“What are you talking about, Gram?” she heard Ayame’s voice, concerned.

“The prick has decided his infatuation with Luna is over and showing his cold-ass self again.”

She didn’t finish her thought, only left through the open veranda doors. ’I knew it wouldn’t last,’ she whimpered. No one wanted her after they found out about her; it was unfair that everyone had someone but her.  More than ever, she wished Foster were here to hold her and make all the pain stop. 

She looked to the sky with a whimper and wandered to the gardens. ’Maybe I should go home.’ The flowers held no pleasure for Luna as she strolled past beds of colorful blossoms, hedges that stood taller than herself, trimmed to perfection. Even the hedge maze gave her no joy as she wandered through, backtracking at the dead ends and finally making her way to its center. 

It held ruins of some kind of building, a strange variety of sakura trees, and a small pond.  She sat beside the pond and peeped at her reflection in the still waters. 

---

Hakon and Rin were exiting his study when, out of the corner of his eye, he saw Gram hit the wall and jump to his feet. Rin gasped in shock. Hakon grabbed Tyr while Kage and Ayame grabbed Gram. 

“What is the meaning of this?” Hakon roared, stilling his two pups mid-growl. The brothers said nothing, only glared at each other. Tyr shook off his father’s hold and turned away from the group. 

“You’re mad because it’s the truth, bastard, admit it?” Gram growled after being released as well.

“Shut your lying, filthy mouth, you know nothing,” Tyr growled. Everyone could see the tensing of his shoulders; the hissing sound from the floor brought everyone’s eyes to the poison dripping from his claws. His eyes were trained on the sitting room door, and he felt her; he knew he did, but now.  It had to mean only one thing: she had run. .again. And it was all that bastard’s fault, him and his big mouth spouting off about things he knew nothing about.  

Hakon moved quickly, seeing Tyr raise his hand and grab for his wrist.

Golden/red eyes turned to the group, glaring at Gram hatefully; those eyes caused a shiver of panic to rise in the shocked group.  Tyr shook off his father’s grip again

“If my mate ran because of your . . . Mouth . . . You . . . Will die hanyou,” Tyr bit out. His howl had everyone gathered around the sitting room door as he entered to find Luna gone. He paid no mind to anyone’s questions as he left through the open veranda doors and out into the gardens.  

He followed her scent through the hedge maze only to stop when he reached the center. At first, he didn’t see her, but he followed the sound of something hitting the water. He rounded the trees and saw her sitting among the flowers at the pond’s edge, slapping at her reflection in the water. He could clearly see the tortured look on her face. He watched her tense as he came closer, but she would not look away from the water.  

“Tell me about your mate?” Tyr questioned, sitting beside Luna. She looked at him in shock and then upwards to the sky.

“He was . . . Different,” she could think of no other words to describe him. 

“Different how?” he questioned and watched as she opened her mouth just to close it moments later.  He could almost taste the frustration pouring off her. She sighed and looked to her lap.

“I can’t explain it in a way you would understand.”

“Try,” he said as she looked around for a moment.

“See this flower?” he nodded and watched as she cupped her gloved hands around the flower. “The flower is me, and this was my mate,” she stated. He looked through her cupped hands into the darkness and understood, then he looked at her face. 

“And me?” 

“I,” she started and stopped eyeing his fingers as his hand moved toward her face. His movements were slow as if he was afraid to scare her away. Her eyes widen as his finger slides along the side of her face and around her jawline. The softness of his eyes was unnerving; everything within her stilled and strained to be near his touch. She wanted to believe the feeling within her was real and that it would last. But doubt again reared its head, and she looked away from him.

“Don’t . . . don’t close yourself off from me again,” he whispered.  

“Maybe I should go home.”

“No”

“It will be better if you don’t have to see me all the time. And-”

“No, I will not let you run again,” He pulled her chin, making her look at him. “I know you heard Gram. I know you want to believe what he said was true. Is your trust in me so little? Have I given  reason to believe I care so little for you that I would abandon you so easily?”

“I. .I,” Tyr sighed and watched her eyes. He wanted to know what she was feeling, how she was feeling. But she couldn’t seem to put it into words, and he could only read so much into what she left unsaid without putting too much of his emotions into it. She made him crazy, kept him on his toes, kept him hanging with her words, and made him seem as if he was coming apart. Just once. Just once, he wanted to know exactly what she was feeling, how she was feeling without the help of someone else. 

Luna was startled as Tyr pulled her into his arms. He kissed her forehead.

“You said once you did not know what I wanted from you. I want only to love you, Luna. I want to love you, and for you to find it in your heart to love me one day. “He drew back from her a little, staring into her shocked eyes.  Placing her gloved hand over his heart.

 “For so long, you have been my heartbeat. Your written words so long ago touched my very soul and gave me the strength to look beyond my own sadness and misery. Without a word, you lifted my spirits and gave me hope. Then you went away, and my days were agony without you. Now you are back, you came back to me, and I want to give you the same things you gave me. I want to carry your burdens, I want to give you hope, give you love, and most of all, I want to give you life”

---

He did not know what happened as the last word left his lips. he saw a bright light, then everything was dark. He jumped to his feet, looking around and calling out to Luna. But heard nothing, not the wind, not the birds, nothing. 

A light rose from the center of the pond and flew straight at him, stopping a few inches from where he was standing.  He jumped back, looking into the face that he knew did not belong to the female he loved. But at the same time, this female looked just like her. 

“Who are you?” he growled, narrowing his golden eyes as she smiled at him. 

“Be at peace, young one. I mean you no harm. I am Shinitama, one of the souls of what you call the Gem of Eiji,” her bell-like voice made his ears twitch. She sounded nothing like the female she appeared to be.

“Where is Luna? What have you done with her?” he growled, clenching his fist. 

“She is waiting for you to wake, young one. My guardian is unharmed. Do you not feel her all around you?” The female smiled and swept her hands wide. Tyr stilled his responses, his head tilted to the side curiously. If he did not know better, he would swear he was still holding Luna. And while nothing moved except for the female in front of him, Luna’s scents covered everything around him as if he was wrapped in a blanket of her. He cocked a brow at the female ’ Okay, he was willing to listen’ This had gone far and beyond anything he knew, so …

“Where am I? It feels as if-”

“She is inside you?” she questioned with another smile. 

“She is,” she stated in a whisper. His eyes widened as he fell back on his behind, stunned. “Be at peace, young one. No fear. We /I have heard/ felt your heartfelt pledge/ plea and seek to give you that which you want to know. We/I find you worthy and grant you this gift.” She held out her glowing hand, offering him a piece of what looked like a crystal. 

Tyr looked in her face and back at her hand and took the shard. The moment it made contact with his skin, the feeling around him intensified tenfold, worry at the forefront. 

“What”

“To carry her burdens first, you must witness firsthand the burdens she carries. Are you prepared, young one? Will you go this far to understand the female you claim to love?”

“It is not a claim, it is the truth. Now tell This Tyr what to do?”

“From one heart to another,” she whispered. 

His mind whirled with what he learned from Ryuu and every legend he could think of as he stared at the shard. Ryuu had told him of his experience and what he believed to be inside him. But he didn’t believe him, but this… this.  

“Yes, young one, that is part of what you call the Gem of Eiji.”

“And you are just giving this to me, a demon?”

“In a way, but you will not be able to remove this shard, only our guardian. Don’t worry, as long as you feel for our guardian, the shard will not become corrupt. But time is of the essence, young one, and the guardian worries. There is much to pass on before you return”

Tyr looked to the female; then to his hand. He would do anything to be closer to Luna, and if this helped, he would do it. His feelings wouldn’t change for Luna, so if it was as the spirit said, he would do it. He took a breath and pressed the shard to his chest. A blue light flashed, and thoughts flashed through his mind.  

---

Hakon, Gram, and Ayame were shocked as they came around the center of the hedge maze. Rin was awed by what she witnessed. Fei had told her what to expect, but never did she hope to witness.

Tyr staggered to his feet and let loose a howl, his body covered in a blue glow. His body pulsed as he collapsed to his knees. His silver hair flashed between a pitch of black, then back to silver. His body sank smaller than before, with a pulse changed back. 

“What the hell is happening to him?” Gram growled harshly. 

“You are witnessing something only one creature has ever seen before,” Came Rin’s whispered reply.

The three looked at her and then back to Tyr as he growled, and silver fur sprouted on his body as it pulsed. They were amazed he didn’t transform into his true form as his fangs grew in length, looking every bit like a silver werewolf on his hands and knees, tossing around his head. 

Hakon was confused, not understanding anything of the growls falling from his eldest pup’s mouth.

Rin looked to her watch and back to Tyr, trying to be patient like her mate had told her to be. But this was beginning to scare her a little. The Inu sounded as if he were in pain. Minutes ticked by, and the Inu hadn’t moved again as if waiting for something. His head was cocked to the side, and with another howl, the blue glow turned white, and Rin went into action.

 She told the three to stand back as she tiptoed closer to the glowing Tyr about two feet away from him. She stopped and went to her knees. She cleared her throat, and red, almost purple eyes opened and stared unblinking at her. She watched nervously, waiting for recognition to flash into the eyes that seemed to be staring into her soul. Rin sighed inwardly and sent a prayer heavenward. 

“Luna, this Rin is very upset with you for pulling this stunt. exit the body of this demon right away, do you hear me?” she summoned her coldest voice. Her eyes narrowed from effort, and everyone listened as the whimper that came from Tyr sounded so close to female it had them looking confused.

“Wait, you mean Luna is. . .” Ayame could not finish her statement, not wanting to believe what she was witnessing.  Rin nodded, knowing what she was being asked, but did not take her eyes off Tyr.

“This Rin will not ask you again, my mei. You will either come out, or this Rin will be forced to call Fei. Is that what you want?” Rin could have smiled when she finally got a reaction.  

Tyrs’ body gave off a pulse as the fur sank back into his flesh, his fangs reduced in size. The white glow seemed to slide from his body like water as he rolled to the side. Beside him lies a grayish Luna with white hair. 

Hakon finally moved toward the two but stopped. 

“No, not yet,” Rin warned him as Luna’s powers flared; she arched off the ground as color seemed to seep back into her. They watched again, awed, it seemed as if the color was pouring over her from the top of her now raven head to the bottom of her feet. Rin waited until Luna’s powers died out, then waited for the response Fei told her about, but after a few moments, there was no movement from either, as if they were sleeping. 

Hakon looked at Rin, and sensing nothing, they approached the two carefully. Rin checked Luna as Hakon checked Tyr

“They seemed to be . . . Sleeping. Is this normal?” Rin shrugged.

“It’s better than what Fei told me to expect. But I should call him when we get them back to the house.”

“Right, Gram, help me with your brother. Ayame, help Lady Rin with Luna”

It took some doing, but the four finally got both Luna and Tyr into the house and onto his bed. After watching Tyr wrapping himself around the balled-up Luna as if protecting her, they left the room. 

---

It seemed like hours to Tyr as he stared wide-eyed and heartbroken at the things he was being shown. And then, as if an answer to his prayers, he was bathed in blessed darkness again. 

“There is more young one.”

“More,” he croaked. He knew if he was whole, he would be somewhere throwing up until he passed out. Good Goddess, how could there be more? He was already shown the gambit from burning to kicking the abused chibi until she was unconscious, and everything in between. What more could there be? Unless Great Goddess, please tell me they didn’t do what I think. His eyes widened.

“Peace, young one, this will be hard enough without thinking that.”

 Tyr nodded but prepared himself anyway. 

But he wasn’t prepared, as it seemed he was thrown into the body of a tiny Luna. He felt as she picked herself up off the floor. He could hear the crying of a baby and watched through her eyes as she walked from her room and into a room next door to hers. The room was painted all blue with shelves lined with toy trucks and other things little boys would like. 

She passed a rocking chair and a changing table until he could see a crib where the child lay his little arms and legs moving about as he wailed. He felt the smooth cheek of the pup as Luna’s tiny hand stroked his face and tickled his belly. 

“You little bitch what have I told you about touching my son?” A voice boomed through the room, making the pup wail again in fear this time.

 “GET AWAY!” Tyr felt the pain explode at the back of her head and saw the flash of light appear before her eyes. He had heard that voice enough to know who it was, her father, Basan.

He grabs the pup with one hand and Luna with the other, dragging her from the room. A swoosh filled his ears before he felt the pain as she hit the wall beside her bed. The room, if you could call it that, held only a bed and one window with badly colored wallpaper hung as if torn from the walls.

The closet was boarded up, and three small stacks of clothing sat in the corner neatly folded, that was until Basan walked over and kicked the clothes around.  He felt the fear that coursed through her tiny body as she watched Basan pass the pup to its mother. He watched as Basan picked up the broom resting against the wall and smirked.

 He felt what could only be described as agony as Basan struck with his weapon of choice at any random spot. Her hands, legs, back, and even her tiny head bled and throbbed in pain, blood dripped from her nose, and her voice was gone from the wails of pain. Basan’s panted breath filled the room, and with another crack, neither felt as her head struck the floor. 

“That will teach you never to lay your filthy hands on my son again bitch,” Basan hissed and walked away.

____

It was odd after feeling nothing but agony for hours, the feeling of weightlessness that followed. It was dark wherever they were; he could see nothing. 

Below him, there was this strange screaming and weird sense of fear that he knew wasn’t coming from Luna. No, this was from someone else, a lot of someone else’s by the feel of them. And a weird cracking sound that he could not place. But Luna seemed to pay it no mind; she was at peace for some reason. 

Even stranger still was a sense of someone beside them, and the sense of weightlessness decreased until the agony returned. Except for this time, there was a strange whispering and the feel as if something was hugging her very soul before she crawled into herself and blocked out everything else. 

Tyr didn’t know what was going on as the smell of dirt filled his nose.

 But oh Goddess fright-filled him as her tiny clawed hands began digging at a frenzied pace. Tiny lungs were starving for oxygen and for a moment he doubted she would make it in time. 

Finally, a speck of light could be seen and she doubled her effort. After what seemed like forever she climbed from the earth and was greeted by an ear-splitting scream and a thump. The smell of her mother’s garden filled her starved lungs as she took a deep breath. 

---

Tyr sat straight up in his bed in a panic heart racing breath ragged. His eyes moved from one side of his room to the other making sure where he was, then he looked down to his side to see Luna and.. 

She knew the sounds that woke her very well, having been sick quite a few times. She looked to find Tyr missing and rolled off the bed. The darkness didn’t hinder her steps as the sounds of running water now filled her ears. Luna grabbed the hand towel that hung beside the door and approached the shaking figure. 

Tyr stood still, feeling Luna enter the bathroom, and said nothing as she wiped his wet face. The things he saw were still flashing through his mind, making him want to vomit yet again. Without a word, he pulled her into his arms 

“What is wrong, Tyr, you’re shaking all over?” She whispered, but he could now easily feel the worry she was feeling, and it did nothing to calm the turmoil within him. 

“Just . . . Just let me hold you for a while,” his voice was soft as he nuzzled the top of her head.

---

Hakon didn’t know what was worse; he sighed, and food once again started flying across the table. It would seem again Gram had taken affiance to something Koga had to say and decided to throw food to show his displeasure. The only one quiet at the table was Ayame, who kept telling them to stop like she was their mother. 

But he had to smirk when he thought of the other bad thing that happened to him this morning. He was woken from a peaceful dream of strangling his wife to be told someone had come to the estate looking for him. It would seem his wife was working overtime, having had him served with her demands if they divorced. It was laughable at least. 

The room fell silent as Tyr entered, pulling a frowning Luna behind him. They watched as he plopped down in a chair and pulled Luna into his lap, facing away from them, and buried his face in her mass of hair.

She spoke to the maid, ticking off a long list of food, and even though she could not see them, she bid them a good morning. When the food arrived, they watched as she cut it up 

“What are you doing?” Tyr finally questioned, pulling himself away from her hair. When she did not answer, he tried to question her again, only to find food stuffed into his mouth. He glared at her, half-heartedly chewing anyway, then after each time he swallowed, she again fed him until his plate was empty. She felt his forehead again and, with a nodded turn to her own plate. 

Quiet descended on the room again. Ayame pushed food around her plate for a moment before making up her mind. 

“Um . . . Luna,” she started looking down at her plate. “Um . . . I was wondering if you wanted to hang out at the um… Mall with Kage and me?”  No one but Gram saw the strange look that passed over Luna’s face.

“Okay,” Luna finally spoke and looked back to her plate, quickly trying to figure out what she just agreed to do. She couldn’t ask Tyr because he was speaking to his father and Kage about something or other. Ayame beamed brightly before finishing her breakfast and leaving the room to get ready. Luna, on the other hand, found herself trapped by the steel band that was Tyr’s arm. So deep into their conversation, neither male noticed Gram slink around the table until he was sitting right next to his brother. He knew the look that came over Luna’s face.

 Hell, Linda, believe it or not, had come from a farming mountain community and never even saw a city, let alone been to a mall before. That’s what he loved about her before; now she acted like she never was from anywhere but the city. He had secretly taught Linda everything he knew about city life, even going as far as to help her make friends, and now she acted like a total bitch. He kept his voice low so as not to draw attention to himself.

“You’ve never been to the mall, have you?” 

Luna was a little shocked, thinking no one saw her. She shifted a little on her perch, and when Tyr’s arm loosens a bit, she turned to look at Gram.

“No,” her voice was equally soft. She didn’t know why she was telling someone this; she had been to many places, meeting halls, homes, schools, and even shrines. But for the life of her, she could not place what one would do at this mall. 

“Don’t worry about it. It’s a cool place full of stores and things like clothes, shoes, games, and books.” Gram smirked as her mouth formed an o and she gave him a look as if he imparted some kind of ancient secret. He couldn’t help the sense of pride that filled him. Here she was, this super-intelligent girl, and he was telling her something she didn’t know. 

“Like a catalog?”

“Yeah, except you can try stuff on and touch it,” he gave her a small smile at the bright look in her eyes.

“Really… it sucks sometimes waiting for Fei to bring me back something that fits when he buys the wrong size out of the catalog. Not to mention those horrible colors they have,” she bit her lip for a minute, storing away these facts. And shifted a bit to lean closer outside of a few select creatures, no one really knew the extent of the thing she didn‘t know. Luna wanted no one to think she was dumb on top of being a freak. She looked at Gram he seemed willing to help her gain knowledge on small things. She listens briefly to the conversation between Tyr, his father, and Kage; neither seems to pay any attention to what she is saying to Gram. And Gram didn’t seem to be trying to bring the attention of the three. ’Okay;

 “What else can we do there?” she whispered.

“Um, they have a food court, so you can eat different foods from different places. Or you can catch a flick”

“Wait a flick?”

“Yeah, I thought you said you have a TV, don’t you watch movies?” He sighed when Luna shook her head.

“No, Foster only ever turned it on to play his games”

“Oh, what do you do at home then?” 

“Read, Meditate, Draw, and sometimes homework. My Miko duties keep me away from home a lot”

“I would die from boredom . . . don’t you have a computer?”

“No, why should I have one? Tyr lets me use his sometimes,” she frowned.

“Of course, everyone needs a cell phone, two game consoles, and a computer. You, my young one, have a lot to learn, but stick with me and the master will teach you cool,” Gram winked.

 This was turning out better than he had hoped. Not only will his uptight brother mellow out, but he just might have gained a fellow half- breed that understood his pain of being different. So many half-breeds acted as if they didn’t see the fact that they were still being treated differently from their full-blooded counterparts. He looked to Luna. ‘Maybe just maybe,’ he sighed inwardly, not finishing his thought.

“So how are you feeling after last night, Luna?” Hakon finally questioned.  

“I’m good,” Luna murmured and downed her juice.

Tyr fell oddly quiet, feeling her sudden burst of nervousness. He shifted his chin to her shoulder and watched as she tore apart a biscuit on her plate.

  “He wasn’t putting you on the spot, Luna. I was asking the same thing,” he whispered and felt as she nodded. He didn’t know how, but the need to reassure her was spawned by the nervousness he felt. It was odd that he could feel the bond between them forming the longer he held her close. Would he doubt himself about what he had done? He questioned himself. No. Would he tell anyone else about what had happened? His eyes scanned the few creatures left at the table. No, they had no need to know. If it causes any problems in the future, he would deal with them when they came. 

 In the last two hours, he had felt her worry, her astonishment, her surprise, and even a touch of sadness from her, and every time, he was amazed. Here she was sitting in his lap and even in her brief moment of happiness he felt not a twitch of movement from her except when she adjusted herself every so often to get comfortable. ’could this be what Ryuu was talking about?’ he questioned himself. ’she would say she was happy and not move a muscle when I couldn’t help but bounce circles around them’ though he did not feel like bouncing circles around anyone it was more than pleasing to talk to her and even when her face was blank he knew she was feeling something. 

He had always wondered how much of her actions were real and how many were just what she thought the moment called for. And he had just received his answer when Kage clearly made a joke, and Luna chuckled a few moments after his father and brother, when he felt nothing but confusion from her. ’Hm’

“I think it’s time for us to get ready if we are to venture to the mall.” 

Hakon shook his head, watching as the young ones quickly exited the room. He did not know what to think. He had left his eldest alone, like Rin had told him last night. And this morning, against his better judgment, he only asked if the two were alright. He knew that Yuu and Fei wouldn’t hurt Luna needlessly or Tyr, for that matter, but still, he wouldn’t be a father if he didn’t worry. Sure, he loved Gram, but he had to face it if something happened to Tyr, the Western Territories would not survive with Gram as its leader. The boy was smart, but he was more of a free spirit and would not take well to the hundreds of eyes that would watch his every move.

 This was a dangerous thing they were doing just to try and get Luna’s combined energies to level off and stop growing. He knew it was a cruel thing they were doing to the girl, but if her combined energies were left to keep growing and she was, for some reason, persuaded to one side the ancient pact that kept both sides at peace would be voided, and chaos would follow. He knew that he boasted both sides would put her to death, but truth be told, neither the High Miko nor the High Youkai had ever come up with a way to harm the girl. Well, he was being truthful to himself; both were more than a little afraid of the girl, and she wasn’t even a woman yet. 

He knew his eldest was powerful; hell, the pup had shot right past the first mark of power that youkai experienced and went right to Taiyukai statues before he even matured. Hell, he was only more powerful than the eldest by one leap in power; even that would not help him, considering his Tyr would outpower him in a few short years.

 So he knew the only creature that could help Luna was his eldest, but it still didn’t sit right with him. Kaede had thought of it first, seeing that Luna was mated to the Kitsune before. Kaede figured if Luna mated with a demon of the same or higher level of power, then her energies would stop growing if not they would transfer to any pups she had.

 Or so they hoped, because if they didn’t, she would be hunted and finally killed, but that would also mean a death sentence to whomever she was mated to. Namely, his pup and Hakon knew without a doubt that Tyr would plunge the world into chaos before he lost the girl. 

He had seen firsthand as Tyr fell in love with the silent Miko from before. The way he dogged her steps was always by her side. Now it was different; he could see the love his son held for the girl hadn’t diminished at all, only grown into something more. After this last thing that happened, Kami only knew how it changed anything within his eldest Hakon, just hoped whatever happens from here on was what they had hoped or all their careful planning would go up in smoke. 

“Kami help us,” Hakon whispered as he too left the dining room. He pushed all his thoughts of his heir and Luna aside; it was time to stick it to his wife. He finally smiled.

---

The five new friends were filing toward the door when Kage stopped all of a sudden and, with a snap of his fingers, remembered why he came yesterday.

“Oh yea Happy Birthday, Luna,” He fished into his pockets and held a wrapped gift box out toward her. He laughed a little, “Well, really yesterday was your birthday, but hey, I remembered right.” he gave a sheepish smile. Tyr was the first to recover from the shock, but Gram spoke first

“Birthday, why didn’t you say something, Luna?”

“The date of my birth isn’t anything important,” she said and took the box from Kage’s outstretched hand and slipped it into her pocket. 

“Luna Birthdays are important, you’re a year older, you should celebrate, we should celebrate,” Ayame chipped in, smiling.

   “The date of my birth is not to be celebrated, it’s just another day of the week.” Her voice held no emotion at all, but the sheer amount of shame he felt from her spurred Tyr into action, pulling her into his arms. He felt her relax as his soothing growls thrummed from his chest. 

“We would like to celebrate your birthday, Luna, but if it upsets you, so we won’t,” Tyr finally spoke after getting over the amount of shame he felt coming from her.  

“Man, I am sorry, Luna. I just thought you know, since Ship isn’t here to give you anything and Ryuu said he would get you something, so I decided to give you something as well, you know. I didn’t think it would upset you, Luna.” Kage scratched the back of his head.  He swallowed the whimper that threatened to escape at the look Tyr shot him.  

“What’s the big deal? Birthdays are made to be celebrated. I am sure Dad wouldn’t mind if we threw a big bash for you, Luna.”

“Leave it alone, Gram,” Ayame snapped after seeing the murderous look pass Tyr’s eyes.  Tyr calmly pushed Luna toward the door.

“Go pick the vehicle you would like to take while Gram and I have a small talk,” he spoke smoothly, and when Kage was the last to leave off the porch, he wrapped his hand around Gram’s throat. “So you want to know what the big deal is, do you, little brother? Let me enlighten you,” he threatened, leaning toward his ear and whispering so low even his father, who had entered the hall, could not hear. 

Gram couldn’t help as his eyes widened and all the color drained from his tanned face. When Tyr let him lose, he found he couldn’t move as he looked to his brother. 

“You’re lying. Please say you’re lying,” he begged, his voice quiet and small, below a whisper.

“When have I ever lied to you?” was all he got out before Gram stepped from the house and proceeded to be violently ill in the bushes. After he calmed, he sat on the steps.

“Should I mention what would happen if you spoke of this again?” Gram looked up at Tyr standing beside him. 

“I can’t even think it again, how can I say . . . That . . . Again. I think I am going to be sick.”

“What is going on, Gram, Tyr?” Hakon demanded.

“Nothing pops me, and Tyr was just talking, is all,” Gram waved their father off to Tyr’s surprise. Their father looked at them for a few minutes and turned back to enter the house. 

Moments later, Luna pulled up in her Hummer and tapped the horn. Ayame hung out the back window

“Come on, guys, or we’ll leave without you.” The two look at one another 

“Shotgun,” Gram cried and streaked to the front of the truck.

“That’s my female, you know.”

“And I still called shotgun,” Gram got in, followed by Tyr, who got in the back, shaking his head. He would let his brother have his way this time. 

No one noticed but Tyr that, between comments about the interior of Luna’s truck, Gram was giving her directions to their favorite hangout mall. Now Tyr found himself full of questions; he, like the others, had assumed Luna hung out in the same places that most of her age did. But from the actions of his brother, it would seem he, like the others, was wrong. He would have to have a talk with her later; she had to know she could come to him for information on things she did not know about. 

---

“How did your pup seem when he left Inu Tashio?”  Fei questioned, sipping his tea.

“Extra affectionate, but other than that, nothing has changed that I could see. Are you sure anything even happened?”

“My mate told me everything she saw my friend, it was the same thing that happened with Ryuu. So, my friend, I am sure 100%.”

“I pray you are right, Fei”

“I have studied my Mei for years, my friend, committing every aspect of her personality, habits, and movements to memory. This last step was necessary; if left to her devices, she would forever be alone, and you know what could happen,” Fei sighed. “Besides, you should have seen my hatchling after this last change, and you would have seen the way she reacted to just his name alone. My mate and I are in agreement that she needs this. That damnable mate of hers kept her so unattached to the world around her. Even though you have seen it, my hatchling doesn’t even know how to be part of a group. That kit did the thinking for both of them as well as made the decisions. His only redeemable quality was that he protected her viciously, but in doing so, he caused more harm than good.” Fei growled 

“I know Fei, but a quick courtship between my pup and Luna will help make her better? This could push her over the edge if things go wrong”

“I have faith, my friend, your pup will do what’s right. And while we’re talking about what’s right, you will inform your heir that if he wants things to continue, he had better ask for permission to court my hatchling, my friend. I will not have my mei, My Lady dishonored”

“I understand, Fei. Now, I have another matter that needs your expertise”

---

While at the mall, Luna was taking everything in while everyone else shopped. Her gloved hands skirted along the clothing, and though they were all her favorite colors, nothing appealed to her for real. But she found her mind wasn’t on shopping; it was on the odd behavior of the ones around her. Not many creatures willingly wanted to be around her, and between the things she saw and what Foster had told her, she didn’t want to be around them either.

 Creatures feared her or were repulsed by her, but these four creatures acted as if she were a normal being like them. They laughed and tried to include her in the joke, even if she didn’t get a word of what they said. Ayame oh’d and ah’d over some piece of clothing and went as far as to ask her opinion. To say she was shocked was an overstatement; only those who consider her family ever asked her opinion on anything. 

She and the creature within were somewhat confused as Kage and Gram became helpful on top of everything, Tyr was being talkative. Just what were they doing? What did they want from her? 

‘No one was truly your friend,’ Foster would say. That was why Kage left us so easily. If you weren’t giving creatures what they wanted, they would leave you behind in a heartbeat for someone better.’

These four were taking apart everything she had learned; nothing they did or said put them in the light Foster had taught about others. Even now, she brushed against Tyr by accident, and instead of him moving away from her as Foster had sometimes, Tyr pulled her into the circle of his arms and kissed her forehead. 

She sighed ’Maybe I am putting too much thought into this’ ‘Maybe you’re thinking about this all wrong’  ’oh you are just as confused about this as I am.’  

Tyr almost smiled as Luna seemed to melt into his arms. He wanted to keep her within his arms all day, but she kept avoiding him, seeming to be lost in thought.  Confusion was what came through the bond, yet from her face, she looked merely bored.

After a few hours of what Luna considered aimless wandering, Ayame suggested they grab a pizza and study for a while. Luna found herself agreeing just to get away from the endless crowds; all the different Ki had her on edge. The two brothers decided they would do one more stop while Kage ordered them a pizza, so they all split up. 

Seeing no one around, Tyr grabbed Gram before he entered the Game store.

“What game are you playing at Gram?” he growled.

“What are you talking about?”

“Do you think I haven’t noticed how oh so helpful you are being to my female? And the whispering. I ask you again what you are up to.”

“It’s not what you think,” Gram sighed.

“How do you know what I think?” Tyr snapped and pulled him around the corner. Gram cringed at the look in his brother’s eyes. That look always meant he wasn’t going to walk away. He would be limping away. Sure, he knew his brother was powerful, but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t challenge him. Gram wanted to be stronger, and the only way to do that was to challenge the one person who could always kick his ass. That didn’t mean he hated his brother; no, he looked up to his brother like his idol. But in moments like this, he wanted to be someone else and in a hurry.

“Because every time I do something, you assume it’s bad,” Gram sighed, his ears going flat on the top of his head.  “Besides, if you want to know, you have to ask Luna. I swore on my life I would not say anything to anyone.”  Determination seeped into this voice. He promised her, and he would not go back on that promise even if he had to take a bloody beating for it. Tyr took a long look at his little brother. 

“Hm,” was his only reply as he placed Gram back on his feet. 

 The bond between him and Luna hummed; the feeling of excitement was so strong it almost knocked him on his behind. He had to stuff down the feeling as it grew; he wanted to search out Luna and see what caused it. But he had something to get really quickly. But he did smile slightly as he turned away from his shocked brother.

---

While strolling to the exit, Ayame saw a store selling DVDs and pulled Luna inside. Luna looked over her shoulder as Ayame lifted the cases and scanned the movie titles and summaries. She became curious, never really had she watched movies before. But she wondered. . .

“Ayame?”

“Hmm”

“Um . . . Does Tyr like these kinds of movies?” Luna questioned, not noticing the happy gleam in Ayames’ eyes. She prided herself on knowing a little of everything about everyone she came in contact with. Oh, the things she could tell Luna about Tyr.

“Nope, that InuYokai likes horror and action films; if it’s bloody, with someone killing someone or something, he likes it. Car chases, kidnapping, monsters, I don’t think it’s any horror or action movie he hasn’t seen,” Ayame giggled.

After being shown the right rack, she picked through the cases, wanting to find something for Tyr that he would like.  He had put up with a lot since meeting her, and this was the only way she could think of to do something nice for him. 

Besides, whenever Foster was stressed or things between them got out of hand, she would order something for him that he liked. And he seemed content afterward, maybe it would work with Tyr as well. So with that in mind, she left the store with a bag tucked under her arm and a small smile on her lips. 

Kage, Tyr, and Gram were already at the truck by the time Ayame and Luna arrived.

Rasan sat before the portrait of his father, grandfather, himself, and his brother, as always in one of the two straight-back chairs. He held up his half-full glass of brandy and smirked.

“It will be wonderful, brother. I am finally going to get rid of the stain on our family name,” he laughed. “You had to go and fall in love with my wife’s brother. Now I am going to kill your spawn.” He took a swallow.

“You have tried and failed several times, little brother. How will this time be any different?” Basan remarked, entering the room.

“It will be, you will see,” 

“Ha, your scared little brother scared the little witch will kill you instead”

“I am not afraid of that, that thing; your spawn will die along with anyone that gets in my way.”

“And how do you plan on capturing her little brother? She is never alone, you know,” Rasan finally sat beside his brother.

“I’m going to let her come to me, big brother, at that stupid little school dance,” he laughed loudly at his brother’s lifted brow. It felt good to finally know something his brother didn’t. Death hadn’t stopped his elder twin from knowing his plans. “Everyone who is anyone will be there.”

“Ah, I see. Two birds with one stone,” Basan smirked. 

But before Rasan could reply, a knock sounded through the sitting room.

“Enter”

“Dinner is ready, Rasan. Are you on the phone?” The female questioned, looking around the dark room and seeing no one but the back of Rasans’ head over the back of the chair.

“She is such a twit. How can you stand her?” Basan chuckled before taking a sip of his twins’ brandy.

Rasan chuckled as well. 

“No, I am not on the phone. Leave me, I will be to dinner soon,” he waved her off and grabbed his glass before his twin could steal another sip.

“But Rasan –” his wife ducked to avoid the glass he had been holding. Basan laughed, pouring himself a drink.

“Momiji was much more obedient than this twit. You know what needs to be done, little brother. You’ve been too soft on that one.”

“You are right, big brother,” Rasan spoke, cracking his knuckles. “I have been too weak,” His smile was cruel as he advanced on his shocked wife.

She swallowed quickly, her eyes darting around the room. She didn’t see anyone, but it was the dark look in her husband’s eyes that made fear shoot through her system. Never has he once looked at her with such hatred. 

She did not even get a chance to scream as Rasan lounged at her, choking the breath from her body.

Blood streaked his face as he pushed his hair back out of his face. He kicked the now limp body of his wife, making a face of disgust.

“Now that’s what I am talking about. Big brother taught you well,” Basan laughed, clapping his hands.

“Yes, you did,” Rasan snickered, looking at his bloody hands. “Now”

“It’s time you cleaned up our little problem. I broke father’s rule about producing a female child and paid the price,” Basan finally turned to his bloody twin. “Grandfather took care of his sister”

“Father took care of his sister,” Rasan spoke.

“I took care of our sister,” Basan smirked and walked toward his twin; the two stopped a breath away from each other.

“First, I will get the jewel then. . . I will take care of our daughter, my brother,” Rasans’ smirk matched that of his twin.

“Good boy,” They both laughed.

---

The court did not expect an Inu to walk its center.

They expected petitions, disputes, tribute—things that knew their place.

Not this.

The doors opened.

And Tyr Moon stepped through them.

Alone.

The hall shifted immediately.

Not loudly.

But every dragon present felt it—the intrusion of something that did not belong to their blood, their line, their sovereign.

Yet—

He did not hesitate.

He walked the length of the court as he had already decided how this would end.

Measured.

Controlled.

At the far end, Lord Yuu watched.

Still. Unmoved.

Tyr stopped at the base of the throne. Did not bow deeply. Did not kneel. But he did incline his head. Respect. Not submission.

“My lord,” Tyr said. His voice carried. Clear. Steady.

The court stilled.

“I have come to request permission.” A pause. “To court Lady Luna Sano.”

The silence that followed was not empty.

It was violent.

A ripple moved through the dragons lining the hall—shock, disbelief, something close to offense. An Inu. Here. Speaking her name. Like that. The temperature in the room shifted. Dropped. Then burned.

Yuu did not move. But something behind his stillness— rose.

“You come into my court,” Yuu said, voice low, controlled, “and speak of courting what stands under my protection.”

Not a question. Tyr did not look away.

“Yes.”

No hesitation.

No correction.

The court reacted—low growls threading through the space, not directed at Tyr alone, but at the audacity of the moment. Yuu stood. The movement was enough to silence everything. He stepped down from the throne. Each step deliberate. Each one pressing weight into the air.

Tyr held his ground.

Yuu stopped in front of him. Close. Close enough that the difference between them became clear.

Ancient.

Sovereign.

Unquestionable.

“Why?”

One word.

Heavy.

Tyr answered without pause.

“Because I have already chosen her.”

A flicker. No surprise. Something sharper.

“And you believe,” Yuu said, voice lowering further, “that choosing her is enough.”

“No,” Tyr replied. Still steady. “But it is where I begin.”

The court shifted again. This time— not entirely against him.

Yuu’s gaze sharpened. Studying. Weighing.

“You understand what you ask,” Yuu said. Not a warning. A fact.

“I do.”

“You understand what she is.” A beat.

“Yes.”

“And still you stand here.”

Tyr didn’t blink.

“Yes.”

Silence settled again. Then— slowly— Yuu straightened.

Not in dismissal.

In a decision.

“You speak of courting her,” he said. Measured. Controlled. His gaze did not leave Tyr. “Have you spoken to Lord Fei?”

The question landed differently.

Tyr paused.

Just once.

“No.”

The word echoed.

Yuu’s expression did not change.

“Then this conversation is incomplete.”

A shift in the court.

Understanding settling in.

“She stands under my protection,” Yuu continued, “but she resides under his guardianship.”

A step back. Not retreat.

Position.

“You will not bypass that.”

Tyr’s jaw tightened slightly.

But he did not argue.

“You will go to him,” Yuu said.

Calm.

Absolute.

“You will ask him the same question you have asked me.” A pause.

“And if he grants it—” The air held. “—then return.”

His gaze sharpened again.

“And I will consider your request.”

Silence.

Not rejection.

Not acceptance.

A gate.

Tyr inclined his head.

“Understood.”

No frustration. No defiance. Just— acknowledgment. He turned. And walked back the way he came.

The court watched him go. Shock still lingered. But something else had taken root beneath it. Respect. Because he had stood. Before a Dragon King. In his own court. And had not bowed. Not truly. At the throne— Yuu watched the doors close behind him.

“…he did not waver,” one of the elders murmured.

“No,” Yuu said. A pause.

“And he did not overreach.”

His gaze remained on the place Tyr had stood.

“Not yet.”

---

Fei knew Tyr was in the building before the receptionist spoke his name.

The scent reached him first.

Dragon.

Not Yuu—lighter, younger.

And beneath it—

Inu.

Moon.

Lord Fei did not rise immediately. He sat behind his desk, pen poised over a contract he had already finished reading, letting the seconds stretch just long enough to make the air tighten.

“Send him in.”

The door opened. Tyr Moon stepped inside. Back straight. Eyes steady. Respectful. Not submissive.

“Heir of the West,” Fei greeted without looking up. A beat. “State your purpose.”

Tyr inclined his head.

“Lord Fei.”

Silence settled. Then—

“I’ve come to ask permission.”

Fei’s pen stilled. Slowly— he looked up. The dragon scent was stronger now. Recent. Close.

“Have you spoken to Lord Yuu?” Fei asked.

“Yes.”

A flicker.

Interest.

Measured.

“And?” Fei pressed.

“He told me to come to you.”

That made Fei sit back. Not relaxed. Not even close. Just… recalibrating.

“You smell like his court,” Fei said quietly.

Not a question.

Tyr didn’t answer. He didn’t need to.

Fei studied him. Long. Careful. Then— casually— almost too casually—

“Did you know Luna would be working in my office today?”

No hesitation.

“No.”

Fei’s gaze sharpened.

“You didn’t know she works security access for this brokerage?”

“No.”

Not a flicker.

Not a pause.

Fei leaned back slightly. Watching. Weighing.

“Why are you here, Heir of the West?” he asked again.

Tyr didn’t shift. Didn’t break eye contact.

“To ask permission to court Lady Luna Sano.”

Silence. Then— Fei stood.

Fast.

Controlled.

Dangerous.

“To what?”

The word cracked like something breaking.

“You want to mate my hatchling… my Lady?”

The slits in his eyes widened, something far colder surfacing beneath the surface calm he wore like armor.

“Yes.”

No hesitation.

No fear.

Fei stared at him. Long. Hard.

“Do you even understand what you are asking?”

“I do.”

No movement.

No retreat.

“A mating is not something to do in haste,” Fei said, voice clipped now, each word deliberate.

“I know.”

They held each other’s gaze. Neither yielding. Neither blinking. Time stretched. Then— Fei exhaled.

Looked away.

“You are fearless, little Moon heir,” he said, quieter now. Not softer.

Just… less sharp.

A pause.

“There will be conditions.”

Tyr didn’t move.

“Name them.”

Fei nodded once.

“One—” he began, voice low, precise, “you will treat Luna with more respect than you treat yourself.”

A beat.

“Two—you will honor her wishes.”

Another.

“They are rare.”

His gaze flicked back to Tyr.

“And should not be denied.”

Silence settled again. Fei reached for a sheet of paper. Picked up his pen. And began to write. The scratch of ink filled the room. Nothing else.

Tyr did not shift. Did not look away. Did not break posture. Three minutes passed. Maybe more.

Fei finished. Set the pen down. But did not yet hand the paper over.

“And three—” he said finally, lifting his gaze, “if you can agree to this…”

A pause.

“Respect what she gives you.”

The words were quieter than the others.

Heavier.

Tyr answered without hesitation.

“On my honor, I would do all that and more for her.” A breath. “I would give my soul for her.”

Fei’s brow lifted slightly. Then— he signed the document. Turned it. And held it out.

“Give this to Lord Yuu.”

Tyr took it.

Steady hands.

“Courtship permission granted.” Silence followed.

Then Tyr inclined his head. 

“Thank you.” He turned. Walked out. The door closed behind him. Fei remained standing for a long moment.

Then— slowly— he sat.

His gaze lingered on the space Tyr had occupied.

“…you chose well, little Moon heir,” he murmured.

But his eyes shifted— not to the door— To the hallway beyond it. Where his hatchling worked.

And for just a moment— the calm mask slipped.

“…you had better be enough.”

---

The elevator doors opened onto the thirtieth floor without a sound.

Tyr stepped out into the quiet.

Not empty—never empty—but controlled. The kind of silence built on awareness. Cameras. Sensors. People who knew how to look without seeming to. He moved through it without pause. Toward the command center.

The door was closed.

He knocked once.

Then opened it.

Inside, screens covered the far wall—feeds, data streams, access logs shifting in constant motion. Two guards stood off to the side, low voices trading information, eyes flicking between displays.

They looked up when Tyr entered. Measured him. Recognized him. Then went still.

At the center— Luna. She sat in front of the primary console. Back straight. Hands moving—precise, controlled, typing commands, switching feeds, adjusting clearance pathways like it was second nature. She didn’t look up. Didn’t acknowledge him. Didn’t react at all.

Tyr stepped inside. Closed the door behind him.

She kept working. Then— she stopped. Completely. Her hands hovered over the console. Still.

“…Hello… Tyr.”

Her voice was soft. Quiet. But clear.

The guards froze.

Neither of them spoke.

Neither of them moved.

They had worked beside her for years. And never— not once— had they heard her speak.

“I—I didn’t know you were coming.”

She still hadn’t turned. Tyr watched her for a moment. Something in his chest tightening—familiar and not.

“I had to see Lord Fei,” he said, voice easy, steady. “He told me you work here.”

He crossed the room.

Pulled a chair beside her.

Sat.

Only then did she turn slightly. Just enough.

Those eyes— one blue. one brown— met his.

No change in them. No expectation. No reaction. Just… presence.

The guards exchanged a look.

Subtle.

Confused.

Tyr noticed.

And just like that— whatever he had come to say— stayed unspoken.

Not here.

Not like this.

He leaned back slightly in the chair, relaxed.

Casual.

“So,” he said, glancing at the screens, “you run all this?”

A small pause.

“Yes.”

Quiet.

Simple.

The guards were staring now. Not even trying to hide it. Tyr smiled faintly.

“Figures,” he said.

They talked. About nothing. Small things. Safe things.

He asked about the systems. She answered. Short. Precise. He made a comment about the security protocols. She corrected him. Softly. Without looking away from the screens.

And the guards— just listened. Because this— this was not something they had ever seen.

After a while, Tyr stood.

“Come on,” he said.

Luna paused.

Looked at him.

“For what?”

“Lunch.” A beat.

“…okay.”

She shut down her station with practiced efficiency. Stood. Moved to his side.

The guards didn’t say anything. Couldn’t. They watched as she walked past them— not silent. Not invisible. Something else.

At the door, Tyr glanced back once. Met their eyes.

And in that look— they understood. This wasn’t something to question. The door closed behind them. And whatever Tyr had come to say— could wait.

Because for now— this was enough.

The court had been quieter when Tyr left it. Now— it waited. The doors opened. 

And Tyr Moon returned.

He did not hesitate. Did not slow. The weight of the dragon court pressed in on him again—ancient, watchful, unmoved by anything but certainty. He carried that certainty with him.

At the far end— Lord Yuu sat as he always did. Still. Unshaken.

The world aligned around him.

To his right—

Ryuu leaned forward slightly, curiosity already sharp in his gaze. He had heard. Of course, he had.

The court parted.

Not for Tyr.

But because something in him made them.

He stopped at the base of the throne.

Inclined his head.

“My lord.” Silence answered.

Then— slowly— Tyr reached into his coat.

The motion drew every eye. Every breath. He withdrew the paper. Unfolded it. And stepped forward.

The guards tensed. Did not move.

Tyr extended the document upward.

Yuu did not take it immediately. He looked at Tyr first. Long. Measured. Then— took the paper.

The room held its breath. The scratch of parchment shifting in his hand sounded louder than it should have. Yuu read.

Once.

Then again.

Slower.

The court watched.

Ryuu didn’t move. Didn’t speak. But something in him tightened— expectation. Hope.

Yuu lowered the paper. And looked at Tyr.

“You are a fearless one, young Heir of the West.” The words carried.

Not praise. Not dismissal. Something in between. A ripple moved through the court. Because fearlessness here— meant something different.

It meant standing where you should not. Asking what you should not. And returning— with proof.

Yuu folded the document once. Carefully. Deliberately.

“Lord Fei has granted you permission.”

A pause.

“And has set conditions.” Tyr did not speak. He waited.

As he had before. Yuu rose.

The movement silenced the room completely. He stepped down from the throne. Approached. This time— the distance between them felt different.

Not a challenge.

Not a threat.

Assessment.

“You have passed one gate,” Yuu said. Voice low. Steady. “Do not mistake that for the end of your path.”

A beat.

“Courting her is not claiming her.”

Another.

“You will not rush her.”

Tyr met his gaze.

“Understood.”

Yuu studied him. Long. Deep. Then— just slightly— he inclined his head.

“Then I will consider this request.”

The court shifted. Not refusal. Not acceptance. But closer. Ryuu exhaled, a grin breaking across his face before he could stop it.

“About time,” he muttered under his breath.

A few of the older dragons glanced at him.

Sharp.

Disapproving.

He didn’t care.

Because this— this mattered.

Yuu’s gaze flicked once to his son.

Then back to Tyr.

“You will conduct yourself within my domain as you have here,” he said. “Or you will not conduct yourself here at all.”

Tyr inclined his head again.

“Understood.”

Silence settled. Yuu turned. Returned to his throne. The document remained in his hand. Unburned. Unrejected. Held. And in a court where everything was decided in absolutes— that alone was everything.

---

The summons came before Tyr reached the gates of the academy.

A single call. No explanation.

Only—

Your attendance is required.

He didn’t hesitate. You didn’t keep the Dragon Court waiting. By the time Tyr Moon stepped into the hall, the court was already assembled. Elders lined the chamber. Guards stood at attention. The air was thick—charged, expectant. Voices quieted.

One by one.

Until nothing remained.

At the far end— Lord Yuu watched him approach.

Tyr walked the length of the hall again. Measured. Respectful. Controlled. He stopped at the base of the throne. Inclined his head.

“My lord.” Silence answered.

Yuu did not speak.

Not immediately.

He looked at Tyr. For a long moment. Not weighing. Not testing.

Deciding.

The court held its breath. Then—

“Permission granted.”

The words landed. Simple. Final. For a heartbeat— no one moved.

Then— Ryuu. Ryuu broke into a grin so bright it almost didn’t belong in a room like this.

“About time,” he muttered under his breath.

A few elders glanced his way.

Sharp.

Disapproving.

They did not correct him. Because something else had taken hold of the room. Yuu leaned forward slightly. His gaze did not soften. Did not shift.

“Know this, young Heir of the West.” The air tightened.

“If you hurt my eldest hatchling in any way—”

The temperature in the room dropped. Then burned.

“That is an all-out declaration of war against the Western Territories.”

The words were not raised.

They did not need to be.

They settled.

Like law.

Like fate.

“So says me.” A beat.

Then— the court answered. Not one voice. Not ten. All of them.

“So say we all.”

The hall echoed.

Stone carried it. Fire carried it. The very air held it.

Tyr did not move. Did not flinch. He met Yuu’s gaze. Steady. Unbroken.

“Understood.”

No hesitation.

No fear.

Only truth. 

The silence that followed was different. Not tension. Not a challenge. Recognition. Because he had heard the threat. Understood it. Accepted it. And still—he stood.

At the throne— Yuu watched him. And for the briefest moment— something in that ancient gaze shifted.

Not approval. Not yet.

But something closer— to acknowledgment. And in a court where war could be declared in a single breath— Tyr Moon had just been given something far more dangerous than permission.

He had been trusted.

For now.

---

The jewelry store was quiet.

Soft music drifted through the polished marble showroom while glass displays shimmered beneath warm golden lighting. Expensive pieces rested on black velvet beneath enchanted glass cases—dragonfire rubies, moonstone bracelets, ancient clan heirlooms worth more than small estates.

And standing near the far counter—

Tyr Moon stared silently at a silver crescent moon pendant. It was delicate. Simple. A thin crescent forged from white silver with a tiny blue gemstone set near the center. Not flashy. Not overwhelming. Luna would hate something extravagant.

“She would like that one.” The voice rolled across the room like heat before wildfire.

Several employees stiffened instantly. One nearly dropped a tray.

Tyr turned calmly.

Tera stood near the entrance in a long black-and-crimson coat, flaming red hair spilling down her shoulders like living fire. Her red eyes locked onto him immediately.

 Ancient. Dangerous. The entire temperature of the room had risen noticeably.

Tyr dipped his head respectfully.

“Lady Tera.”

The Fire Queen approached slowly. Every step is deliberate. The employees wisely disappeared toward the back of the store almost instantly. Tera stopped beside him and looked down at the pendant.

“A courting gift?” she questioned.

“Yes.”

Her gaze shifted toward him sharply.

“So the rumors are true.”

Tyr held her gaze without flinching.

“They are.”

Silence.

Heavy.

Hot.

Tera folded her arms slowly.

“My niece,” she said at last. Not a question. A warning.

“Yes.”

The fire around the chandeliers flickered faintly.

“You are either very brave,” Tera murmured, “or incredibly stupid, little wolf.”

“Possibly both,” Tyr answered honestly. To his surprise—one corner of Tera’s mouth twitched briefly. Almost a smile.

Almost.

Then it vanished.

“What are your intentions toward Luna Sano?”

The question landed with enough force to silence the entire store.

Tyr did not answer immediately. Not because he feared the question. Because he understood the importance of answering correctly. Finally—he looked back toward the crescent pendant.

“I want her safe.”

Tera watched him carefully.

“I want her happy,” Tyr continued quietly. “I want her to stop looking like she’s waiting for permission to disappear.”

Something flickered behind Tera’s eyes.

Gone quickly.

“She doesn’t ask for much,” Tyr said softly. “Most days she barely asks for anything at all.”

Tera remained perfectly still. Listening.

“I know what people think of me,” Tyr continued. “They think I want her because she’s powerful.”

A faint shake of his head.

“I loved her before I understood what she was.”

The flames in the wall lanterns steadied.

“She smiles differently around flowers,” Tyr added suddenly.

Tera’s eyes sharpened slightly.

“And books,” Tyr continued quietly. “And small quiet places. She likes rain when she thinks no one notices.”

A pause.

“She talks more when she’s tired.”

Tera stared at him now. Not as a ruler. As family judging someone dangerous near something precious.

“You pay attention,” she observed.

“Yes.”

“Why?”

Tyr finally looked directly at her again.

And answered with terrifying honesty.

“Because she deserves to be loved carefully.”

Silence crashed through the room. Tera’s expression did not soften. But the heat lessened slightly.

“She was hurt long before you found her,” Tera said quietly.

“I know.”

“And if you hurt her—”

“You’ll burn my territory to the ground,” Tyr finished calmly.

Tera’s red eyes narrowed.

“And?”

Tyr didn’t blink.

“You’d be justified.”

That answer finally did it. For the first time since entering the store—

Lady Tera truly smiled.

Small.

Sharp.

Dangerous.

“Oh,” she murmured softly. “You actually understand.”

Tyr said nothing.

Tera looked back toward the pendant again. Then reached forward herself, lifting it carefully from the velvet display. The silver moon caught the light like pale fire.

“She’ll treasure this,” Tera said quietly.

A pause.

“Not because it’s expensive.”

Her eyes shifted toward him knowingly.

“Because you noticed she would like it.”

Tyr accepted the pendant carefully from her hands.

For a moment, neither spoke. Then Tera’s voice lowered.

“She still prays for death sometimes.” The words hit like a knife. Tyr’s jaw tightened almost imperceptibly.

“I know,” he admitted softly.

Tera studied him one final time. Measuring. Judging. Searching for weakness. Whatever she found—

seemed to satisfy her enough.

“Good,” she said at last. “Then perhaps you’ll understand why every ruler who loves her is watching you.”

Tyr inclined his head respectfully.

“I would expect nothing less.”

Another faint almost-smile crossed Tera’s face. Then the Fire Queen turned and walked toward the exit, flames whispering softly along the hems of her sleeves.

 Just before leaving— she stopped without turning around.

“If my niece cries because of you, little wolf…”

The air grew unbearably hot.

“I will make history remember my anger.”

Tyr looked down at the crescent moon pendant resting in his palm.

And answered simply—

“Yes, Lady Tera.”

Tyr sat his back against the headboard, deep in thought, his eyes straying every so often to the sleeping Luna. Even knowing what she felt, she still confused him, still kept him off balance. What was he missing? 

“What has you so frustrated, ‘heir of the west’?” came a soft sigh beside him.

“Should you not be sleeping?” 

“Does the beast inside you sleep when you do?” He looked into the crystalline blue eyes as she slid up beside him. This was still new to him; no demon ever that he knew of ‘beast‘could speak the human tongue. It was odd to speak to the ‘beast’ within another, but it was an oddity that was beginning to grow on him. 

“It is nothing for you to worry about”

“Your frustration eats at me. Rest is not peaceful when you are upset. Will you not tell me what bothers you so?” she whispered, pulling her fingers through his hair. Tyr found himself relaxing despite how tangled his thoughts were. She was petting him; what more could he ask for? 

“I am merely thinking . . . Curious . . . You are quite affectionate tonight.” he tilted his head a little so she could better run her fingers through his hair… 

“Am I not always affectionate to you, ‘heir of the west’?” She paused for a moment and looked at him until he nudged her hand slightly. “Oh! You are wondering why ‘my more human half’ is not?” 

“Hn” was his only reply as he nudged her again. 

“How can she give you affection when she has never known real affection?”

“Did not your mate?”

“Her mate and no. Do you want to know what the Kitsune ideal of affection was?” His eyes snapped open as she stopped petting him, only to see her looming in front of him. Waiting.

“Yes,” he was stunned as her petal-soft lips touched his, and for a moment, he wondered if they did because the sensation was over so quickly. Something he read clicked in his mind.

“The Kitsune was not her mate; he was her jailer as well as her protector.” She could feel Luna waking from her sleep. But she would not give her back control, not yet; she was on a mission to get her ’better half’ to see what she did in this demon. “He was her voice, her mind”

“And she was?”

“That is the question, but the better question would be what is she to you?” She still hovered before him, her warm breath caressing his lips. He didn’t try to hide the shiver down his spine or the slow smile that spread across his face. He didn’t have to feel her emotions; the twinkle in her eyes told him something was up. Apparently, his answer was important, and one he did not have to put much thought into.

 “Mine!!” He waited, and the moment she parted her lips to speak, he silenced her. “You are her, and she is you . . . Whether demon or miko, the end is still the same, you are mine.” He felt as well as saw the shock that even now vibrated along the bond. But she had to know he cared for her on both sides of her, the same, and nothing would change that. That seemed to satisfy her, he noticed, but still, this had to be leading to something, but what, he questioned. The emotions he felt from her were barely there, so it gave him no clue what she was thinking. 

She could hear her other half muttering about the game she was playing. But this was no game; she had to get her to see what she saw, and nothing else would do. She was tired of them being lonely; they needed someone, and just anyone would not do. It was time she took matters into her own han.  .claws. 

“If I told you my creation wasn’t,” she paused and licked her lips. “If I told you my creation wasn’t natural, would you hate me?”

“No, nothing could make me hate you,” he didn’t even have to think about it.

“If I told you my soul was something you could never imagine”

“That would make it that much more important to me.”

“I have much more power than the high miko and high demon believe.”

“As a demon, that will only make you more desirable to me”

“I do not want to die”

“I will protect you”

“I am afraid”

“Don’t be this Tyr will always be here for you”

“I want…”

“Anything you have but to ask,” he spoke breathlessly as with every statement she got closer until they were a breath apart.  When she licked her lips, he shivered as he felt her tongue brush his lips by accident.  Her eyes slid to his lips that morning, so long ago, rushed through their mind. The sound of her pounding heart drowned out everything else. The heat from his body seeped into her, making her want to crawl into him. It shook her to the core when the back of his clawed finger traced the line of her cheek. ’Foster never made us feel this way.’  ’ You’re damn right.’ ’ What is . . it?’  ’ Wait’ 

Her bright crystalline eyes returned to his, and Tyr was shaken. Her eyes were almost liquid in color, like the rolling waves of the ocean. He got lost in their depths.

“Will . . . Will, you accept my . . . My affections,” he almost chuckled at her timid voice, and the slight blush coloring her cheeks. 

“Always,” was all he had a chance to say before her lips descended upon his. He was shocked into stillness, and the creature within fainted in pleasure. She was kissing him. Was the only thought that rang through his shell-shocked mind. 

She was about to pull away, feeling him so still. ‘Maybe I did it wrong,’ ‘maybe you did the wrong thing’

The pressure of her soft lips left him snapping Tyr out of his daze. His arms snaked around her, holding her close as he deepened the kiss. When the need to breathe became overwhelming, they pulled apart their foreheads, touching as they panted for breath. 

“I was thinking,” he spoke, pulling back and looking into her face. When she opened her eyes, he could see that her left eye was browner now. This could only mean Luna was becoming more aware. He opened the nightstand drawer and pulled out a black velvet bag.  “This is not a birthday gift,” he quickly murmured, feeling her mood change slightly. “I was thinking, since we are together a lot lately, that we would make it official. And you . . . would let me court you,” he poured the contents into his hand. Luna gasped at the crescent moon-shaped diamond charm as it hung on a delicate silver chain. 

“I . . .”

“I understand,” he sighed.  “It’s too soon”

“Never been courted before,” she finished in awe.  

“It’s pretty much what we have been doing anyway, “he gave a small smile.

“Oh,” her awe rushed through him, giving him a rush, unlike anything he had ever felt before. But he wasn’t finished. This was something he knew he had to do. Something deep within him told him this was the way to get her to be more receptive toward him. He took both her tiny wrists within one hand and frowned at the gloves. She had taken to wearing them all the time around him, and he didn’t like it one bit. He tugged at the gloves before she could even protest or make a fist to stop him. 

“What are you . . . Doing?” She turned to pull away from him, tugging to free her wrist from his iron grip. “Don’t do this, “she whispered, her eyes widening. Her slight fear ate at him, but he was determined.  Her body stiffened as she made ready for the pain she knew was coming as he placed her open palm on his striped cheek. But nothing happens. 

 Luna never noticed he had released her wrist as her other hand touched his other cheek. She gasped as she ran her hands up his face, tracing every curve, every line, with her eyes watching every movement of her hands. His emotions and his memories were there, but there was something between her and them; the only feeling she got was a warm feeling of his skin under her palms. She traced the lines of his throat, feeling as he swallowed down to his shoulders, then back up to the curve of his cheek.

The creature within was almost purring in pleasure, yet at the same time, they were both confused and curious.

“How how is this possible?” Her whispered voice was so full of emotion. But before he could answer, he frowned, seeing the flash of pain across her eyes. One hand flew to her chest as the pain bloomed in her chest again, but she did not want to give this up. The pain in her chest grew more intense by the moment, and Tyr grew worried by the moment. He didn’t feel any pain through the bond, she whimpered in pain, and the way she clutched her chest as if something was wrong.  He cupped her small chin, making her look up at him. 

“Luna, I,” he stopped, too stunned to continue. 

The pain in her chest bloomed and burst, and the pressure changed into a feeling she had never felt before. Neither said a word as Tyr’s golden glaze traced the descent of first one crystalline tear, then another. For the first time, he knew since her childhood, Luna wept. 

He knew it wasn’t in sadness the first few anyway, just like he knew this was something she needed to do. He pulled her close to his body and wrapped his arms around her, giving her all the comfort he had to give. He growled soothingly and stroked her back softly.

Through it, all her right hand never moved from his cheek, as her mind whirled with one thought. ‘I am touching him. Really touching him’ 

Tyr had been on edge most of the day, Gram had left with Luna somewhere, and he didn’t like it. He sat trying to study with his bedroom door wide open. He felt mostly confusion through the bond. 

When his brother asked her to go with him this morning, he was tempted to say he wasn’t taking her anywhere. But his father had asked him to come to his study; they had something to discuss. He almost lounged across the table at Gram’s smirk of victory. Now, after their ‘talk,’ he sat waiting, tired of looking at the clock. He decided studying was the only way he’d get some peace. But even now, he found he couldn’t focus. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust his younger brother.

But he would admit his father’s words had him a little on edge. The two were compatible in that they are basically the same species. And that their mothers had treated them badly. He still remembered how Gram’s mother treated him as if he had the plague.

 She never held him or wanted to have anything to do with the boy after she had seen the white ears perched on top of his white fuzz. Everyone, even he, could tell she was ashamed of the boy. In public, she loved to be seen with her full-yokai husband and step-son but never with her hanyou pup. Many a night, Gram would come to his room to hide from the fighting couple. 

No matter how he acted, Tyr didn’t hate his brother. He might not have protected Gram from everything when he was a child. But you had to take your licks, that’s what he believed anyway.  Besides, he never let anyone hurt the boy too badly. When things looked to be beyond what he thought Gram could handle, he would step in. 

Tyr knew that Gram thought he hated him. Because he treated him with indifference, and this was the reason he didn’t understand why Gram would treat Luna as if they were friends. Unless he was trying to steal her away from him. And this was the thought that ate at him all morning. His stomach clenched in anger, his heart ached at the thought of Luna leaving him. Would all the times they shared mean nothing? Could she so easily turn her back on him? And then the thought hit him. Could he let her walk away from him? .again? No, a better question would be, would he survive this time? 

His feeling where so much more now when compared to the first time. When compared to what he felt now, back then was only puppy love, a crush. This was now a feeling that he couldn’t live without her. Knowing her, hearing her voice, feeling her inside him had things so much more heightened. He wanted to give her everything, make the world bow at her tiny feet. Spend his life coaxing that tiny smile of hers bigger. Hear her laugh and wipe those tears that came at the oddest times. 

Those odd tears of Luna’s, he thought, his eyes strayed to the small jar on his desk. Four gem-like crystals twinkled under his desk-light as they floated in a liquid his father had pulled from his safe. The first few tears Luna had shed were salty and very much real. After she exhausted herself and was barely awake, the last four slid from her face and dropped to the bed sheets to twinkle and catch his attention. 

No, he didn’t tell her about them; she worried enough about the things that made her different to the point he didn’t have the heart to say anything. He waited until she was deeply asleep before he gathered the jewels and hid them away. 

Like the strange tear-gems his father said needed to be protected, he knew Luna needed the same protection. And while he couldn’t put her in a jar, he knew he couldn’t leave it to anyone else to protect her. He also felt in his soul that he knew he couldn’t ever leave her or let her leave him. He could never watch her walk away from him; his heart would die, he would die. The creature within agreed there would be no other but her. Luna was the only female they could ever see spending the rest of their almost immoral life with. 

Excitement slammed into him, pulling him from his dark thoughts. And he knew she was closer now.  He streaked from his room as soon as he heard the front door open and the sound of Gram’s voice. Tyr stopped dead in his tracks at the top of the stairs. 

Gram was talking excitedly about something he couldn’t make out, carrying tons of bags in both hands.  Luna had just entered and was listening; the only thing that gave away her excitement at what Gram was saying was the slight twinkle in her eyes. 

But that wasn’t what stopped Tyr, no, it was the way she was dressed. Luna had left that morning dressed in her usual way: black pants with straps that hung to her knees, a blood-red button-down shirt, and her stiletto boots. Only to return in stack black knee-high laced combat boots, a blood-red and black schoolgirl skirt that came to just above her knees, and a black button-up shirt with the sleeves rolled up. Showing off her striped arms and silver bracelets. A few of the top buttons were left unbuttoned, showing off the necklace he had given her days before. Stranger still, all her hair was pulled high above her head in a ponytail, a braid circling it, with tiny silver moon-tipped hairpins holding it together. A black carrying bag for a laptop hung from her left shoulder, pressing the shirt tight to her curves as it lay across her breast and rested on her right hip. She made such an amazing picture that for a moment, he forgot to breathe. 

He was about to start down after a minute, but a firm hand on his shoulder prevented him from moving. He looked to his father in question. Hakon just shook his head.

“I thought you said you know a lot of computer stuff, security, and codes”

“Things I do in school. I . . .I never had. . one of my own. . .before,” They heard Luna whisper.

“Oh, well, I’ll get mine started up, and you can help me with my problems, and I’ll help you get your ‘game on’, Gram chuckled. “Don’t worry, it’ll be fun, and if it makes you feel better Tyr online games as well in the same game. He’s a level 98 Knight of some kind, I think; I’m a level 70 hunter. You can be a mage, and you and I can party; it’ll be cool. Even though Ayame plays as a thief, I find her online most of the time. You’ll see we‘ll…” His voice trailed off as they entered the sitting room and closed the door. 

Tyr whirled on his father, enraged. “Why did you stop me?” he hissed.

“You were going to go down there and make a mistake. Love her, my pup, protect her, but never ever hide her away from the world around her. Don’t become like her mate was. Besides my pup, I think your brother is just happy to have a sister he can love and protect. He knows, believe me, he knows you and Luna only have eyes for each other.”

Anything Tyr was going to say stilled in his throat as his hand went to his chest.  He didn’t know what to make of the feeling that ripped through him, so Tyr rushed down the stairs and threw open the door to the sitting room. 

Gram and Luna both bent over their computers, hitting buttons, suddenly looked up, startled, and that was enough time for the computers to make a noise, and ‘You dead’ flashed across both screens. 

“Oh man,” Gram sighed. Luna jumped up from her seat. 

“I’m . .sorry”

“It’s okay Luna, it happens,” Gram chuckled.

“I’m just no good at . . .this. Maybe we should stop now,” she rushed from the room and up the stairs. 

Tyr, still looking at the laptop screen, didn’t know what to say.  He watched as her character appeared back in town. They were gaming. He thought, slumping into the chair she had just vacated in shock. If they were gaming, what was that intense feeling he got from her? It was like shock and awe all at the same time, but somehow he couldn’t explain it. 

“Why did you come rushing in here like that? What the hell is wrong with you?”

Tyr just growled, not even looking at Gram, his eyes locked on the monitor.  He really didn’t know what to say at this point.

Gram huffed that if Tyr paid no attention to him, he would do the same. He turned Luna’s laptop around and exited the game they had been playing. 

Tyr eyed the back of her laptop. He traced the picture of Luna and himself with the tip of his claw. 

“That’s what took us so long, you know. Luna wanted to have a skin made for her laptop” 

“I will not let you take her from me”

“You think,” Gram choked. “You think I want Luna? You’re crazy, you know that. She’s going to be my sister, that is just nasty.”

“Hn”

“You’re a sad yokai, did you know that? Is that why you came rushing in here?”

“You tell me, the whispering, and the being helpful, you tell me what it is? Why?”

“I told you. If you want to know, you have to ask Luna”

“I’m asking you,” Tyr growled.

“Well, ask something else”

“You took my female shopping?”

“Yea well, Luna said she didn’t have a laptop, and she didn’t want to borrow yours,” Gram shrugged. “So I figured she needs one of her own. You know–”

---

Luna reached Tyr’s room and took a seat at the window, looking out. Her mind ran rapidly over what had just happened and the things that had been happening. She looked down at her outfit. 

Gram had told her that Tyr would like it, that it was cool. She had listened to him; he hadn’t led her astray yet, and she kind of liked that he treated her like family. Gram was kind to her in a way that Ryuu wasn‘t.

There was always an edge with Ryuu and others, like ‘any wrong thing could kill her’ or something. With Gram, it was all about living in the moment and having fun, she guessed.  Luna, if she had to admit it, was kind of jealous of the way Gram lived his life. 

Everyone she met had such freedom. The freedom she had never known before. And with it came the ability to laugh, joke, cry, and be sad seamlessly and without regret. She admitted that even with Foster, she never had that freedom either. 

Luna sighed, leaning her head against the windowpane.  

So many lives she had seen or touched. So many homes and happy families.  And as much as she loved Foster, and she knew he loved her, they could never touch in a way that could make her feel like the things she saw when she entered creatures’ minds. He knew too many things about her past; saw too many of her scars to want to be with her like that. No, that wasn’t it… Foster had his secrets, he thought she didn’t know. But she knew, besides, Fire mommy and Papa saw fit to inform her of their sons’ ways. Luna frowned and shook her head. 

“No,” she whispered, she wouldn’t think about that. 

She decided to change gears a bit. Never did she think that creatures would grow close to her. Ryuu, Yuu, Fei, and Rin didn’t count; to them, she was more of an obligation; she knew they only put up with her because they felt guilty about not seeing what was going on. Not caring for her after the death of her parents, only handing her over to Rasan. 

But Gram and Tyr were different. Gram talked to her like everything was their little secret, like she was as normal as the next creature.  He understood her pain, he said earlier today

“It may not be the same, but my mother treated me pretty badly.” After that, Gram fell silent for a few minutes, only looking down as they walked. “I guess having a half-breed son wasn’t what she wanted. Dad had to hire a nanny to take care of me”

Luna looked at him, a little shocked as the ears perched on the top of his head lowered.

“As I got older, I could hear and understand my mother and father arguing a lot, you know. Cuz she wouldn’t do the things for me that a mother should.” At first, Luna couldn’t understand what he was talking about. Her mother rarely did anything for her except tell her she should have died at birth or something like that. They were cruel, sick people, she was beginning to understand that now. She was knocked out of her thoughts as Gram handed her some fries.  “Tyr said she was ashamed of me being a half-breed and all”

“Why was she ashamed?” She watched from the corner of her eye as he shrugged.

“I wish I fuckin knew. During the day, she avoided me like I had the plague; at the table, she sat as far from me as possible, and in any room I entered, she left. I would try to talk to her, you know. Ask her what I had done to make her hate me. And she would walk away as if she didn’t hear me.” he looked at her with such pain she almost cried.

 This pain she knew, though it wasn’t as deep as her own; she knew it and knew it well. He cleared his throat.

 “When they would argue I would escape to my brothers’ room. You know hideout,” he sighed, and Luna noticed he wasn’t even trying to hide the pain this caused him. “I used to blame myself . . a lot,” he chuckled. “And I’ll never forget what Tyr told me one night. He said that I shouldn’t blame myself for her problems. Instead of blaming myself, I should grow up strong so that when next I saw her, she would regret her actions toward me.”

“That’s what you’re doing?”

“I’m trying,” he gave her a crooked smile, his head tilted to the side.  “It’s hard sometimes, I guess, but my brother has never lied to me. He might be a cold-hearted bastard. But he never lies Luna, remember that.” 

“Okay, what about Tyr’s mother?”

“She and Dad fooled around, I heard. She was a real high-born bitch. She had Tyr and left town. I think that is what his problem is.. She just dropped off the face of the planet, not even sending him a letter or anything. Just poof …gone,” he chuckled again, rubbing the back of his head. “I guess we are all in the same boat, you, me, and Tyr. None of our mothers wanted anything to do with us. You know. . .

. . . Her eyes snapped open at the feel of someone else in the room. 

She tilted her head a little and stared into Tyr’s soft golden gaze. Taking in silently his look, his scent, the soft feel of his aura as the sunset behind her painted the room and him shades of color. Like a painting, he looks surreal standing there looking back at her. 

Is that how he understood her pain? Why he wants to help her?  “He never lies, remember that,” He told her he loved her and wanted her to find it in her heart to love him. But was that true or just his own pain talking? “He never lies ”  

The last rays of the sun dyed out, leaving the room dark and cool. Still, the two looked at one another as if to break contact; the other would disappear. 

A knock at the door made Luna blink, and Tyr released a breath he wasn’t aware he was holding. Something was going through Luna’s mind; he was sure of it. He felt like he was being judged, that whatever was going through her mind a few minutes ago was deciding if he was worthy or not. 

“Hey, slow people, Kage and Ayame are getting crazy down there waiting for you guys. You know we can’t start the movie without you guys, Tyr. What’s taking so long?”

Tyr growled low, a sound that Gram knew well, and caused him to flee from the scene. After his younger brother left, he turned back to Luna and smirked a little.

 “I promised you a movie without all the people, right?” he held out his hand, and before she could answer, the smell of hot buttered popcorn filled the air. 

She looked at his outstretched hand. So many possibilities lay in that hand, but could she really take the chance? Was she really considering feeling the pain of death yet again?  Her thoughts raced trying to come up with an answer. Then everything stopped   ‘what am I to you?’ she looked into Tyr’s eyes again and thought of everything she had done since he came back into her life. 

“A door,” she whispered out loud.

“What about a door?”

“You,” she blushed. “You ask me once how I would describe… what you are to me.”

“I remember,” he smiled down at her, making her heart skip a beat for some unknown reason. “But a door? Really?”

“Doors let things in and … provide protection,” she blushed again and looked away. Oddly, she didn’t know why she was blushing, only that sometimes when they were this close or when he said certain things, she couldn’t help it.  

“I can be that,” he almost purred as her gloved hand slid into his.  They walked into the hall toward the stairs in silence.

  “I was thinking, after exams tomorrow, we could have a picnic, you and I. What do you think?” while his talk with Gram didn’t give him any answers on what the two were up to. It did give him some clues, and if it was what he thought, it made him want to dig up the Kitsune and kill him all over again. He looked down at the girl who had his heart and felt the creature within wag its massive tail happily. 

“Um … alright,” she agreed, looking away quickly.

That feeling of confusion again filters through to Tyr. He swallowed the growl threatening to spill out and pulled her close as they took the stairs down. 

---

The room was darker than the rest of the house. Deliberately so.

Only the glow of the television illuminated the space, casting flickering shadows across walls and faces.

Explosions.

Gunfire.

Fast movement.

An action film.

Exactly the kind Tyr enjoyed.

Exactly the kind Luna had chosen.

He had noticed that.

Of course, he had.

Kage occupied the far end of the couch, sprawled across it as though he owned the furniture and the house alike.

Ayame sat cross-legged on the floor, already absorbed in the movie, muttering commentary under her breath every few minutes.

Gram dropped beside her with a bowl of popcorn, tossing pieces into his mouth with the carefree confidence of someone convinced nothing in the world could touch him.

Normal.

Loud.

Alive.

Then there was Luna.

She lingered just inside the doorway.

Still.

Watching.

Not the movie.

Them.

The way they spoke over one another.

Interrupted one another.

Laughed without consequence.

Tyr could almost see her mind working.

Too many inputs.

Too many unfamiliar rules.

Where do I sit?

Do I speak?

Do I stay quiet?

When do they laugh?

Before she could retreat, Tyr rose.

His hand found hers.

Not pulling.

Not demanding.

Simply guiding.

“This way,” he murmured.

She followed.

Careful.

Measured.

Tyr sat first, then gently drew her down beside him.

Close.

Closer than necessary.

But not enough to make her feel trapped.

That line always mattered.

That choice always mattered.

Luna sat rigidly at first.

Back straight.

Hands folded in her lap.

Eyes fixed on the screen.

Perfect.

Too perfect.

Onscreen, a car launched into the air before erupting in a violent explosion.

Kage let out a low whistle.

“Damn, that was clean.”

“Not realistic,” Ayame muttered. “The angle was wrong.”

“Everything’s wrong with you,” Gram shot back.

Luna blinked.

Not at the screen.

At them.

A moment passed.

Then she made a small sound.

Almost a laugh.

Almost.

Something tightened inside Tyr’s chest.

Because she hadn’t meant to.

Her attention returned to the film.

Following now.

Processing.

The pace was quick, but manageable.

There was structure.

Cause.

Effect.

Predictable chaos.

He noticed the slight easing of her shoulders.

The subtle release of tension.

Then she leaned.

Barely.

The faintest brush of her arm against his.

Tyr didn’t react.

Didn’t look.

Didn’t acknowledge it.

He simply remained where he was.

Steady.

Safe.

Her breath caught.

Waiting.

For rejection.

For correction.

For pain.

None came.

A minute later, she shifted again.

Closer.

This time deliberately.

Her shoulder settled fully against his.

Still tense.

Still aware.

But choosing it.

The bond stirred.

Nervous.

Curious.

As though she were discovering an entirely new law of existence.

Is this allowed?

Slowly, Tyr rested an arm along the back of the couch.

Not touching her.

Just there.

Available.

If she wanted it.

A fight erupted onscreen.

Fast.

Brutal.

Luna’s attention locked onto it immediately.

Her eyes followed every movement.

Every strike.

Every adjustment in balance.

Understanding.

This she understood.

She leaned forward unconsciously.

And when the protagonist took a hard hit, her fingers curled tightly.

Tension.

Anticipation.

Then came the counterattack.

Clean.

Decisive.

Her shoulders relaxed.

Relief.

A smile nearly found Tyr’s mouth.

Halfway through the film, Gram tossed a piece of popcorn at Kage.

“Bet you couldn’t land that shot.”

“Please,” Kage scoffed.

Ayame rolled her eyes.

“Both of you would’ve died in the first five minutes.”

Again, Luna watched them.

Studied them.

Then, very cautiously, she reached toward the popcorn.

Paused.

And took a single piece.

Mimicking.

Learning.

She chewed slowly.

Considered it.

Then reached for another.

Time drifted by.

The room settled into something softer.

Comfortable.

Luna shifted once more.

This time without hesitation.

She leaned fully against him.

Her head was resting lightly on his shoulder.

Not asking.

Not testing.

Simply existing.

The bond softened.

Her thoughts slowed.

Warm.

Steady.

Safe.

Carefully, Tyr lowered his arm around her shoulders.

Light.

Enough to be felt.

Not enough to confine.

She froze for only a second.

Then relaxed completely.

Her breathing evened.

The tension left her body.

And for the first time since he’d known her, she wasn’t calculating how to exist.

She simply existed.

Onscreen, another explosion lit the room.

Luna didn’t flinch.

Didn’t pull away.

Didn’t question anything.

She watched.

Calm.

Present.

Alive in a way she had never allowed herself to be before.

Tyr didn’t move.

Didn’t speak.

Didn’t dare disturb the moment.

Because this—

This quiet, fragile thing resting against his shoulder—was worth more than anything he could have said.

The courtroom was silent when Hakon Moon entered. Not respectfully silent. Cautious. Power recognized power. And everyone in the room understood instinctively that the man taking his seat beside his attorney was not someone accustomed to losing.

Across from him— Nui Moon sat draped in soft cream silk, dark hair immaculate, expression carefully composed into something wounded and elegant.

Victimized.

It was a good performance.

The judge called the proceedings to order. Nui’s lawyer stood first.

“Mrs. Moon,” the attorney began gently, “would you describe your marriage to the court?”

Nui lowered her gaze slightly. Perfectly timed.

“It was lonely,” she said softly. “Cold.” A pause.

“I tried very hard to make the marriage work.”

She glanced briefly toward Hakon.

“But Lord Moon and his sons never accepted me.”

A murmur moved through the room.

Nui continued.

“They treated me like an outsider in my own home. I was isolated constantly. Humiliated privately.”

She swallowed delicately.

“Tyr was openly hostile toward me. Gram ignored me completely. Hakon…” her voice cracked perfectly, “he made me feel disposable.”

More witnesses followed. Servants. Social acquaintances. People who swore they had seen Hakon dismiss her publicly. People who claimed Tyr frightened household staff. People who painted Nui as a neglected woman trapped inside a powerful family.

Hakon never interrupted. Never reacted. He simply sat there. Watching. Then—Nui’s attorney called another witness.

“Lady Luna Sano.”

The courtroom shifted.

Luna Sano rose quietly from her seat beside Tyr Moon. She moved toward the stand in silence. Perfect posture. Hands folded neatly. Eyes lowered.

 The lawyer smiled gently. Too gently.

“Lady Luna,” he began, “you spent considerable time within the Moon household, correct?”

A small nod.

“And during that time, did you witness mistreatment toward Mrs. Moon?”

Silence.

The attorney pressed carefully.

“Did Lord Hakon or his sons ever make Mrs. Moon feel unwelcome?”

Luna lifted her eyes slightly.

One blue. One brown. Flat. Quiet.

“No.”

The lawyer blinked. Recovered quickly.

“Did Mrs. Moon ever appear fearful around them?”

Another pause.

Then—

“No.”

A slight shift moved through the courtroom.

The lawyer smiled again, tighter this time.

“Then how would you describe Mrs. Moon?”

Silence stretched. Long enough to become uncomfortable.

Then Luna spoke.

Softly.

Clearly.

“She masks cruelty behind elegance and politeness.”

The room stilled.

The attorney’s smile faltered.

Luna continued before he could recover.

“She disrespected me at dinner multiple times.”

A pause.

“She insulted Lord Hakon’s sons often.”

Nui straightened sharply.

“Lady Luna—” the attorney interrupted carefully, “are you suggesting Mrs. Moon behaved improperly?”

“Yes.”

Simple.

Absolute.

The attorney tried again.

“And on what basis are you making these claims?”

Luna’s gaze shifted slightly.

Toward Nui.

“She is cheating on Lord Hakon.”

The courtroom exploded into whispers.

Nui surged upright.

“That little witch is lying!”

“Hush!” the judge barked.

Luna remained still.

Completely.

As if the outburst had nothing to do with her.

Nui’s attorney sat down shortly after.

Shaken.

Then Hakon’s lawyer rose.

“Call Tyr Moon.”

Tyr stepped forward calmly, taking the stand with the same controlled posture he carried everywhere.

“Lord Tyr,” the lawyer began, “how would you describe Mrs. Moon’s behavior within the household?”

Tyr didn’t hesitate.

“She masks cruelty behind elegance and politeness.”

The courtroom quieted again.

The attorney tilted his head slightly.

“Interesting.”

A glance toward the judge.

“Lady Luna Sano used the exact same phrasing moments ago.”

Nui paled slightly.

Tyr continued.

“She manipulates social situations carefully. Most people don’t notice it immediately because she presents herself well publicly.”

“And privately?”

Tyr’s gaze shifted toward Nui.

Cold.

“She enjoyed humiliating people she considered weaker than herself.”

Nui’s attorney objected immediately.

But the damage had already begun.

Then—

Hakon’s lawyer produced the photographs.

The room changed instantly.

Private dinners.

Hotel entrances.

Kisses.

Hands.

Dates.

Time stamps.

Six years of marriage—and affair after affair after affair.

Nui’s face drained of color.

“No—” she whispered.

But it was too late.

The judge reviewed the evidence in silence.

Then delivered the ruling.

Due to violation of marital agreements and extensive financial misconduct—

Nui Moon would receive:

Property originally brought into the marriage, personal clothing, and jewelry verified as individual gifts and nothing else.

No alimony.

No access to Moon assets.

No settlement.

The courtroom erupted.

Hakon stood first.

Straightened his cuffs.

And walked out without looking back.

Outside—Nui fumbled for her phone with shaking hands. Opened her banking app. $600.00. That was all. Her breath caught.

“No…”

She refreshed the screen.

Again.

Again.

Nothing changed. Millions gone. Accounts frozen. Access revoked.

“You can’t do this,” she growled, spinning toward Hakon as he exited the courthouse steps.

He paused. Looked at her once. Expression unreadable.

“It’s done.”

And then—Hakon Moon walked away. Without another word. Without another glance.

Leaving Nui standing alone—for the first time in years—with nothing but what she had brought into the marriage.

And no one left willing to save her.

The courthouse steps were chaos. Reporters shouting. Camera flashes burst like lightning. Lawyers moved quickly through the crowd while yokai security attempted to maintain order.

At the center of it—Tyr Moon guided Luna Sano carefully through the noise. One hand rested lightly against the middle of her back.

Protective.

Steady.

Luna remained quiet beside him. Head lowered slightly beneath the storm of attention.

Perfect posture.

Perfect silence.

Then—someone screamed.

“This is YOUR fault!”

Heads turned instantly.

Nui Moon came down the courthouse steps like something unraveling. Hair disheveled. Mascara streaked. Fury twisting every elegant feature she once controlled so carefully.

“You little witch!” Nui screamed, pointing directly at Luna. “You ruined everything!”

Luna stopped. Not out of fear. Out of instinct.

“You turned them against me!” Nui shrieked. “You poisoned this family!”

People backed away immediately.

The pressure pouring off Tyr changed the air itself.

Nui lunged.

Fast.

Wild.

Claws extending—Tyr moved before Luna even reacted. He stepped between them instantly and shoved Nui back hard enough that she stumbled down two steps, nearly falling completely.

“Enough.”

The growl in his voice froze the crowd. Nui stared up at him wildly.

“You chose HER over family?!” she screamed.

Tyr’s eyes sharpened dangerously.

“She is family.”

The words hit harder than the shove. Nui lunged again anyway. Desperate now. Uncontrolled.

This time, the yokai police intercepted her before Tyr could move again.

“Ma’am! Stand down!”

Two officers grabbed her arms as she thrashed violently against them.

“She destroyed my life!” Nui screamed, trying to twist free. “This is all her fault!”

“We saw the entire incident,” one officer stated sharply while securing enchanted cuffs around her wrists.

“You initiated physical aggression.”

Nui stared at them in disbelief.

“You’re arresting ME?!”

“Yes.”

The cuffs locked with a sharp metallic click. Nui’s breathing turned ragged. Wild.

“She planned this!” Nui screamed toward the crowd. Toward Luna. “She manipulates all of you!”

Luna stood silently behind Tyr. Still. Hands folded tightly together. Eyes distant. Not triumphant. Not angry. Just tired.

Tyr glanced back at her once.

His expression softened instantly.

“Come on,” he said quietly.

Luna nodded once.

Behind them, Nui continued screaming as officers dragged her toward a waiting vehicle.

“You think they love you?!” she shouted at Luna desperately. “You think they’ll keep choosing you?!”

Tyr stopped.

The entire staircase seemed to still with him.

Slowly—he looked back over his shoulder.

“They already did.”

Silence hit like an impact. Nui’s face twisted. Something in her finally cracked completely.

Then the officers forced her into the vehicle.

The door slammed shut.

And just like that—the woman who had spent years trying to poison the Moon household—was gone.

Tyr turned back to Luna immediately.

The fury vanished from his face almost unnaturally fast.

“You alright?” he asked quietly.

Luna looked at him.

Those strange blue-and-brown eyes were unreadable as ever.

Then—softly—

“Yes.”

Tyr held her gaze for a moment longer.

Making sure.

Then guided her down the courthouse steps—away from the shouting. Away from the cameras. Away from the wreckage Nui had created.

And not once—did he remove his hand from Luna’s back.

The campus was packed with visiting miko and students taking exams. After the first two exams, students were given a break. Now, instead of the classroom, students sat around various courtyards eating lunch or studying for their next exam.

 Kage and Ayame were the first to be finished, and they found a nice shady spot in the south courtyard. It was under a tree, right where Tyr and Luna could see them if they looked out the window. 

“So stalker girl … what’s wrong, you’ve been down all morning?”

“I wanted to do an all-day girls thing with Luna, you know,” Ayame shrugged before taking a drink of water. “But she said no. I guess she is going to be busy, you know.”

Kage chuckled and pulled one of her red ponytails. 

“You should know, stalker girl, that Luna has a problem with lots of people all together in one place. Even when we were younger, she would pick the place farthest from everyone else to sit. I don’t think that has changed. Foster seems to always encourage it.” Kage shook his head and quickly took a bite of Ayame’s sandwich, gaining him a frown.

“But Tyr –”

“Is too busy pounding his chest and proclaiming her his,” Gram laughed as he dropped to the ground beside the two.

“You …you heard?” Ayame blushed.

“Yea but don’t blame him. I don’t think he’s ever dealt with a girl quite like Luna before.” 

“I don’t think any of us has,” they laughed. “Where are they anyway?”

“There they are…hey,” Ayame waved them, observing them exit the main building.

“Damn, Stalker girl, your eyes are getting better and better.” Kage and Gram laughed at Ayame’s blush.

“What up, Tyr? So, how did it go?”

“Fine,” Tyr sighed as he sat down, leaving enough room so Luna could sit behind him. She looked at Ayame sitting between Kage’s legs. She had seen her do this enough times to wonder about it.  No one seems to notice Gram’s slight gesture but Luna. And to Tyr’s surprise, Luna settles between his legs, back against his chest.  For a little while, everyone was silent, scanning their papers, when Ayame looked up and sighed. 

“What is it, Stalker-girl?”

“Those Miko, they are doing it again,” she brought everyone’s but Luna’s attention to a group of Miko that had stopped not too far from where they sat. “This morning when we arrived at school, then in between exams, I think they are stalking us or something.”

“No, they are not stalking us, Ayame. Call it a tradition, but whenever miko higher or lower visit campus, they always walk where I can see them. If I were sitting somewhere alone, they would come over and introduce themselves if they didn’t already know me,” Luna finished in a whisper.

“Can you get them to go away? It’s kind of creepy,” Ayame whispered back.

“Not really, it’s sort of like … showing respect. But with Tyr’s help, I can get them to move away some. Um… would that help some?”

“Sure, that’s just creepy them being so close. Like they think we are going to hurt you or something.”

Luna moved closer to Tyr and pulled her legs close to her body, and with a sigh, suppressed her aura and energy. Tyr leaned his head into her hair, taking in her contented scent. 

“What am I supposed to do? Besides, act like a shield?” his warm breath ghosted across her skin, making her tremble a little.

“Flare your energy just a little like a warning,” she whispered. She felt his chuckle as he did as she asked. She wasn’t even aware that the laughter around her was, as she sank into the feeling being created by Tyr’s power and scent. She wanted to sink into him and lose herself in the warm feeling. She heard the whispering of his thoughts, adding to the warmth.

Tyr couldn’t help but tighten his hold on Luna and return the small sound of pleasure that slipped from her throat.  

Gram looked at his brother and Luna with a toothy grin, knowing only he was seeing something few witnesses had seen before. His brother, smiling a true smile of happiness, was mirrored a few seconds later by Luna. The two were clearly in their own world until the thought hit him.

“Ayame,” he started and scratched the back of his head, trying to figure out how to phrase his question. “Is it possible to only feel happiness through another person’s feelings?”

“Um . . . I guess it’s possible, but-” the bell ringing stopped anything else Ayame was going to say. The next exam was starting.

---

Luna was just leaving her last exam when her phone vibrated.  She hit the button and brought up the picture message it took all but a few moments between her gasp of horror and her streaking from the building.

 Her heart was pounding in her ears to the point she didn’t see or hear Ayame as she rushed from the school and off the grounds without a backward look or thought. 

She fell to her knees when she reached the spot in the picture; her scream echoed around the area and stopped. She felt something inside her slam shut.

---

The school was in a panic as the miko teachers were passing out one after another.  

Ayame searched through the chaos for her friends and Kage, only to learn they were rushed to the hospital wing. They all passed out as well, moments apart from one another. 

Across town, Yuu was frantic as well. He and Ryuu had been in a meeting when his son stood up only to pass out. 

Fei, on the other hand, was rushing to the hospital after the cleaning lady called him at the office. His mate Rin had collapsed, and she had been taken to the nearest hospital. 

“Help her” was whispered into their uncurious minds, “you have to help her”

In the darkness, they raced toward a figure that seemed to be dissolving into it.

 The dull eyes seem so familiar to them, but no matter how they yelled, the figure never answered. 

Twenty minutes later, they all jerked awake, each screaming out, “Luna” 

If asked later how they knew where Luna was, no one would be able to answer it. They would just say that they knew.

 The two cars rolled to a stop as the four friends jumped from the cars. They all followed Tyr into the wooded area behind the shrine. 

Tyr was surprised there was no barrier. The smell of smoke assaulted everyone as they reached the top of a small hill. Their eyes widened, taking in the scene that greeted them. 

Headstones were broken, and their pieces were scattered around the area.

 Three of the graves had been dug up the shattered remains of their caskets were beside the holes. Smoke rose from a blazing fire, a burning hand sticking out from the flames. 

They all spotted her at the same time and rushed down the hill. 

She was sitting on her knees in front of the fire, staring blankly at a burning skull.

“They . . .they”

“Who… who would do something like this?” Ayame gasped out.

They all heard Tyr trying to get Luna to snap out of the state she had fallen into. It was Gram who first noticed a note lying on the ground being held down by a rock. 

“Hey, check this out”

‘You can’t hide anything from me, girl. This is the last time I will ask nicely’

Ayame moved closer to Kage and Gram, letting them know something was wrong.

“What is it, Stalker girl?”

“We’re surrounded,” Ayame whispered.

A hail of gunfire forced the group away from Luna as a group of yokai rushed the area.

“Where did they come from?” Gram whispered. No one had sensed the group at all.

“You did this,” Tyr growled.

“Haha Haha of course,” the group of friends looked at a dark-haired yokai missing his right hand. His laughter stopped as quickly as it started. He signaled his group to take aim again. They fired yet again, forcing the group farther away.

The now smirking yokai strolled up to the unaware Luna and kicked her, knocking her to the ground and almost into the now smoldering fire.

“Pathetic,” he laughed at the combined growls of Luna’s friends. ‘The bitch thought she could take my hand and get away with it,’ he poked her with his foot and laughed again.

 “The bitch is broken. I told him, didn’t I, boys? I told him I could break the bitch. “He kneeled down beside Luna and stroked her face with his only hand, looking into her blank eyes. “To think someone so powerful is all sentimental over a few corpses. Pathetic! Now I’m afraid it’s time to finish the job. What do you think?” he questioned Luna.

He looked at Luna’s friends and gave his group the order to open fire. 

Tyr leaped forward, and next, no one can say for sure what happened. 

Ayame would say later she saw a black shadow, and Kage would say he smelled acid. 

Gram would tell everyone he saw Luna attack. But who believes him anyway?

---

Ryuu and his father rushed over the hill and came to a dead stop, having to cover their noses. 

The smell of blood and acid hung heavy in the air along with burning flesh. Their eyes widen, taking in the bloody carnage before them, and in the center of it sat a very bloody Luna rocking back and forth, eyes wide and blank. Everyone, including Gram, Ayame, Koga, and Tyr on the ground, bleeding.

Ryuu wasted no time in dropping to his knees beside his big sister in tears.

“Ryuu?”

“She is not here, Father. . . She… she’s gone”

“What happened here, Ryuu? What did you see back there?”

“Nothing father after she runs over the hill…there’s nothing”

Yuu shook his head as he checked over the four friends for a pulse. He sighed with relief. There was no way he was going to call Hakon and tell him his sons had died. Pulling his phone, he called the police and the pups’ families. 

Yuu swallowed thickly and turned to his little dragons quickly, making up his mind. 

“Take your sister to our home, Ryuu, hurry before anyone comes. We’ll figure out this mess once these four get seen, too”

“Right,” and with one last look over the carnage, Ryuu lifted his big sister into his arms and walked away frowning.  He felt real fear for the first time about his big sister. 

He knew better than anyone about her fragile state of mind when it came to Fosterpo’s family. Lady and Lord Sano took care of her in a way becoming her family. 

Lord Sano was a physician; he tried to heal the wounds inflicted by her real family. Lady Sano was a psychologist; she tried to fix the wounds inflicted mentally by that same family. And they were making progress until Rasan blew back into town. Weeks later, they ended up dead, a car bomb no one charged or found. But he knew, and Luna knew it was Rasan. He was the only one with something to gain. 

Ryuu sighed as he drove away from the shrine, passing the emergency yokai unit and the police. 

He looked in the rearview mirror at Luna. If he didn’t know better, he would have thought she was sleeping. But he knew this was how it started last time, after a while of no eating or real sleep, everything within her will start to shut down until she was comatose yet again.

 She almost died. He couldn’t understand what brought her back from the edge. 

Ryuu wiped the tears from his eyes. Ryuu remembered when he first brought her home

---

The storm did not greet them.

It watched.

Clouds coiled above the eastern cliffs, slow and deliberate, as if something vast had turned its attention toward the path below. The gates of black stone opened without sound when Ryuu approached, scales carved into their surface catching the dim light like old memory.

Luna walked half a step behind him. Quiet. Head lowered. Hands hidden in the long sleeves of her uniform. She did not look at the gates. She did not look at the sky. She did not look at the dragons waiting inside.

They were already looking at her.

The inner court was lined with them—still, composed, their presence heavy enough to press against the lungs. No one spoke. No one moved. The air itself seemed to hold its breath.

Miko.

The word never left a mouth.

It didn’t need to.

Luna’s shoulders drew in, almost imperceptibly. Not shrinking. Not quite.

Just… making less of herself.

Ryuu slowed only once, glancing back to make sure she was still there.

She was.

Exactly where she had been since they entered—close enough to follow, distant enough to disappear if needed.

He didn’t say anything. He didn’t need to.

They crossed the court and entered the great hall.

It was darker there. Larger. The kind of space that made sound feel unwelcome.

At the far end—Lord Yuu. He did not sit like a king. He sat like something that had existed long before thrones were needed.

Dark hair fell over his shoulders, threaded with faint scales that caught the low firelight. Horns curved subtly from his crown, not displayed—simply present. His form was still, but the air around him was not.

It shifted. Reacted. Recognized. His gaze moved. Not to his son. To the girl behind him.

Luna felt it immediately. She lowered her eyes further. Not fear. Habit.

Ryuu stepped forward, stopping where the stone rose slightly beneath the seat.

“Father.”

The word settled into the room and stayed there.

A pause.

Then—

“Why have you brought a miko into my hall?”

It was not harsh.

It was not welcoming.

It was a fact.

Ryuu didn’t move.

“This is Lady Luna Sano,” he said, steady. Certain. “My big sister.”

The words carried.

They changed something.

Not enough to soften the room—but enough to redirect it.

The dragons along the walls shifted their attention.

From her.

To him.

Then back again.

Luna did not lift her head. Did not react. Did not speak.

Lord Yuu watched her.

The silence stretched. Measured. Testing. She didn’t fill it. Didn’t apologize. Didn’t explain. Didn’t even breathe differently. She simply… stood there. Present. Empty. The absence of reaction became its own answer.

Ryuu didn’t look back at her this time.

He knew what he would see.

Lord Yuu rose.

The movement was quiet.

But the room felt it.

Stone acknowledged him. Air moved with him. Even the storm outside shifted, as if adjusting its position.

He descended the steps without haste. Each step deliberate. Each one closing the distance.

Luna didn’t move. Didn’t step back. Didn’t look up. Even as his presence settled in front of her—vast, ancient, undeniable— She remained still. A girl shaped by endurance. Nothing more. Nothing less.

Lord Yuu stopped an arm’s length away.

Close enough to reach.

Close enough to see.

Her eyes, when he finally saw them—Not lowered. Not fearful. Not defiant.

Vacant.

As if something inside them had been taken and never returned. He waited. For a reaction. A flinch. A shift. A sign that she understood what stood before her. There was none.

Only that same quiet stillness.

And something beneath it—Not strength. Not weakness. Something… worn down to its core.

His gaze moved briefly—to her hands hidden in her sleeves, to the tension held too tightly in her shoulders, to the way she existed without claiming space.

Then back to her face.

“Look at me.”

The words were calm. Not a command meant to break. A request.

Luna’s gaze lifted. Not quickly. Not fully. Just enough.

Her eyes met his.

And stayed.

Not because she wanted to. Because she had learned not to resist when asked.

There was nothing in them that reached for him.

Nothing that pushed back.

Just… absence.

And something so quietly sad it did not ask to be seen.

The storm outside stilled.

Lord Yuu did not look away.

“Ryuu,” he said, without breaking that gaze.

“Yes, Father.”

“You call her blood.”

“I do.”

“And she accepts this.”

A pause. Ryuu hesitated. Luna did not. She remained exactly as she was.

Present.

Silent.

Unclaimed, even when claimed.

Ryuu’s voice lowered.

“She doesn’t… refuse.”

Lord Yuu’s gaze flickered once.

Then returned to Luna. Understanding settled. Not spoken. Not shared. Simply… known. He turned slightly. Enough for the room to hear him.

“She stands in this hall under my son’s word.”

The air tightened.

Then—

“She will not be challenged.”

It was not warmth. It was law. Something shifted immediately. Not in Luna. Around her.

The dragons along the walls stilled again—but differently now. Not watching her.

Acknowledging the boundary.

Lord Yuu looked back at her.

She had not reacted.

Not to him.

Not to the room.

Not to the claim made on her behalf.

Nothing in her expression changed.

No relief.

No disbelief.

No gratitude.

Just that same distant quiet.

As if the words had reached her—And passed through.

He studied her a moment longer.

Then, softer—so quiet it barely touched the air—

“You do not believe it.” Not a question.

Luna’s gaze did not shift.

Her silence answered.

Of course, she didn’t.

Acceptance had never held.

Not once.

Not long enough to trust.

Lord Yuu straightened.

The distance returned.

The room exhaled without realizing it had held its breath.

“Ryuu.”

“Yes, Father.”

“She may remain.”

Another pause.

Then, deliberate—

“She is under my protection while she does.”

Final.

Absolute.

Luna lowered her gaze again. Not in gratitude. Not in acknowledgment. Simply… returning to where she existed safest.

Small.

Quiet.

Unseen.

The storm outside began to move again. But something within the hall had already settled. Not into warmth. Not into belonging. Into something quieter.

Something she did not yet recognize.

And did not yet believe—Had anything to do with her.

Fei slammed his hand down on the table in the waiting room and gave the officers a hard stare.

“I have lied to Lady Sano to get her to leave her home so you can find this bastard. I have given the High Yokai council every excuse in the book, and still, you have nothing. This bastard dug up the Sano Family and desecrated their remains. Still, you have nothing. He has a yokai and ningen army that keeps attacking my Lady Sano, and still you can’t find him. As of this afternoon, the High Yokai Council is taking charge of finding him, Officer,” Fei bellowed, bringing the eyes of everyone in the waiting room.

“Um, sir, you can’t do that. Lady Sano is human, so this falls to the Police Department to handle,” the officer spoke calmly.

“Lady Sano is part of the High Yokai Council, Officer, so this is a yokai matter,” Rin hissed softly.

“Hm, where is Lady Sano? We have some questions for her?” the officer spoke, ignoring the statements from the two and looking around. He opened his notebook and frowned. “I was told she wasn’t brought in with the others”

“That is none of your concern, officers,” Fei hissed, taking his mates’ hands. The two moved back to where Hakon sat waiting on the doctor. Ayame, Kage, and even Inu Yasha had woken up on their own. But Tyr was still unconscious, and no one could find a reason. The group only suffered from a few bumps and bruises. The way Kage explained it, they had been caught by surprise. No one mentioned to the police what really happened; maybe they didn’t want to believe it themselves.

The gathered group looked up, seeing Ayame again. Kage pulled her into his lap and nuzzled the back of her head with a sigh.

“I thought your grandfather had taken you home?”

“I told him I couldn’t leave yet. With Tyr still out and Luna missing,” she whispered low enough for Inuyasha and Kage to hear; everyone else was lost in their own world. She fell silent when a nurse poked her head into the room and told them it was all right for them to visit Tyr now. The adults filled out after each other, offering their support to the shaken Hakon.

It was well into the night when the team of doctors caring for Tyr sadly faced Hakon with the bad news.

“There is nothing you can do? How is this possible? My son should be immune to every poison,” he raged. They had to be doing something wrong. This wasn’t possible.

“I am sorry, My Lord. We have tried to treat him for every type of poison and venom known with no results. The poison is attacking his blood, crystallizing it. Hopefully, with the third transfusion, we can flush it out of his system. If not…” the doctor trailed off, and he, as well as the others, shook their heads sadly.

“I’ve only seen this once before,” the youngest of the doctors spoke up. “Do you remember Dr. Mya at the Tran-memorial hospital, that young Kitsune? He had the same symptoms.”

“Oh yes, I remember, but wasn’t he mated to a Miko, I believe? We had to transfuse him with her blood”

“Yes, yes, that’s the one”

“But they were mated, Dr. Mu. This young male Yokai clearly isn’t mated to anyone. Besides, we don’t even know if that girl survived. If you two would remember, her mate died some time ago.” All four doctors frowned. Not noticing Hakon as he looked at Fei.

“Describe this miko?” Fei demanded.

“Um, short with long dark hair. I remembered cause in the light it sparkled like stars in the night sky. Pale skin, and oddly enough she had … one brown eye… one blue eye … I kid you not. Every time she would come to see her mate, she was dressed in all black. No, that’s not right…black and red. And quiet; I never even heard her walking the halls. Do you know this miko?”

“Fei”

“I’m on it, my friend. Give me half an hour. I’ll bring the whole damn household if I have to,” Fei stated, kissing his mate and rushing off.

“My Lord?”

“We know that miko you described doctors,” Hakon stated hopefully for the first time in hours and thanked every Kami he knew for his son’s choice in future mates.

“Good.. Great,” the doctors exclaimed, looking among themselves. “She lives, think of everything we can learn from her blood alone. With future study…”

“No.. I will not allow you to treat my son’s mate-to-be like a lab rat. Try it, and I will personally make sure each of you is fired and never hired to work in a hospital, clinic, school, or pharmacy ever again in your lifetime.” The four doctors back away from the snarling Yokai. Besides, they could run some tests on the leftover blood, and no one would be the wiser.

“Just have the nurse page us when the young lady arrives. Um, we will set up the necessary equipment.” Dr. Mu mumbled before they rushed away.

---

Everyone was shocked as Fei rushed in, growling 

 “Yuu”

“Yuu, where are you?”

 The dragons had seen him numerous times, but seeing the lizard so upset had them rushing around looking for their master.

“What is it, Fei? Did young moon not make it?”

“No. No, Yuu, I know Luna is here; we need her at the hospital,” Fei hissed.

“Why…”

“It is not the time for games, Yu. I know she’s here. Don’t make me destroy your home seeking her out because I will. That pup will not die because you are afraid for her.”

“Gaea Papa, where are you? Everyone is scared of someth…Oh! Good evening, Uncle.” They both turned to Luna’s voice as she stepped into the room. She looked curious between the two. “What’s wrong, Uncle?”

“Luna, I need you to-“

“Fei, stop, she doesn’t-“

“What is it, Uncle? Has something happened? It is, not Aunt Rin, is it?”

“No, my hatchling, it’s.. Tyr. .he’s in the hospital. He needs your help right away.” It took Fei but a second to realize she didn’t know who he was talking about. His heart skipped a beat, and for a brief moment, he thought all was lost until she took hold of his sleeve and pulled him from the room.

“We have to hurry. Tell Ryuu to come to the hospital”

Fei whispered something in her ear as she stood next to the bed looking at Tyr.

 You didn’t have to have power of any kind to see that Tyr was in unbearable agony. He was bare to the waist; his veins stood out black and enlarged under his pale skin. She knew it was her poisons doing this. She was amazed his heart was still beating. If he had been a lesser yokai, he would have been dead hours ago.

Luna chewed her bottom lip and brushed his sweaty bangs with the back of her fingers. She wanted to help him; she did. 

“But wouldn’t that be taking away his choice?” she asked, not realizing she had spoken out loud. She was shocked to get an answer.

“I asked my son once why, after one date why the other females he picked were so unworthy. Do you want to know his answer?” Hakon touched her arm, making her look at him.

“Why?” Her voice soft.

“He said because they weren’t you, Luna. He made his choice after he met you, and from what I have been seeing, he hasn’t changed his mind since.” Hakon offered a slight smile.

“Com. .come b..back . . .do. .do not, go. . .Luna,” came Tyr’s pained growl. He weakly reached out as if searching for her before his hand fell back to the bed.

“You’ll find once Tyr makes up his mind about something, nothing, and I mean nothing, will change it. He is only going through this courting to make sure you want to be with him.”

“For me?” she mumbled. Nothing else was said as Luna stared at Tyr. The thought of him dying hurt in ways her parent’s punishments never did. He who helped her, encouraged her, who wanted so many things for her. She just hoped he didn’t hate her after this.

Luna sat on the edge of the bed and did what ‘fire-papa’ told her. She blocked out the noises from the machines and listened to him and his body… The rhythm of his panted breath, the sound his heart made as her poisons made their way through it. Its beat was slowing slightly. She watched from the foot of the bed as her blood that was taken tried to help. The blood bag was almost empty. But she could tell her blood alone wouldn’t do the job.

 The black veins on his face told her so much; her poisons had made their way into almost every organ in his body by now. Unlike Foster, she wasn’t going to be able to purify it. Once done, her poisons would always be a part of him. She sighed inwardly. ‘Another thing Rasan has tainted. Will I have anything you don’t ruin?’

She uncovered his feet to the ankles and stopped hearing the yokai move toward the door. “You must stay,” she spoke, never looking away from the marks across his ankles. ” As family, you must stand as witnesses”

“Luna,” Fei started, then stopped, not liking the sound of her voice. She was giving herself over to the souls inside her.

“The souls within say this must be so. Since my mate-to-be is barely conscious, you two must witness the marking and approve.” Fei looked at Hakon; both were curious, so they nodded and went back to the window, looking on.

She cut her thumb with a fang and drew a bloody line above each marking on his ankles.

Just as quickly, she drew three bloody symbols across his chest before the tiny puncture healed.

“With these symbols and under the eyes of our elders, I take you into my protection.” Her crystalline blue eyes took in the nod from both Fei and Hakon.

“With this mark, I/we give you the ability to withstand all of us. Until the time when we three become one.” Both Fei and Hakon could hear three separate voices speaking before she bit into his left wrist.

“This I give as a symbol of my vow to stand by your side. To honor and obey your wishes,” she bit his right wrist; his body jumped, his pulse sped up. The two males watched as Luna’s eyes bled a deep brown before her fangs elongated. They could tell this act was causing her pain.

She paused and looked at Hakon. He was in shock, looking into her eyes as they swirled from a deep chocolate brown to hazel. He found he couldn’t look away; neither could he move. Fei shook his old friend. 

“Snap out of it, you old dog.”

“I told you . .Oh, what happened?” Hakon growled, shaking his head.

“Didn’t I tell you a few moments ago not to stare into her eyes for long periods of time?”

“What are you saying I didn- (sigh)” They both heard Luna chuckle. It was completely dark and wicked. They glanced at her to see a vicious smirk painted across her face. She spoke minutes later, her voice dark and haunting.

“Do … you … Lord of the West … agree.. To ..ussss … tak-ing … thisss … male … un-der .. Our … pro-tect-ion. To … ssstand … by … hisss .. Ssside … when … the .. Time … comes … asss … ruler … of .. The .. West?”

Hakon was shaken. ‘She sounds like a snake Yokai. If I didn’t know better-‘

” Yes, of course, I do,” he spoke after Fei shook him again.

She nodded, her eyes locked on Tyr’s throat. His flesh seemed to beg her to sink her fangs in and bite down. But she moved along quickly. “Do… You .. Fei .. Assss … head .. Of ..the ..Sssano … family … agree … with … ussss … taking … thisss … male … asss .. Mate … and Lord of the Easss-t?”

To Hakon’s further shock, Fei hissed back. “Yesss”

Both watched wide-eyed as they witnessed Luna’s elongated fangs sink into Tyr’s throat. Their only thought was that it looked too much like a cobra strike for their comfort level.

Luna, on the other hand, was having a hard time pulling away. When his power-infused blood hit her throat, she purred. She drank deeply, tasting everything that he was and would be in his blood. She tasted his emotions, the high of his happiness, and the depth of his pain. Nothing about him was hidden from her.

She drank deeper still; his blood rushed across her tongue, and she tasted the emotional needs his inner beast suffered from. She took a few moments to encourage it to join with her. It played around her energy as if excited to be close to her again.

Again her instincts forced her to drink deeper until she tasted the very wellspring of his power … and for a moment she stilled until their souls joined and she knew he hadn’t even tapped into his true potential. It thrilled the souls within that the male they were tying themselves to still had more power none knew of. Her purr deepened. Yes, this was something they all agreed upon. Better still, when he finally reached his true power, together they would be unstoppable. None would be able to stand in the face of their wraith.

The souls within her smirked. ‘Besides, with her poisons now a part of him, none would be able to mark him and live.’ With this last thought, Luna finally pulled away and gave her mark one last lick before her legs gave out. She clutched the bed sheets and rested her head beside Tyr.

“Hatchling, are you well?” Fei rushed to her side. He leaned close enough to hear her whispered voice before turning wide, shocked eyes to Hakon.

“What… what is it, Fei?” the lizard Yokai waited until Ryuu, who had entered the room, walked away with Luna. Mumbling that he was taking her for an earlier breakfast.

Fei swallowed a few times. “She said that Tyr hadn’t even tapped into his true power yet, you old dog.”

“Really now.. So it is as I thought,” Hakon nodded.

“Why have you never told me this?”

“I didn’t think it was necessary, Fei,” Hakon shrugged. “All Inu Yokai outgrow the generations before them. It is the way it has always been. I thought you knew this. What’s wrong?”

“Don’t you get it, you old dog? If he is still growing in power, and Luna is still growing in power-” he didn’t have to finish as he watched Hakon’s turned, shocked eyes on him.

“What have we done, Fei? What have you talked me into, you … you?” he snarled, picking Fei up by his suit jacket. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr

“Okay, do I look like a dog to you? I don’t understand all that barking and growling.”

“F-f-father,” came Tyr’s voice, cutting through his father’s angry haze. He dropped Fei and was at his son’s bedside in a blink of an eye.

“Pup,” he purred, taking in his pup as he half-heard Fei’s statement.

“What’s done is done and can’t be undone!” Fei fixed his suit jacket and sighed. “Like Ryuu, your son bonded with the jewel in exchange for something. Now he is soul-bonded to Luna, and not even death will part them. Not even the Kitsune was bonded to her on that level. When finished, they will be like one being. He will gain power over something he never thought possible, and she will learn and become whole.” Fei finished speaking before closing the door behind him. It was time to spread the news that Tyr had finally awakened.

“Wha- what was he saying, father?”

“Nothing, my pup. Pay no mind to …

Rays of light crept slowly into the dark room, illuminating a scruffy-faced man. His 5 o’clock shadow had taken on a 5-day look. Dark hair usually tamed and combed stuck out everywhere, tangled in some places, matted in others.

Out of the robes he was dressed in, he was only wearing his undershorts. Displayed proudly: the markings that decorated his body.

A beam of light flashed across his face. He turned left and right before succumbing to the call to join the awakened few.

Beady eyes opened and took in the tiny space. Across chipped painted walls was smeared blood, tiny fragments of glass, and Jack Daniels. Rolling over, he tossed back the only glass of Jack Daniels that made it through his stress-relieving session last night.

He scratched his belly and sighed. This morning he hated everything. Nothing had gone right after that girl had been born.

Now he had lost his perfect home, his wife, and his bank accounts had been frozen. 

“Damn that girl,” he grumbled. “This is all her fault. Why won’t she just die already”

“Because you’re weak little brother”

“Go away”

“Look at you, driven to this pitiful state because you failed to do your duty”

“It wasn’t my fault, big brother,” he whined, “It was the stupid yokai whining about his hand.”

“Ha ha, now you are short twenty men, little brother”

“Tell me something I didn’t know,” Rasan hissed, red flashing through his eyes.

“You failed as I knew you would. This is divine punishment, little brother, for killing my son, idiot,” Rasan whined, his brother’s words knocking him out of his rage. Rasan turned pleading eyes on his brother as he moved back to his perch on the dresser.

“You…told…me…I…was…forgiven…when I gave you my…son…big…brother. You said-“

“Forget about it, little brother. Momiji was always an idiot. She never remembered how she placed the twins ever. But there is work to do, and you are not ready”

“You’re right as always,” Rasan rose and entered the bathroom. He took the razor Basan offered him on the way.

Two hours later, a cloud of steam followed Rasan from the bathroom. He wiped his hand across the dresser mirror and looked at his freshly shaven head and face; he frowned at his appearance. After all these years of fighting it back, the changes were happening. His ears, once rounded, were now pointed markings that painted his face and body. Sometimes he didn’t recognize himself.

“This is all the bitches fault; she just will not die no matter what I do,” he commented while dressing: a red undershirt, his favorite white V-neck sweater to ward off the coming cold weather, and a pair of dark green jeans to finish off his look. He was delighted no one would know him out of his usual black and purple robes.

Rasan looked around the room as he spotted his brown loafers. Wasting no time, he slipped them on his feet, excited for the few moments of peace.

 He hated that his brother knew more than he did. He hated that his brother used old deeds against him. Basan always knew how to push his buttons. Kami, he made one mistake, and his beloved older brother still hated him for it. Basan might toss it around a lot, but forgiveness was not part of his vocabulary.

A pill bottle falling to the floor brought him out of his thoughts. His sharp eyes took in the label.

“Thinking of taking them again, little brother?”

Rasan could hear the smirk painted across his brother’s face.

 “Is the guilt eating at you again? Thinking of how you killed my son instead of that bitch?”

“No … no, how many times are you going to mention that, Basan? I gave you my son…my son, and you killed him, my wife, and yourself.”

“Oh! Now you’re growing a backbone, little brother. You know it wasn’t my fault. If your wife could have kept that little creature under a more watchful eye, I would not have had the need to put her in her place.”

“Whatever, big brother, Momiji was weak, and you knew that,” Rasan hissed, red again streaking his eyes.

“Ha ha ha ha ha, there you go again, little brother; you have zero control.”

“I … have…control,” he snarled.

“Tell that to that Linda girl. Isn’t that her eye floating in that jar over there?” Basan chuckled. 

“And that poor, poor Yura, I think her name is. If I’m not mistaken, her eye and part of her tongue are in that jar in the bathroom,” he commented mockingly.

“They were stupid little twits who thought too highly of themselves. This way they can witness what true power really is and know that they are nothing compared to me.”

“No one will know, little brother the cops said a female Yokai attacked the two.” Basan laughed in his brother’s face.

“When I have the jewel of souls, everyone, even you, will witness my true power.” Rasan snarled and leaped through the image of his brother. Angry, he put his fist through the wall. ‘Why do I keep forgetting?’

“Ha ha ha ha ha true power! You let the tales of the jewel of souls go to your head . . . .

Rasan never noticed he was being watched. His ‘men’ had begun to notice he was a bit off lately. Talking to someone they could never see or feel. Fighting and screaming with something they couldn’t find. Now, as the lone yokai standing before the open door saw things were still declining. Watching Rasan throw himself on the bed and choke himself was the last straw; it was time to tell the others. They would not help a madman, no matter how much he was paying them.

---

“What does he want so bad that he would kill you for?” Fei asked the question that everyone gathered in Hakon’s study wanted to know. Rasan had been sighted, but none could find him. It was like he was a ghost. Especially since his wife had been found and rushed to the hospital.

 6 hours ago, she had been found by her sister when she didn’t show up for their lunchtime appointment. 

Fei and Rin had come first after hearing the news, followed by Yuu and Ryuu. Twenty minutes later, Kaede had been brought to the estate. But Kage and Ayame had already been there, informing Tyr about the make-up exams. It was not strange to Luna to see so many creatures of different species in the same room together silently. Every sofa and chair was filled, and so Luna dropped her pillow on the floor and perched next to Tyr’s leg.

Tyr rubbed her back for a moment; her tingle of fear mixed with shame moved through him.

“What does he want, Luna? You can tell us”

“We will protect you, Luna, and once we know what he wants, we can keep him from getting his hands on it,” everyone nodding, agreeing with Gram for once.

“He wants what can never be given again,” her voice small.

“What is the meaning of that child? What can never be given again?” Kaede asked.

She looked at everyone over Tyr’s legs. And with a small whisper, “Lorelei, the jewel of souls“

“But Luna, that jewel has been gone for hundreds of years; no one knows where it is. You have to be mistaken”

“I wish I was Kaede- sensai”

“Well, if you know where it is, the Miko Council will take it into our keeping. Now-“

“Did you not hear me, Kaede? It can never be given”

“Don’t be foolish, Luna. The jewel has been handed from person to person for years now.” Kaede kept at her rant, not paying attention.

 Tyr felt it, but the rest of the room saw the change in her eyes. Her brown eyes bled blue until they matched the others’. Her growl cut Kaede off everyone, but Tyr stared at her as if she had lost her mind.

“Foolish woman, I should know what I/we can and cannot give since she was born with it inside her own body. Besides, it is the brothers’ fault they can never obtain that which they wanted most.”

Gram, Ayame, and Kage stared with open mouths at Luna, not wanting to believe what they just saw.

“So it is true? Foster had said it, but I never believed him”

“I am not like those creatures you keep inside you. That can only get out a word or two in their excitement,” she rolled her eyes.

“What do you mean it’s the brother’s fault?” Yuu questioned, wanting to finally get to the bottom of things.

“Basan went too far with his punishment. The jewel was already cracked within its hiding place; words and actions have sharp edges for a child so young. Basan’s last beatings went too far, and the jewel broke. The soul within split, and one fled,” she stopped, the room quiet.

“It is as I thought that you are not the original yokai soul,” Tyr spoke.

“No, in her time of greatest need, the Yokai soul fled, leaving her alone. The pure souls of the jewel panicked and did nothing. It was we- the Yokai souls that anchored her to her dying body. It was we who shielded her; it was we who dug her way out of that grave. Three months it took for us, the Yokai souls, to repair the damage done and learn all that she knew to be her. But it was the pure souls that saw the damage we all were doing. Too many souls in one body.  So the pure souls came up with a plan: both the Yokai and pure souls would try and meld with her soul to become one.”

 “But only the Yokai soul was accepted. Accepted and encouraged the wellspring of miko powers to grow. The pure souls were ejected over time with tiny fragments of the jewel. Four pieces, four souls, into creatures never to be named. While we, the Yokai, souls remained, only three of us are left, and once we become one with Luna, the pure souls will lose their way back, and the jewel will never be complete again. So it can never be given again.”

“That’s impossible,” Kaede gasped. Everyone else stayed silent. While Tyr stroked her head, everything within her felt his pride at being mated to her.

“Yet we sit here” 

Tyr’s emotions poured through her. He didn’t really care what everyone was discussing. The talks they had with everyone were pointless, really. He just wanted time to think about things that had happened. Three hours after Luna had placed her mating mark in him, he was released from the hospital. They hadn’t had the chance to talk to each other about what had happened yet. As soon as they got to the house, they were descended upon by Dean Kaede and the rest. 

All he wanted was a few minutes alone with his mate, or half mate, as his father kept saying as they drove home. He thought the minute they got to the house he was going to whisk her away to their room for a few hours.

 All they got was an interrogation. If they had been paying attention, they would have known from the beginning what the bastard wanted. Hell, even he knew, and Luna didn’t have to open her mouth.

His eyes flew to the patio doors when he heard the words Luna mumbled under her breath.

Fuujin no Mai.

But it was too late; the patio doors were blown off the hinges …

No one wanted to talk about what happened two days ago. 

But you could still feel the fear in the air around the Estate.

 Friends, servants, in-laws, their Dean, and hell, even family learned that a viciously angry Tyr was something to fear. 

Luna seems to be the only one not affected by the sheer brutality in which Tyr attacked the wind Yokai.

Tyr threatens, he snarls, and even snatches creatures up by the throat.

Gram shivered at the thought, swallowed, and touched his own throat.

But never had Tyr been so simply… murderous. Even when he challenged his brother, things never went that far.

One thing Gram couldn’t get past was the sheer amount of fear in not only their father’s eyes but those of Fei and Yuu as well. Three powerful Yokai so terrified of a ‘pup‘ as they call them.

He found himself repeating those last few moments over and over in his mind. But if it wasn’t for Luna calling out his brother’s name, Gram believed that Tyr would have killed Casia. Not that anyone would have faulted him for the act. Casia shouldn’t have attacked Luna. That tornado thing not only tore up the sitting room, but it also sucked Luna right up.

Gram shivered again.

Remembering Luna’s screams kept him awake these last two nights. He had never in his life heard anyone scream like that. And when she stopped, their hearts froze over for a few moments. Being trapped in the room with no way out added to the situation. It was also the first time his brother’s very energy almost choked the life out of them. If it wasn’t for Lady Rin’s quick thinking, they would have all died.

So lost in thought, Gram almost missed the hand being waved in his face.

“Yea,” he mumbled, shoving his hands in his pockets.

“So how did you do?” Ayame’s hyper voice chimed.

“Keh,” he frowned.

Everyone had wandered away from each other in search of their grades posted on the pillars in the hall.

“Well,” he looked away.

“Don’t tell me… after all that studying”

“Gram,” came Luna’s worried voice. She had stayed up late helping him study for his finals. He couldn’t take it, and when he faced them again, he had a big cheesy grin painted across his face.

“I . . .I passed,” he laughed. “I made the Dean’s list this year,” he cried out, throwing himself forward. He lifted Luna up and twirled her around. “If it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t have passed at all.”

The group laughed even as Tyr pulled Luna from his brothers’ arms and back to his own with a slight growl. ‘Mine’

“Girl, you need to give him some,” Ayame laughed out.

“Some of what?” Luna questioned, still slightly dizzy.

“Some of what? Hahaha, now that’s funny, Luna ha ha ha,” Kage laughed even as Ayame leaned over and whispered in her ear. They watched as her eyes widened as she shook her head.

“He doesn’t want anything like that, Ayame. Do… you?” she turned to Tyr as he raised a brow in question. Knowing Ayame, this was going to be good.

“Do I what?” he leaned down and lets her whisper in his ear.

“You both know that whispering is rude…what the-” Everyone in the hall took a step back at the rise in Tyr’s energy.

Everyone could plainly see his eyelids half-mast, the now jagged look of his facial markings. His rumbled growl had most moving toward the exit. Gram, Kage, and Ayame both looked at the two. And Luna seemed so caught up in what she was whispering that she didn’t notice.

Tyr’s hands were clenched tight; the creature within him fought him for a moment. Luna’s voice whispering such sexual things did things to both of them. If he didn’t know of her innocence, he would swear she was trying to seduce him. But he knew better, and with a few promises, his beast settled. He couldn’t help himself and licked his lips, brushing her cheek as she pulled away.

“That and more, please,” he growled before he leaned down and whispered something he had been thinking about for a while, equally pleasing. He smirked as her blush spread and laughed as she rushed away.

“We will meet you guys back at the house,” Tyr rumbled and slowly walked off after Luna.

“Something tells me you shouldn’t have told whatever it was, Ayame,” Gram laughed, watching Tyr stalk Luna out into the courtyard.

“I didn’t think she would tell him,” she shrugged. “Besides, someone needed to give them a push. Once Tyr places his mark on her, he’ll be less growly,” she laughed.

“I second that,” Kage added as they walked off.

Later at the Moon Estate, the gang met up with a blushing Luna wearing Tyr’s mating mark and a smirking Inu Yokai. They did the only thing they could think of…

“Congrats, you guys”

“Finally, damn, congrats bro”

“Welcome to the family heir of the west,” came Fei’s voice as he stepped from Inu Tashio’s office.

Tyr was worried about what Fei was warning his mate against. So he listened in to the conversation. As usual, Luna stood silent as Fei spoke. He watched from the corner of his eye as Fei cupped Luna’s chin in his large hand.

“I have always encouraged you, my Hatchling. . . Never question you too much about your choices. But I would like you to answer this one question, my little hatchling. You know pain and suffering, you know brutality and all its evils…but hatchling, do you know what happiness is?”

They were both shocked as she raised her eyes to meet Fei’s and smiled. A smile that could clearly be seen in her eyes.

 “Happiness is … Tyr,” she stopped and looked at Tyr for a minute. She felt it when he entered the room, even if he was suppressing his aura and energy. His emotions always flooded her system like sunlight in a dark room. She found herself awed that anyone could feel so many emotions and still remain standing. Stranger still, half never showed on his face at all, but still, they flooded her system. 

Tyr’s emotions were addictive, like the candies that Ryuu gave her once a year on the anniversary of her becoming a Miko.

 Some she knew nothing about or how to deal with them, but they still gave her such a warm, pleasant feeling in the pit of her stomach. His emotions overshadowed the voice that told her this was wrong. He was her doorway to such new things. Her eyes snapped back to Fei.

“That’s-“

“Happiness is when he looks at me and sees only me. Happiness is when he holds my hand and whispers that he loves me. Happiness is . . . being able to feel his love without any disgust whatsoever. Happiness is the way Tyr makes me a turkey sandwich with his own two hands cause he says the cook doesn’t make it right.” She smiled wider. 

“Happiness is being confused, and Gram saying it’s alright all the while giving me small helping phrases that no one else hears. Happiness is Uncle hanging out with three creatures who act like I am as normal as they are. They include me in in-jokes I don’t understand, and after all they have seen, they still treat me the same. And none of that would have been possible without Tyr. He is my happiness,” she finished with a slight tear in her eye. Fei simply smiled his toothy grin as he hugged Luna.

“I will never say anything bad about the Inu Yokai again,” Fei laughed. “Well, since you are in such good hands, I guess you have no more need for this old lizard.”

Tyr couldn’t hear what she said to Fei, but he saw the big grin and the twinkle in the eyes of the Lizard as he left. Kami, how he loved that female. . .

He watched as she touched his mark, lost in thought. He didn’t need their connection to know what she was thinking about. They might not have gone all the way, but he did give her something to think about. When she was ready, she would come to him. For the first time, he found himself thanking the Kitsune fool. Because now he was the first to touch and kiss every inch of his female’s soft flesh. He smiled. But now wasn’t the time; they had a movie to watch.

He caught her eye. They stared at one another for a moment. Through their connection, he didn’t hesitate to let her know how he felt. “You gonna stand there all night?”

“Nope I got better things to do,” she laughed and took his hand. ‘Happiness is . . .’ she sighed inwardly snuggling between Tyr’s legs to watch the movie. ‘Did we ever tell you. . we like this‘ the souls within her rumbled back to her. She smiled as his arms settled around her.

“Pass the popcorn Stalker girl”

“Shut up Kage the movie is starting” the main character was already running from something.

“You shut up Gram” a scream echoed from the TV.

“Both of you Shut-up” the opening credits rolled.

“Don’t tell me to shut up. . just take the stupid popcorn” the police arrived at the scene of the crime.

“All of you shut up” Tyr growled from the floor to the sofa behind him and Luna. Grabbed the popcorn from Ayame and settled it on Luna’s lap.

‘Happiness is being around these creatures’ Luna giggled and turned her attention back to the movie while munching popcorn.

---

The movie ended.

No one moved right away.

The screen faded to black—But the room stayed warm.

Quiet.

“Finally,” Kage groaned, stretching.
“That took forever.”

---

“You talked through half of it,” Ayame shot back.

“Because it was predictable.”

“Because you’re annoying.”

“Because you—”

“Get out.”

My voice cut through them.

Low.

Not angry.

But final.

They paused. Then—Grinned.

“Ohhh,” Gram snorted, standing.
“Someone wants alone time.”

“Shut up.”

“Don’t have to tell me twice,” he laughed, dragging the others toward the door. Ayame waved.

“Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do!”

“That doesn’t narrow it down,” Kage muttered. The door shut behind them.Silence settled over the room.

Luna didn’t move.

She remained seated between Tyr’s legs, her back resting against his chest, the forgotten bowl of popcorn balanced loosely in her lap.

Tyr stayed just as still.

He didn’t rush the moment.

He didn’t try to fill the silence.

He could feel the bond humming softly between them, carrying fragments of her thoughts like ripples across still water.

Warm…

Close…

Why does this feel like this…?

His arm tightened ever so slightly around her.

Not enough to restrain.

Just enough to remind her he was there.

She drew in a quiet breath.

Then her fingers curled into the fabric of his shirt.

A tiny movement.

Instinctive.

“Luna…” he murmured.

She didn’t answer.

Instead, she leaned back against him another fraction.

Good.

Lowering his head, Tyr brushed his nose gently through her dark hair.

Slow.

Testing.

She became perfectly still. She neither pulled away nor melted into the touch, suspended somewhere between uncertainty and acceptance.

“Are you alright?” he asked.

A long pause followed.

“I… don’t know.”

Honest. She was always honest.

“What don’t you understand?” he asked gently.

Her fingers tightened against his shirt.

“This feeling.” She hesitated.

“It’s not like before.”

Tyr understood immediately.

Before, Luna had borrowed emotions from the people around her, experiencing them secondhand.

This…This belonged to her.

“It’s yours,” he said quietly.

She shook her head.

“It’s too much.”

A low hum vibrated through his chest, soft enough that she could feel it against her back.

Grounding.

Steady.

“You don’t have to understand everything all at once.”

His hand slipped from her shoulder, slowly trailing down her arm. Carefully. Patiently.

Her breath caught. But she didn’t stop him.

His fingers reached her wrist. Turning her hand gently, he guided it to his chest, pressing her palm over the steady rhythm of his heart.

It beat firmly.

Strong.

For her.

Her gaze dropped to where their hands rested together.

“It’s… fast.”

“It always is when I’m near you.”

Silence settled between them once more.

Heavy.

Her thumb brushed lightly across his shirt.

“Why?” she whispered.

The question gave him pause. She wasn’t asking about his heartbeat. She was asking about him.

“Because I want you,” Tyr answered simply.

There was no hesitation. No attempt to soften the truth.

Luna’s body stiffened. Not with fear. With something unfamiliar.

“…Like Ayame said?”

A quiet laugh escaped him.

“Partly.”

He leaned closer, his lips hovering near her ear, close enough that his words became warmth against her skin.

“But not only that.”

Her breathing faltered.

“I want all of you,” he continued softly.

“The way you think.”

“The way you learn.”

“The way you look at the world as though every moment is something worth discovering.”

He paused before adding,

“And yes…”

“…the rest of you too.”

Color bloomed across her cheeks.

Slowly.

Deeply.

“I don’t understand that part,” she admitted.

“I know.”

His hand drifted back from her wrist until it rested lightly against her waist.

She froze again. Only for a heartbeat. This time the surprise faded more quickly.

“You don’t have to understand it yet,” he said. “Not until you’re ready.”

He gave her time.

Allowed the silence to breathe.

Then, with careful hands, he turned her just enough that she could look at him. Her eyes lifted to meet his.

Searching.

“Do you trust me?”

There was no pressure in the question.

No command.

Only quiet sincerity.

Luna held his gaze for a long time.

Thinking.

Feeling.

Then she gave a small nod.

“…Yes.”

Something inside Tyr became wonderfully still. It wasn’t triumph. It wasn’t possession. It was something far quieter. Something infinitely more precious. Slowly, he lifted a hand to her face. Giving her every opportunity to stop him.

She never did.

His thumb brushed gently across her cheek.

Warm.

Soft.

He leaned forward and pressed a lingering kiss against her forehead. Not her lips. Not yet. This mattered more. Her eyes widened ever so slightly. Then softened.

“That feels… different,” she whispered.

A faint smile touched his lips.

“It is.”

She continued studying him. Then, without warning, Luna leaned forward until her forehead rested gently against his. Not because she was copying him. Not because she thought she should. Because she wanted to.

Tyr closed his eyes. He let the quiet settle around them. He didn’t move. He didn’t ask for more. This had been her choice.

Her step.

When the time came, he would take the next one.

Only when she was ready.

Tyr had been talking to Fei, his father, and the yokai police squad as he paced. The burning of his beloved mates’ shrine had been the breaking point. The human squad was doing nothing, and his beloved angel was suffering.

As he paced, he growled.

The day started out wonderful they had just left the mating office, papers in hand. When Luna decided they were going to get some more of her clothing and check on her home. The scene they came upon was a shocking one.

Whoever had done the deed had broken the tori gate to splinters and set the shrine ablaze. Only half the building was saved, the other reduced to ash. The fire department was surprised even that much of the building was saved. Tyr was just thankful the wolves grabbed Luna before she raced into the inferno.

Later she was inconsolable, and Tyr witnessed for the first time the worst panic attack in the history of the world, leaving him no choice but to call the doctor. The doctor put her to sleep a claiming rest was what she needed.

‘That was hours ago,‘ he noted, looking again at his father’s mantle clock.

To him, the police, whether yokai or human, were useless. For kami-sake, all they wanted to do was ask a lot of questions about things that were none of their business. Just once he would like for someone to tell him they caught the bastard. Because if this were the older days the elders spoke of, he would be able to track that bastard Rasan down and rip him to pieces. Without all this talking and red tape (sigh), it was useless.

The tightness in his chest gave him pause. For a moment he couldn’t take in air. As quickly as it came, it was gone, and he knew something was wrong. He trained his senses on his mate in the room above him. Something wasn’t right. He was out the door and up the stairs before anyone could question him. His mate, his angel, was more important than some stupid questions.

She tossed and turned, sweating and mumbling, caught in the nightmare again.

Foster covered her eyes as Fei drove them somewhere. ‘Foster,‘ her voice caressed his mind.

‘It’s a surprise,’ his voice in her mind, gleeful.

“Keep your eyes closed,” he whispered as the car stopped. She trusted him to lead from the car and across a peddled walkway. The sun warmed her body; the warm breeze spoke to her of flowers, lots of grass, and trees. There was even a hint of water. Whatever he was showing her had to be grand indeed. She sighed. Foster always showed her such wonderful things. She waited patiently until he told her to open her eyes. 

The sight that greeted her was amazing; a large tori gate gleamed in the daylight like a beacon. The shrine, beautiful in its colors it called to her – home- is what it said. The endless fields of flowers and trees calmed her soul. She looked to her mate in question.

“This is to be our home, my heart,” he smiled. The proud, pleased look he graced her with at her touch of happiness showed through his forest green eyes.

But her happiness turned to horror as, before her eyes, Foster began to bleed from a hole between his eyes. The once-gleaming tori gate became broken and splintered. Her beautiful home burned, the flames reaching high into the sky. The heat from the flames licked her skin. The black smoke choked her lungs, bringing tears to her eyes.

Everyone walked around her, uncaring of her pain.

She woke in a panic, the feel of the flames still licking against her skin. Air swooshed from her throat; she felt as if she couldn’t draw a breath. As if Rasan again had that plastic bag on her head, squeezing it tighter with each passing minute. A surreal brightness settled on everything, making it hard to focus. She rolled into a ball, one hand tightening on the pillow, the other fisted at the center of her chest.

Reliving the burning of her beloved home again pushed her over the edge. The flames burned hotter, the bag shrunk, sucking tight over her mouth and nose every time she tried to draw a breath.

Spinning, spinning, the room was spinning out of control. Air she needed to get some air.

Tyr burst into the room with Fei and his father right behind him. The two froze in shock at the horrifying scene. Luna’s powers flared to life, painting the room in an eerie glow. Sweat poured off her face, soaking her hair and clothes. Her pale, blushing lips seemed to be a deep, dark color; air whooshed from her lips in sick gurgles. They watched her body lock up and jackknife as she struggled. Neither had witnessed anything like this.

Hakon had to bodily remove Fei from the doorway; the anger pouring off the lizard was doing nothing to help the situation.

“You must calm down, Fei”

“T-That Bastard, he did this, Hakon. I know he did,” Fei hissed, red streaking his eyes. “He hurt my hatchling Inu…my hatchling, and there’s nothing I can do to help her. Did you see that… she… she? Oh Kami,” Fei slipped to his knees, shaking.

---

Fei hissed, trying to speak, but his voice failed him.

Tyr didn’t hear a word.

He couldn’t.

Luna was still fighting something that no longer existed.

He caught her wrists and pressed them gently—but firmly—against the mattress.

“Luna,” he said, his voice low and unwavering. “Listen to me.”

Nothing.

Her breath hitched sharply.

Then stopped.

No.

Not again.

Tyr leaned down until his forehead rested against hers, throwing the bond wide open.

Luna.

Silence.

Angel.

Still nothing.

He pushed deeper, forcing his way past the panic, past the terror, past the memories consuming her.

There.

He found her.

Curled into herself.

Burning.

Suffocating.

Alone.

You’re not there.

Her head shook violently.

I am.

He reached harder through the bond, refusing to let her disappear beneath the memory.

Dragging her attention.

Dragging her back.

“Breathe,” he growled, his lips only inches from hers.

“With me.”

In.

Her chest shuddered.

Out.

Nothing.

Again.

“In.”

She gasped.

Sharp.

Painful.

But real.

“Out.”

The breath left her in a broken sob.

Good.

Again.

He refused to stop.

Refused to let the nightmare reclaim her.

“Stay with me.”

His grip tightened.

Never enough to hurt.

Only enough to anchor her.

Her eyes fluttered.

Focused.

Not completely.

Just enough.

“T…Tyr…”

The whisper nearly unraveled him.

Relief crashed through his chest with such force he almost lost his own composure.

“I’ve got you.”

There was no softness in his voice now.

Only certainty.

“Nothing is touching you.”

Luna trembled violently, her mind still caught between two worlds.

But little by little, her breathing began to mirror his.

Slowly.

Painfully.

She came back.

The room fell silent as her breathing steadied.

Not calm.

But no longer drowning.

Luna lay trembling against the mattress, utterly spent, each breath uneven as though her lungs had forgotten how to trust the air.

Tyr didn’t move.

Couldn’t.

One hand remained at her shoulder.

The other still encircled her wrist.

Grounding.

Anchoring.

Keeping her here.

Her eyelids fluttered open.

Her gaze searched the room before settling on him.

The moment recognition reached her eyes, something inside her broke.

“Tyr…”

Her voice was barely audible.

Small.

Filled with shame, as though surviving required an apology.

“I’m here,” he answered immediately.

Without hesitation.

Without leaving room for doubt.

Her hand lifted weakly, trembling as her fingers closed around the front of his shirt.

She pulled herself toward him.

There was nothing graceful about it.

Nothing controlled.

Only desperation.

He met her halfway.

Guiding her against his chest.

Wrapping both arms around her with quiet strength.

Holding her firmly enough that she could not drift away again.

“I couldn’t breathe,” she whispered into him.

“It was… there was…”

“I know.”

She shook her head quickly.

“No… You don’t. It was like…”

“A bag.”

She froze.

Then gave a small, trembling nod against his chest.

Her fingers tightened in his shirt.

“I thought I was back there,” she confessed.

“I thought he…”

“You’re not.”

His hand slid gently to the back of her head, holding her against him.

“You’re here.”

Another shaky breath escaped her.

Tyr lowered his voice until it became little more than a steady rumble she could feel through his chest.

“Feel me.”

He waited.

“Not the memory.”

Slowly, she obeyed.

Her shoulders loosened by degrees.

The rigid tension began to melt from her body.

Her breathing found his rhythm once more.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered.

Tyr rested his cheek lightly against her hair.

His hand stroked slowly through her hair, each movement deliberate and unhurried.

“You survived.”

He tightened his embrace ever so slightly.

No matter how many times the darkness tried to take her.

Something inside Tyr snapped.

Not anger.

Never at her.

“There is nothing for you to apologize for,” he said, his voice low and unwavering.

Luna flinched anyway.

“I lost control…”

“You were hurt.”

“I scared them.”

“You survived.”

She fell silent.

As though the words didn’t belong together. As though she had nowhere inside herself to place them.

His hand moved slowly down her back. Not merely comforting.

Grounding.

Claiming her presence in the moment.

“You don’t apologize for pain,” he murmured.

“You don’t apologize for breathing.”

Her grip on his shirt loosened slightly.

But she didn’t let go.

“I don’t like it,” she admitted after a long silence.

“Feeling like that.”

“You won’t go through it alone again.”

That drew her eyes back to his.

She searched his face carefully.

“You promise?”

“I don’t make promises I can’t keep.”

She held his gaze for another long moment.

Then gave a small nod.

Quiet.

Certain.

Minutes slipped by.

Her breathing steadied.

The rigid tension slowly drained from her body.

Then she spoke again.

“I feel dirty.”

The words were barely above a whisper.

Yet they struck him with surprising force.

Tyr became very still.

“From the smoke?” he asked.

She shook her head.

“From… inside.”

He didn’t hesitate.

“Go take a shower.”

She blinked at him, uncertain.

“I’ll be right here,” he added.

There was no hesitation in his voice.

No room for doubt.

She studied him once more.

Long enough to be certain.

Then she nodded.

Carefully, Tyr helped her to her feet.

Her legs still wavered beneath her.

When she reached the bathroom door, she paused.

She looked back over her shoulder, uncertainty lingering in her eyes, as though she feared he might disappear the moment she closed the door.

“I’m not going anywhere,” he said.

Only then did she step inside.

The door clicked shut behind her.

Moments later, water began to run.

Tyr remained exactly where he was.

He didn’t sit.

He didn’t pace.

He simply stood in the quiet, listening.

For her breathing.

For anything that sounded wrong.

Several minutes passed before another presence entered the room.

Quiet.

Measured.

Heavy.

Fei.

He said nothing at first.

He didn’t need to.

“She’s showering,” Tyr said without turning.

“I know.”

Silence settled between them.

Then Fei spoke.

“What you did…”

His voice was slow, thoughtful.

“I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Tyr finally turned toward him.

There was no accusation in Fei’s expression.

No anger.

Only disbelief.

“I usually sedate her before it reaches that point,” Fei continued.

“So she doesn’t have to feel it.”

Tyr’s jaw tightened.

“That doesn’t stop it.”

“It prevents this,” Fei replied, unable to keep a trace of frustration from his voice.

Tyr slowly shook his head.

“No.”

“It delays it.”

The silence that followed felt heavier than before.

Uncomfortable.

Reflective.

“She came back,” Fei said quietly after a while.

“You brought her back without force.”

“Without medication.”

He hesitated.

“How?”

Tyr exhaled slowly.

“By not letting her go.”

Fei frowned.

“That isn’t an answer.”

“It’s the only one that matters.”

Their eyes met.

“She wasn’t fighting the panic.”

“She was trapped inside it.”

A thoughtful silence followed.

“So I went in.”

Understanding slowly crossed Fei’s face.

Reluctant.

Measured.

“And anchored her,” he said softly.

Tyr offered no reply.

None was necessary.

Fei released a long breath.

Something shifted behind his eyes.

Something older than exhaustion.

“You did what I couldn’t.”

There was no bitterness in the admission.

No wounded pride.

Only honesty.

His head inclined ever so slightly.

Barely enough to notice.

Yet unmistakable.

“Thank you,” he said quietly.

His voice carried something close to reverence.

“For protecting my hatchling.”

Tyr remained silent.

He didn’t think of it as protection.

He hadn’t rescued Luna.

He had simply stayed with her when the darkness tried to pull her away.

Sometimes…

That was enough.

Behind them, the water stopped.

Both men turned toward the bathroom door.

Whatever came next, one truth remained between them.

Neither of them intended to leave Luna alone again.

Well, tonight is the night. I can feel it. I will make her mine for all time after the school dance. I sometimes forget this is all new to her; my angel is all logical about this, of course. Her first words on the subject as she wasn’t afraid because she knew we would fit. That there should only be momentary pain because it would be her first time, though she had no barrier because of childhood issues. Strange right?

Secondly, she commented that by my scent and aura I was in perfect shape and therefore I was the perfect male to mate with. I almost laughed, but oddly I felt turned on that she was so instinctual about the subject. I mean, come on, this is sex we were talking about, and she was so laid back about it.

She even went further, saying by my scent alone she could tell I was no virgin and should know how to get my ‘own’ pleasure from her body. I didn’t know what to say at first. I asked what of her pleasure? She commented that sex was just for males’ pleasure and producing pups. Females only gain pleasure from birthing healthy pups. I wanted so bad to ask if we were living in the dark ages or something. Because that is just something a female from then would say. 

But she, of course, told me that is what her mate’s mother told her. Okay, wasn’t that female a head shrink or something? Wouldn’t she know what something like that would do to a female like my Angel? It upset me, of course, not that I let my angel see it or feel it.

But nothing she said changed my mind; tonight will be the night. If I can’t tell her, I’ll show her again and again until I prove my point. I can’t wait until she smells of nothing but me.

Okay, change of subject… if I keep thinking and writing about my angel, I am going to need another extra icy shower. And I’ve had three already since this morning.

After graduation, father has graciously permitted me to take my mate to his summer home in the mountains. I am thinking two or three weeks away; the mountain air and rolling green hills should impress my mate. I have even planned for a few nights’ worth of moonlight strolls, picnics by the lake, and a few lazy days where I can wait on her hand and foot. I have it all planned out. And nothing can go wrong.

 I’ve even planned for Gram, Ayame, and Kage to visit us in the last week of the month.

With everything in place, we only have to get through this dance, and we have the rest of our lives to live peacefully. If I don’t kill my little brother beforehand, that is . . .

Signed off. . . .

Tyr snatched open the door.

 “For the love of … What … Wow,” he stood stunned, staring down at Luna. She blushed under his intense stare. Neither noticed the other three teens laughing in the background.

“Is it that bad?” She twitched while playing with a curl.

“Only if bad meaning good applies. Wow. Every time I think you can’t look any more beautiful,” he watched her eyes shimmer an intense blue before they settled back to their regular color. 

Her eyes, lined in black, shimmered along with her long lashes, the silvery eye-shadow giving her eyes an otherworldly appearance. Gone was the blood-red of her lips; in its place, her bubblegum pink lips shimmered and glowed in such a way that made him want to kiss her endlessly. Her long raven mane hung up in little tiny ringlet curls, making her adorable as well as the look of a goddess.

Right when he was about to give in to his urges and kiss her senseless, Ayame squeezed between the two. She was shaking her head. 

“No way, Tyr, it took me hours to get her just right,” causing Kage and Gram to laugh again. “Besides, lunch is ready, and your father wants us all at the table now”

Tyr growled, not liking that he was being denied his female affections. It sent Gram and Kage fleeing down the stairs. Ayame turned.

 “Don’t growl at me, Tyr Moon. Come on, Luna, and leave Mr. Growly alone.” She pulled the stunned Luna across the hall and down the steps.

After lunch, Tyr made some calls, and everyone could tell they upset him. While Luna sat through a talk with both the yokai and human police. Neither was happy or relaxed by the time it came time to leave.

“I hate that you can’t come, Gram”

“It’s fine; besides that, I’ll see you guys after for dinner. I got the reservations all ready. It’s a cool ass place, you’ll love it.”

“It won’t be any fun without you”

“It’ll be okay. Just stick close to Tyr in case that sicko shows up again. He’ll protect you, okay?”

“Come on, Luna, or we will be late,” came Ayame’s voice from inside the limo.

“Okay.. I will, Gram”

“And tell Tyr if you’re still feeling like something is going to happen. He’ll get you out of there quick”

“Okay,” she said uneasily before climbing into the limo as well.

---

After the opening ceremony, the dance started.

 Cardboard trees and animals decorated the rooms, loud music pumped through the large space, forcing Luna to move farther back into the second room away from it. She had seen Fei and Rin among the sea of faces.

 Fei loved to stare down teachers at family functions. Ayame taught her a few dances, Kage tried to introduce her to a few of the other white wolves that Ayame knew, and all the while Tyr had been by her side. Silently enduring the whole thing, neither could shake the bad feeling they had.

---

“Humans are so breakable,” the yokai murmured after dropping the human police officer, walking away with disgust written all over his face.

“These yokai officers are even worse. How do they expect these weaklings to keep us out?” Another yokai commented, dragging his body behind a bush. More than half the officers were either out or dead. The campus was surrounded by yokai and humans alike.

“Do you know what this is?” Rasan pulled the black blade from its sheath. It glowed under the light of the full moon. Ryuu was instantly filled with terror after seeing it. Never in all his years had anyone pierced his flesh but his big sister. And that was only for the ceremony they performed. His eyes widened. ‘How did Rasan know? How could he? No one but Fei and his father knew.’ But he knew every blue dragon knew and feared the obsidian blade. The volcanic glass was the only material that could be sharpened thin enough to make it between the scales that made up blue dragon flesh. Ryuu shivered.

“Have you guessed… Its sole purpose is to pierce the flesh of blue dragons. HA ha ha ha ha . . . shocked are we? Though no one knew your little secret, did you? Servants talk. Lord Ryuu and walls have ears,” Rasan laughed as he turned the blade over in his hands. He was finally going to end things. He would put that little bitch in the grave before the night was over.

“I paid your father’s personal maid a lot of money to find you and that bitches secrets, little dragon. Ryuu the dragon who doesn’t fight, Ryuu connected to the bitch Miko. But how? I ask myself? He feels her pain, her wounds, yet she feels nothing. But that’s wrong, isn’t it, little dragon? She feels your pain, doesn’t she? She receives your wounds while you heal instantly with little to no pain,” Rasan watched again, satisfied as Ryuu’s eyes widened again.

As if finally, it registered what Rasan had planned.

Ryuu prayed; he prayed to every god he knew that his big sister was far enough away that any wounds she received would be minimal. He was glad he never shared that information out loud with anyone. He also made a promise: ” If we make it out of this alive. I’ll skin that bitch Aku’

“She is so tiny when compared to you … dragon. Do you think she’ll survive your wounds?” Rasan snarled. Red seeped into his eyes at the thought of hurting his prey. Finally, he had found a way to make her pay for her sins. He knew once he started, she would come. ‘Let her come, let the bitch see I have the power over her destruction. This night she will die’ 

“Spread everyone out, Sato. It’s time to make our presence known”

“You heard the man, boys, let’s show these fools how we party,” the clearing emptied, leaving Rasan and Ryuu alone.

---

Luna stumbled when her connection to Ryuu just popped out of nowhere. Tyr noticed the blood before anyone.

“What’s wrong?” he pulled her to the side.

“Ryuu,” she howled in pain, grabbing her shoulder. The smell of her blood caused all the yokai in the gym to stop and look her way. At the same time, the twin Miko burst through the double doors, running straight for Kaede.

“Rasan Lady Kaede Rasan is here,” they panted for breath. 

That’s all it took for Luna to move with Tyr following; they slipped out the door. Determined to find Ryuu. 

Yokai burst into the gym the second the door closed, throwing everyone into an out-and-out brawl for their lives.

Outside, Kage and Ayame took out every human who tried to get too close. Tyr was trying his best to protect his mate and keep an eye on her in case she fell. He could feel the pain she was in. He could feel her heart as it took a slow beat and then sped back up again. 

He knew Luna couldn’t keep walking for much longer, and she all-out refused to be carried. He saw her stumble a bit before she was upright again, and all the while his whip never once missed a target.

Luna thought only of saving Ryuu as she stumbled forward. She paid no mind to the going on around her. The pain of something sharp tearing into her flesh kept her from blacking out. Each time her head would get fuzz the feeling returned, pulling her back from the edge, but never once did she cry out. 

She was cursing herself for not looking for Ryuu earlier; her little brother always came right back after a business trip. He’d call her. Ringing her phone the minute the plane landed, by the end of the day he had told her about his whole trip, including females that winked and/or kissed him. She knew something was wrong but was interested in Tyr’s emotions. ‘Damn it’

A tree caught her before she fell, her bloody handprint painting the ancient bark. Her back hit another tree, and she slid to the ground panting for breath. She was on her feet moments later, moving forward, not noticing Tyr close behind her.

 She limped past more trees before she stopped, hugging the tree, her eyes lit on Ryuu, bound, his clothes slashed to ribbons. Rasan was close behind him, knife held high.

“Rasan,” Luna hissed.

“I see you’re still alive, but I can remedy that.” He plunged the knife into Ryuu’s chest with enough force that Luna flew backward into a tree. She slipped to the ground, bleeding badly. Tyr blindly attacked Rasan as Ayame rushed to Luna and Kage to Ryuu. 

Tyr, enraged, slashed at Rasan only to miss. Rasan laughed, red seeping into his eyes.

 “I’ll kill you,” dancing away from him.

To Luna, it all seemed like a strange dance between Tyr and Rasan until blackness painted the edges of her vision. Ryuu entered her line of sight, and she saw the tears that streaked his face.

“Hang on, big sister. I know it hurts, but you have to hold on”

“I-I . . .am . . .sorry,” she whispered.

 ” . . . break . . .a . . .promise”

“No, no you won’t, big brother won’t let you. You’ve never broken a promise. You won’t start now,” he cried out.

“What is she talking about?” Ayame asked over the growling and howling from Rasan and Tyr.

“Nothing, cuz it’s not going to happen. I won’t let you go. Do you hear me? I won’t let you,” he howled.

“I . . .love . . .u . . .lit-tle. . .one,” her voice died out as her eyes closed.

“Stop playing with him, Tyr Luna needs help . . . bad,” Kage roared, watching as Tyr’s claws ripped through Rasan’s leg as he tried to kick him.

---

“Hello, little one,” Lady Death spoke, sitting down beside Luna. “Your soul has called out to me again. Are you ready to come with me, little one? Away from all the pain and suffering. Away from all of this madness”

“Can I go with you now?”

“Of course, little one. You will not cross over but walk with me for all eternity. Would you like that? Never to feel the pain of life ever again”

“I -“

---

“Luna . . .My Angel, wake up.” Tyr’s voice blasted across the field.

Her eyes opened to five sets of worried eyes trained on her.

“Welcome back, young one. Okay, Mya, let’s get her in the truck, then the hospital.” Everyone rushed behind the EMTs and to their cars. 

No one paid attention as Rasan was loaded into the opposite ambulance. They were too busy.

  As the doors closed, Tyr’s heart skipped a beat because he felt Luna’s heart stop again. It took Fei, Yuu, his father, Kage, and a few others to hold him as the last set of Yokai EMTs tranquilized him. In the back of the limo, his father held him, trying to comfort him.

---

“Are you ready to come with me, little one?”

“What about Tyr?”

“Do you really want to be there when he wakes up and doesn’t want you anymore?”

“No,” Luna sighed.

“He can never care for you the way I do, little one. You’ll be my immortal sister until time ends and beyond. Never will you feel mortal pain or disappointment again. His promises mean nothing. He will break that vow he made soon, and you will be alone again. Do you want that?” Lady Death sadly laid her hand on Luna’s shoulder and looked deep into her eyes. “Haven’t I always come when you call me? Spoken to you and cared for you until you went back into your mortal life?” Lady Death waved her hand behind Luna, blocking her from the three remaining yokai souls. She watched as they cried out and tried to break through the barrier between them.

“Yes, you have,” came Luna’s reply, pulling Lady Death back from her stare across the room. Everything changed, and darkness painted the edges of everything. 

“But I know nothing about collecting souls.” Luna finally noticed the changes around her. Gone from her room. 

They stood in a field of flowers. A small house stood off in the distance in front of a small lake. It was breathtaking.

“This one will teach you, little one. You will dwell in my home until the time comes. Do you see it just there?” Luna smiled as Lady Death pointed to the small home down the hill. 

Her soul felt the tug to return to the darkness. Luna looked back into the darkness and saw the small hospital room. Her body was lying there, and she shook her head.

 She looked back at the small house at the bottom of the hill and hesitated.

“I don’t know . . . . . .