Page 45 of Moon Claimed

I had to leave them. And they’d never know why.

From Murphy’s timeline, new werewolves didn’t shift at the new moon when they had the least power. I felt stupid for missing it.

Thesungave Luthers their power.

The full moon would be my last day as a human.

“Stewards,” I said, pitching my voice higher. “Naatira Thana said something on the cusp of a battle in this grid one hundred years ago, and during my readings on tribe history, her words have stuck with me. I say them for you now.Flow fast water, flow down valleys and roads. Flood everything, but do not pretend that your actions are undertaken with purpose. Yours are the fumbling actions of a beast. Move with intent. Surge forth only with knowledge. Hold strong against the rising tide knowing you forged the path that water can only flow upon.”

I took a breath. “There’s a reason our strength is Iron. There’s a reason the Luthers’ strength is Water. Tonight, we show them the difference. Move with our intention. Surge forth only with knowledge. We forge the path for another day in thousands as those before you have done. The Luthers can merely flow upon it.”

Did they hear the nerves in my voice?

Why were they silent?

A few shouted “Head stewards” from the back renewed my courage. I raised a fist, unsmiling.

In a wave, a sea of fists raised to the sky. The air thrummed with determination that tore me apart as surely as it made me.

Next week, I’d no longer be one of them.

I stared at the one thousand people who would soon hate me.

Boom.

A well-oiled team, the stewards headed for the murky water. The lake looked border-line dangerous to swim in, but I’d been assured it was impossible to drink enough to take in harmful levels of iron.

The fastest swimmers had to make it to the farthest side. The weaker swimmers were already climbing the nearest tiers. We didn’t use many traps in this grid, but that had to change.

Sascha wouldn’t pull punches, and neither would I.

When Pascal joined me, I resisted the urge to demand answers. Maybe she knew how to cure this. Maybe she could help me.

But if she’d guessed what was in the journals—that was one thing. If she’dreadthe journals, then she was aware of the symptoms displayed by a human changing into a Luther.

She could ruin me if I mis-stepped.

I had to be very,verycareful.

“Nice evening out,” I said cheerfully.

She arched a brow. “Indeed.”

Indeed.

9

Unknown number.

Just what I needed. Shouldn’t have unblocked him.

“What?” I snarled into the phone.

“Andie,” Sascha’s voice tipped over me like warm water.

My rage spiralled higher. “To what do I owe this honour?”

“The honour is mine, mate,” he replied. “Congratulations on the win.”