Crescent (Book 1)

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"'Morning, sweetheart. How'd you sleep?"

I nearly bump into Dominic when I round the corner past my room. He smiles, as if last night never happened, toying with a glittering pendant around his neck. Even at sixteen, he's two inches taller than me and his build suggests he's been training since he was young. He, too, wears an athletic suit, but leather armor covers his chest, arms, and thighs.

I'm not in the mood for games. I move to the side, trying to slide past him as he grins. I sigh, forcing a blithe answer. "Fine, thanks."

He moves into my path, letting the pendant drop to his chest before offering me his arm- just as his father has many times. "I'm told that usually when someone asks you how you slept, you return the favor."

I don't take his outstretched arm, and my smile is tight. I'm getting lessons from a teenager now. "How'd you sleep, Dominic?"

"Wonderfully. Thank you. I thought I'd catch you before your own lessons and see if you'd like to have breakfast," he beams. Knowing his father, I probably don't have much of a choice. If I say no, I doubt he'll run and tell daddy, but I don't want to be on his bad side either. My jaw is tight as he motions me forward. "After you."

I tread down the stairs though he isn't far behind. The feeling in my gut is identical to the one I get when Ceth is around, and looking at Nic and seeing the same blonde hair and green eyes is even more unsettling. They're practically identical save for Nic's height and youthful face. "Did your father send you?" I ask as we descend into the main hall.

The mess and the bodies and the gore are gone. The stone practically sparkles in mocking as I stop at the bottom of the stairs. I promised Laura something that wasn't mine to give. Nic doesn't notice, taking the lead ahead of me. "I thought you could use the company. I trained with Saren when I was younger. It was a bit annoying. There's a reason I train with my Ajax now. But, there's no denying that she's talented."

I give him a sidelong glance as I force my feet forward, passing beneath the grand stairs, taking the hall toward the kitchens. I try to pay attention to what he's saying: "Do... alphas choose their betas?"

He shakes his head. "Lords sometimes hold duels for the honor. Whoever lives gets the title."

"They fight to the death?" I blurt, and he holds the door to the corridor open as I pass.

"How else would you determine whether they're up to it?"

I'm quiet as we take the brick steps down to the kitchen. Saren is obviously still alive. If they dueled and he somehow bested her... "How did Ajax get the title then?"

"Women can't be betas," Moira answers for him. She sits at the table by the fire. A cup of tea is set out for her, as well as three steaming bowls and plates of sliced fruits on golden table sets. Nic strolls right toward her, but I pause by the stairs as servants busily float from task to task near the stoves.

Is there much a woman can do here? I want to ask, but I know better than to test the waters. I don't come from the same world they do. Last night was just another reminder of that.

"Do you need to be invited to sit down?" Nic drawls from across the table.

Moira gives him a dull look, but I sit as casually as I can without looking weary. The sooner I eat, the sooner I have to shift. The sooner I have to be alone with my thoughts. This morning, simply sitting up felt like bathing in acid. Every muscle burned. Every joint ached. The nightmares chased me into reality.

I want to take what little extra time I can.

"You seem to forget what it was like to shift so much, Dominic Shawcross," she chides.

"I remember fine, mother," he winks at me, forking slices of melon into his bowl. "Just teasing Brenna on her bedside manner."

"Lady." I stiffen as she corrects him. "Lady Brenna."

Nic leans back in his seat lazily as Moira begins rattling off his itinerary for the day. Between physical training, meals, and the rest of his studies, I'm glad to know I'm not the only one with a full day ahead. I listen to the chatter, grateful for something to more or less pay attention to while I wait for Saren to come and escort me to the glen.

Breakfast is left cold and unfinished by the time she finally comes. I know I won't keep it down anyways.