Shadows

RORY

The next few days are tense for everyone. I’m sleep deprived from my research for a way to keep Lucy safe, and just having newborns, Everett’s having to work overtime to keep the pack settled.

All the warriors are on edge, practicing combat drills and being extra vigilant about the borders. The nervous energy is affecting the rest of the pack and making tempers short.

No one believes the Red Moon Pack will actually wait the full four weeks before making another attempt to steal my children.

Everett’s preparing for a surprise attack, for assassins, for a covert kidnapping, really anything and everything that could happen.

On top of all of that, Lucy’s figured out how to disappear whenever she wants, and that she can make all of us run around and panic when she does it, which is apparently hilarious.

Just this morning, I woke up to find her crib empty. I was sure Everett’s fears about kidnappers had come true and had called him, Freya, my mom, anyone who might have her.

Only to turn around and find her safe and happy right where she was supposed to be, chewing on her foot without a care in the world. I had to call everyone and apologize for the scare.

I decide my nerves have had enough. I’ve been looking for a way to know if Lucy’s playing a trick on us or if she’s actually missing during my reading, but I haven’t had any luck.

This needs to be fixed; we don’t need another thing stressing us out. I know who will have an answer for me. The only question is how to get in touch with her…

I poke my head out of our room to see who’s on guard duty. “Beth?”

She turns to me, bright and attentive. “Yes, luna?”

“I’ve got a favor to ask you. There’s a woman named Mariah. Her house is about three miles east of the pack lands…” I explain my plan and what I need her to do.

Beth nods briskly. “Understood. I’ll bring her your message and send Phoebe up to keep watch.”

“Thank you,” I say, watching her leave. It still feels a little weird to give orders as pack luna, but I need to get used to it. Wolves respect authority and hate any lack of confidence.

I pick Lucy up and sit in the rocking chair. “Can’t scare mama while I’m feeding you, can you little prankster?” As I feed her and then her brother, I watch the clock, hoping Beth gets back soon.

She won’t be in danger or anything. Mariah is a lone she-wolf who lives in the woods. She’s powerfully magical and offered me a lot of help during the last bout of trouble with Nemesis.

Everett doesn’t really trust her since she is technically a rogue wolf, so I decide not to let him know that I’m asking her to come and help. He doesn’t need the added stress.

He’ll be happy when he sees that it works and that everything’s fine. I hate going behind his back, but I also don’t want to have a fight about it. Better to just get it done.

The babies and me are dozing off when I hear a quiet knock on the door. “Come in,” I call, standing up and making sure I’m presentable.

Beth slips in, Mariah following behind her. Mariah smiles at me and takes both my hands. “Aurora. I’m glad to see you well. Congratulations on the birth of your children.”

“Thanks, Mariah.” She smells like sage and earth and emanates calm and confidence, just as I remember her. “I appreciate you coming on such short notice.”

She shakes her head. “No need. It is a duty and an honor to assist in the care of another woman’s offspring. We are meant to help each other.”

Everett bursts into the room, waking both of the babies and making them cry. “Aurora? You’d better not be in the Spirit Realm again, I swear to the goddess.”

I can’t help but roll my eyes as I scoop up the children and try to soothe them. “I’m fine, Everett. No vision quests this time. She’s here to help with Lucy’s vanishing.”

“Oh,” Everett’s shoulders slump, but he’s still shifting uncomfortably from foot to foot. “Okay, then.” He’s worried about me, and I take pity on him.

I pass Jason off to him to give him something to do. “Who told you?”

He bounces Jason gently. “Lucius saw Beth escorting her across the border.”

Beth shoots me an embarrassed look. I smile at her to show no hard feelings. It’s not her fault; it was probably silly to think we could go unobserved while everyone’s so on edge.

“Is my help not wanted?” Mariah asks, arms held behind her back. I know she’ll leave if Everett wants her to. She won’t push.

I give Everett a pleading look and he sighs, then offers Mariah a smile. “No, stay. I’m sorry for making you feel unwelcome. You have a solution for us?”

“I believe so. Beth explained the issue to me, and I have a spell that I can cast upon your daughter that will last until her eighteenth year,” Maria says.

“What kind of spell?” Everett asks. Jay and Lucy have stopped crying, but they’re still fussing, picking up on his distress.

“It’s a simple combination of herbs, harmless. I will burn them and use the ash to draw on her skin. Once the spell is complete, it will simply wipe off. Is this alright?” She tilts her head to the side.

Everett is tense beside me, but he gives a jerky nod. “Yes,” I say.

“Then I will begin.” Mariah pulls a bundle of herbs and a lighter from the pouch at her waist. She lights them, and a sweet, smoky smell fills the room. The babies quiet completely.

Mariah blows out the fire after a few moments, crumbling the ash in her hands. She’s quick and gentle as she draws symbols on Lucy’s forehead and cheeks, murmuring quietly as she does.

Once it’s done, she steps back. Beth hands me a baby wipe and I clean Lucy. “Saying the phrase ‘shadows reveal’ will cause her to become visible,” Mariah says.

“Perfect,” I say, a huge weight lifted from me.

Mariah inclines her head. “Also, if you wish for her to become cloaked, you need only say ‘shadows conceal.’ That way, you can hide her if you perceive danger she cannot.”

That’s good thinking. “Shadows conceal,” I say, watching as Lucy disappears in my arms. Everett says the counter phrase, and she’s instantly back.

“I would do the same for your son if I could, but this ability is not one he will ever have. He has another path to walk.” Mariah looks at him, and I wonder what she sees.

“Thank you again,” I say, giving her a hug. “You’ve already done more than enough.”

“It was my pleasure, Aurora. I am glad to assist,” she steps back. “Until we see each other again.”

“Beth will walk you home,” Everett says. It’s obviously more to keep an eye on Mariah than for her protection, and I elbow his ribs, annoyed.

Thankfully, Mariah accepts the escort with good humor. “Very well. She was fine company.” The two of them leave.

Everett holds me close and we look at our babies. “Well, that’s one problem solved.”

I lean my head on his shoulder. “It’ll all be alright. I promise.”

A knock on the door interrupts our quiet moment. “Come in,” Everett calls, and Lucius comes inside. He closes the door behind him, his face grim.

“The Red Moon Pack is back.”