Page 114 of Treasured

“Of course,” Luna said. “The moment we have what we need, we’ll return.”

“Promise?” Marius asked, his lip wobbling.

Gods. What was this ache in my heart?

I stepped forward, clasping the halfling on the shoulder. “We’ll come back for you.”

Part of me knew it was unwise to make promises I didn’t know I could keep, but Marius was my wife’s only living family. That made him my family too. I would do everything in my power to protect what was mine.

Marius sniffled. “Okay,” he whispered. “I’ll be waiting.”

Genevieve, who had been standing back, took the halfling’s hand in hers. “We’ll look after him.”

“Thank you.” I dipped my head. “If a full turn of the moon passes and we don’t return—”

“I’ll send a message to Phyrra,” the priestess finished for me. “I remember.”

We’d already spoken, and Genevieve would take care of Marius if something happened to us. I hated setting up such precautions almost as much as I hated the thought that I might be bringing Luna into danger, but I didn’t want to leave her brother without proper care. He was still a child, after all.

“Thank you,” Luna said.

Genevieve turned to Marius. “Come along. Odette has something she wants to show you.”

The halfling instantly perked up. “What is it?”

The priestess smiled coyly. “I’m not allowed to tell you.” She winked. “It’s a surprise. Do you want to come see?”

Marius chewed on his lip, but after a moment, he agreed. The two departed the courtyard, leaving us alone.

Wiping a final tear from her cheek, Luna slipped her hand into mine. “Ready?” she asked.

I turned, my gaze crawling over her. She wore a fitted white tunic and leggings edged in fur, a gift from the priestesses, and her long hair was in an intricate braid that ran down her back. Between the moon shining down on her like an angelic halo and the slight glow on her face that remained from when we’d fed earlier, she was stunning.

And she was mine.

Bending, I stole a kiss. I was unable—and unwilling—to stay away from Luna when she looked like that. After I’d thoroughly kissed her, I said, “I’m ready. Are you hungry?”

“No, we fed earlier.” Her brows raised. “Did you forget?”

Warmth coursed through me. I most certainly did not forget. Feeding had filled the hunger within me, but the act itself had led to… other activities.

I ran my finger up her neck, delighting in her responding shiver. “I could never forget you, darling.”

“Good.” She smiled at me. “We’re going to the Black Sea, right?”

“Yes. I can shadow us there, but we’ll have to go on foot the rest of the way.”

Hopefully, Jehanne would be in a good mood when we arrived. Her territory was large, and finding her would probably take a few days.

“All right.” Luna squared her shoulders. “Let’s go.”

I pictured our destination in my mind and pulled on my shadows. Darkness wrapped around us both, lifting us into its murky embrace.

* * *

The steady tempo of crashing waves against rocks came to me first. Seconds later, the shadows fell away, revealing the massive, slick, obsidian rock on which we stood.

For a moment, my heart caught in my throat. Had it not been for the black bark on the trees, the dark vines choking the life out of the trees, and the unnatural weeds bursting through the snow, I would have thought this place unchanged.