Chapter 5 The Moon's Memory

Elena dashed toward the child without thinking twice.

He was curled up on the cold stone, his little chest pumping furiously. Her silver eyes, identical to her, did briefly blink as she knelt next to him. His face-kissed by the sun, wet with tears and shockingly familiar-sent ice water through her veins.

"Who are you?" she whispered.

The boy reached out and grasped her hand. "They're coming. The ones who live in the dark. You're the only one who can stop them... Mother."

The word struck her like lightning.

Kael and Lucien froze behind her.

"What did he just say?" Kael's voice had become a thin whisper.

Elena just looked at the child. "No... That can't be-"

"I was hidden," the boy said softly. "But the blood moon woke me too soon."

Lucien swore, and he stepped backwards, slowly. "This is what I feared. It's not just the seal that's broken... but time is coming untethered."

Elena rose unsteadily, still gripping the boy's hand tightly.

"Kael," she whispered, her voice thick. "You need to tell me the truth. Did I have a child?"

Kael's jaw solidified. He did not switch his gaze. "Not in this lifetime."

"What the hell does that mean?"

Lucien stepped up to them. "He is from the first timeline. Before, your powers were sealed. Before the blood eclipse. The child you had before everything... was rewritten."

"I don't remember any of this!"

"Because we stole it from you." Kael cringed. "To protect you - and him."

She felt pain split open her chest like a blade.

"But you lied to me," she whispered.

"I loved you." Kael croaked, his voice barely a whisper. "I never stopped. Even when I wasn't allowed to say it. Even when they made me your guardian instead of your mate."

The world felt slowed around her.

For once, Lucien did not say anything.

Elena turned to look at Kael. "And now?"

Kael stepped forward. "Now, I would fight the gods themselves for you back."

The boy stirred between them, but Elena couldn't look away. Not from Kael. Not from the pain in his eyes that mirrored her own.

"You said you'd always come back," she said.

He reached for her slowly. "Let me prove it."

And then he kissed her.

It wasn't soft.

It was a storm-raw and aching and desperate. Years of longing poured into one forbidden moment. The world blurred. The cold wind fell silent. The moon shone brighter.

Her fingers tangled in his hair. His hands wrapped around her waist, pulling her against him like she was air and he had drowned.

Her wolf howled inside her-not in protest, but in joy.

The kiss ended too soon, leaving her breathless.

Kael pressed his forehead to hers. "Even if you never remember everything, my soul has always belonged to you."

Tears slipped down her cheeks. "Why does it hurt so much?"

"Because some love belongs to other lives."

There was a sound that split the air-like a rumble through the sky.

Lucien had his head up. "It has started."

The forest behind them began to twist about as if it were alive. Trees bent backward. Shadows twisted and coiled themselves into claws. Dozens of red eyes blinked in the shadow.

Kael moved immediately to block Elena with his back facing where the danger loomed.

Lucien growled and moved beside him. "Truce?"

Kael never looked at him. "Temporary."

"Fair."

Elena moved slightly forward with the child. He pushed into her side and hid his face by softly pulling on her.

Then something inside of her shifted.

A memory broke open.

A cave lit by the moon. A crib of crystal. Her voice hummed a lullaby. A silver-eyed babe making noises. Kael's hand on her shoulder.

"His name is Orion," she whispered.

Kael froze. "You remember?"

"Just flashes." She looked down at the boy. "But they are mine."

Orion slowly nodded, "They are coming for me. Because of what I carry."

Elena's heart was thumping, "What is it?"

Before he could say anything more the forest ripped apart with howls of unnatural fury.

A figure emerged from the shadowy circle-tall, sinuous and entirely cloaked in shadow. No head save for a chasm that gaped where its face should be. The primeval dark. The oldest enemy.

Kael snarled.

Lucien took a step back. "A Harbinger. I thought they were all still sealed."

"They aren't," Orion said, looking out toward it. "Because I'm awake."

The Harbinger raised one clawed hand. "Hand over the child. Or I'll take the girl."

Kael's snarl was thunderous.

Elena stepped forward, light coursing through her body. "You'll take no one."

Her body lifted again-moonlight flitting across her skin, burning with ancient fire.

The Harbinger shrieked in a hiss and recoiled. "Too soon," it whispered. "She's not ready-"

Elena raised her hand.

And the mooncloud responded.

A spear of silver light blasted through the sky, hitting the creature stark in the center against the dark. It screamed, writhing as light burnt through it.

But the figure staggered again, and one last claw was thrust out toward Kael.

"No!" Elena screamed.

Kael jumped backward, too late. The claw sliced across his side.

He hit the ground as the pain pulled the dark back out of him to an awkwardly long human form, and then blood poured out of him, dark and unnatural.

"No, no, no," Elena cried, racing to his side.

Kael's skin raced pale from tan like a white creature without blood.

Lucien crouched beside them, his face somber. "It's shadow rot. If it gets to his heart..."

"Then we stop it!" she screamed.

Lucien looked her straight in the eye. "The only way to stop the shadow rot is to burn it out. With moonfire. Your fire."

Elena's hands trembled.

"I could kill him."

Kael weakly pulled at her wrist. "Then let me die in your arms."

Elena's tears streamed down her face.

"No. Not again."

She put her hands over the wound. Light streamed from her fingers and heat radiated from her body into him.

Kael screamed.

But then - color returned.

The shadow rot started to hiss, sizzle... then completely disappear.

He fell back and breathed hard. Alive.

Elena sobbed and collapsed against his chest.

Kael's arms went around her despite the pain. "I told you I'd come back."

Elena laughed through her tears. "You stupid, stubborn wolf."

Lucien stood over them silently.

In the distance horns blared. A flash of light split the sky - bright green and pulsing like a signal.

Lucien's eyes narrowed. "They've found the Gate."

Elena stood shakily. "What gate?"

Lucien turned to her.

"The gate of the rest of your memories... and the last war."