Traded

Merikh tugs shut the large bay window’s curtains, looking around outside as before he turns to look at me. Caspian has all the lights on in his immense office of silver colors and various shades of blue swirling along the walls like shimmering waves of the sea.

It even has a salty smell, one that reminds me of a fresh warm breeze kicking up sand as you walk along the beach. It’s annoyingly comforting while I try to remain angry and disagreeable.

“How is Percy?” I ask, looking at the ground, playing with the fabric on the armchair from where I stand behind

1. it.

“He is healing now.” Merikh says, but I still ignore his presence.

“Brent has removed the spells that ban the use of powers for your kind, so you can contact him through the mind link if you are worried.” Caspian says. His voice is soft, like he is trying to please me, to win me over. It only

irritates me further.

-Perc?—I call out to him through the mind link.

-Yes, Luna?—

-How are you feeling? Are you finally healing or do you at least have some relief and know what happened?—

My memory is foggy. But I have agreed to allow Brent to help me clear it once I am a little more healed.–ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

–Rest, okay? I need my shadow backup and in order–I tease and smile to myself.

-I’ve called for backup. Hayes is on his way with Penny–he tells me and I furrow my brows, finally sliding a glance at Merikh. I want to be mad at him for not telling me they are coming, but it’s hard to reason with the logic that he hasn’t been alone with me long enough to tell me anything.

-I will come visit you after this meeting- I tell him then I shut down the mind link, clearing my throat as I square my shoulders and push my hair over my shoulders.

No more cowering or hiding my emotions. And no more damn tears. I am a luna and I will get my answers and from there I will take my emotions back to my room and feel them without anyone else having to see it.

There will be no more pity or sympathy or people thinking I am weak because I am experiencing or feeling things. I am a Luna, the damn queen. It’s time I act like one.

“How did you meet my mother?” I ask Caspian, catching him off guard as he clears his throat and drops into his

seat.

“She was running away from her pack.” He whispers, reaching for a leather strand on his desk and toying with it. “Your grandfather was tired of waiting for her to find her mate, so he arranged a marriage to another alpha. Obviously Melody wasn’t too keen on that.”

My heart pinches when I hear her name. Those tears I swore I would hide away trying to creep up, but I push them down. Melody. My mom’s name was Melody.

“Did she stay with you, then?” I ask him and he chuckles.

“She wanted to. For as to live together but to live together, with what we are…it was hard. I have an entire underwater world to rule and even with my royal blood, I can only remain out of the water for so long. And she is. a werewolf. Water is not all that easy to breathe in for your kind.” Then he pauses, looking at me curiously.

“What?” I ask, my cheek heating under his assessing gaze,

“I am curious about what you can do. If anything.” He whispers. “Do you only have a wolf? Can you breathe underwater, manipulate water? Control it with your emotions?”

“She can draw people to her with songs.” Merikh says, breaking in.

“I can?” I ask, my brows rising.

“Yes.”

“Explain…” Caspian says, leaning forward in his chair.

“Bentley refused to let her sing, always telling her she couldn’t carry a tune. That her singing was so awful it hurt people’s ears.”

“He knew…” I whisper, my face heating in anger.

*She called me to her with her song.” Merikh says, sliding his eyes to me as my mouth falls open.