Blood Moon Rising

Chapter Ten || Ingredients for War

Valus' eyes fluttered open, a heavy warmth was wrapped around her. It was kind of suffocating, she thought as she shuffled a little bit. Turning over, coming face to face with Xander. She had never seen him so... child-like. Peaceful as he slept. She wincing slightly as her body reminded her of the night before.

She hadn't told Xander that it was her first time, that he's actually had most of her firsts so far. So he wasn't entirely gentle with her and that was her own fault. Xander began to shift and wake up, she froze watching him. "Good morning." Xander's voice was this sexy gravelly sound rumbling through her. Is this what it will feel like all the time? Valus wondered. "Probably." He chuckled, peeking one eye at her as he rolled onto his stomach stretching.

"Don't do that all the time." Valus laughed and got out of bed to grab some clothes. "I can only hear your outward thoughts and feel your emotions. Most of your thoughts are still your own unless you share them with me." He yawned, keeping one eye open as he looked at her, "What are you doing?"

Xander sat up and the blanket revealed everything down to the v of his lower stomach, stopping there. Valus groaned and ran into the bathroom, locking the door. "You're going to be the death of me." And all she heard was a laugh from Xander as she brushed her teeth and hopped into the shower.

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She walked out of the bathroom tying her hair back into a ponytail. Xander stood up and kissed her head as he took his turn in the shower. Valus smiled before looking at the bed where there were a few books laying around, "What's this?" She called into the next room.

His voice was muffled due to the door and what she assumed was his toothbrush, "Reading up on those witches again." He stepped out, still running the brush around in his mouth, "If we're going to fight, we need to know as much as we can about them." Valus nodded quickly, "Novan has a powerful one with him. I got to meet her very briefly... who do you think we can ask to do this? My father isn't going to let us tap his warriors for an evening of bloodshed." She sat her hip on the bed.

Xander shrugged, turning his head to spit. "I got pull on my own. And you need to speak to Liam, he was a regular witch expert at that compound. He may not be able to cast spells but potions are easy to make and he's good at it. I still have the freezing potion for Novan." He turned the water on and rinsed his mouth out, thinking to her.

But I wanna use it on the witch. Take out Novan and kill the witch. Check page 92. It says that if the witch is tethered to her wolf when he is killed, she dies too.

Valus raised her eyebrows, "You've been studying.. that's cute." She chuckled, thumbing the pages. Opening a link to Liam, Got some time to meet me? My room.

Liam replied, be there in just a moment.

She went back to the book, bringing her legs up, crossing them as she studied it. Valus couldn't help but peek up at the door for a moment though. Any moment Cora would have run in, perky even though it was morning... Xander cut in, Don't do that to yourself darling. The shower started and she eased away from the door and to the pages but not before asking Xander, Have you heard from Remus?

Xander shushed her, Let me shower and then we can talk. Valus rolled her eyes and started reading.

Liam came walking in, his own bag full of things. "How are you Valus?" He sat gently next to her and looked at her, Valus smiled at him. "I'll be okay eventually... but right now, it's time to make sure those rogues cannot hurt anyone else. Are you prepared for a fight?" Liam chuckled, "Of course but even if I wasn't, I'd follow you anywhere. Title or not, you're the alpha this pack deserves." He patted her shoulder before turning to dump his bag on the bed.