Page 43 of Moon Claimed

“Andie?”

I peered over the readying mass of stewards. They’d dressed in a dusty red that would allow them to camouflage against the iron ore. Protective vests and helmets on, we otherwise tried to keep bulky equipment to a minimum in this grid.

The bottom of the circular quarry was a lake. And this was to our massive advantage. The grid entry point was into the water. From the lake base, tiers rose up steep and fast for one hundred and fifty metres like an amphitheatre for giants. The result was a vertical height nearly three times the height of sandstone.

The Luthers had never taken Iron from us.

I couldn’t lose this grid today, or I’d lose standing with the stewards in a big way.

“Andie?”

Focus.That’s what I had to do.

But how could I after what I read last night?

He was bitten in Timber two weeks ago. By one of them. At first, he didn’t think anything of it, especially when the new moon came and went. But last week, he started to feel different.

An aching body. Changes in his voice. Fatigue.

Panic cloyed my throat.

I didn’t say anything, but sometimes, if I mention telling others, he gets angry and his eyes go dark.

I’d read her mounting terror as Murphy displayed more and more signs of an imminent shift. Anger. Outbursts. Growls and snarls.

The last entry helped me figure out much of the rest.

We’re leaving. We can’t tell a soul. Herc won’t understand. He’ll cast us out.

The Luthers hate my family. No one will help us. We need to go.

Murphy is leaving on a delivery tomorrow. I’ll leave the day after while Herc’s in meetings. Nothing could part me from this valley but Murphy.

I’ll hide these journals with the hope that one day we’ll return to our home. One day, when the game is over.

Brother. Savannah. And my little niece, Andie.

I love you all so much.

I fear you all so much.

My heart is breaking.

Goodbye.

She’d said goodbye to me, so she didn’t intend to steal me at that point. So what changed?

Someone shook my shoulder roughly.

Jerking, I looked into Rhona’s eyes. “What?”

“Where are you? I’ve been calling your name.”

I’m turning into a Luther.“Sorry, I’m trying to think whether we missed anything.”

She scrutinised me. “Did you sleep last night?”

“Maybe?”