Crescent (Book 1)

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I fall into bed sometime after two. Parties retire to the nearby inns sometime after, but Ceth never comes to bed. Something's changed. I feel... aware. After the rite, I can feel Ceth- Cherith and Sely- like a shadow lingering in the back of my mind. I feel when they retire to their suites. I feel when their hearts slow and sleep takes them under. I feel when they wake and prepare for the festivities.

My wound has healed, I realize, still in a haze. I brush a finger over the scars, two small puncture marks with little crescent moons surrounding it in a circle. Werewolf bites don't heal without scarring- just like wounds from silver. But now like the bullet wound on my chest, I'm never going to forget. Who will I even be by the time I see my family again? What will I be?

Moira's small footfalls sound from behind, and I twist in bed to see her standing in the doorway, her eyes lingering on my arm. She wears a similar dress to the one she wore last night. "Do you feel them?" Curiosity gleams in her eye as she steps forward to look at the bite.

"All the time."

"Does it hurt?"

I close my eyes to keep memories of the pain from tumbling back at full force. "It did. Now..." My voice is hoarse. "I just feel... numb..." She understands that- more than anybody else. Her eyes flash in understanding. Last night tied me to them. To this place. Tonight and every night after, the tether will only get stronger. Even when I leave, I will never truly leave this place.

"We have to get you dressed."

Tonight is the night of the young moon. My dress, a cobalt ball gown with a sweetheart neckline, flashes white in starlight. Beautiful gossamer flows into liquid night at my feet as I step into it. I ready quickly, and before I know it, I'm descending the same steps I took last night. The staircase is bedecked in the same liquid blue as my dress, and I take the steps slowly.

The adrenaline is gone, leaving me practically shaking with anxiety as I search the crowd for Ceth. I can't help but notice Gabriel and Thayer are missing. I can only imagine the trouble that started last night.

A throat clears behind me, and I turn to find Lord Hugue, only taller than me because he stands two steps above. His eyes don't meet mine, rather he focuses on the way my dress hugs my chest. I'm nearly spilling out of it, yet he purses his lips in distaste.

"Lord Hugue," I bow and his eyes quickly flutter to the harness that crosses from my shoulders down to my waist. An intricate way to display the wavy fist-sized blade I wear tonight.

"I always forget how dainty and delicate these blades are. Rather impractical, if you ask me," he clears his throat, looking over the ballroom as he straightens his back. While I might have agreed with him once, I've grown accustomed to working with small blades.

I hope my eyes glitter as I lean toward him. "On the contrary," I whisper, smiling as he backs away just lightly. "I think people underestimate pretty things. I've come to find they're far more deadly." His withered eyes widen suddenly and his mustache rises as his lips part to retort back. I offer my arm to him, motioning down the stairs. "Shall we?"

His mouth puckers again, and he stands a little straighter as I lace my gloved hand through his arm and we walk. Tonight, dusk has exploded. The swaying green fields and light of yesterday have been replaced with shades of darkest blue. Candles flicker like dying stars on the table tops and dark crescent-shaped gems glitter on the hems of dresses dancing past.

"Does it look like this in Osthen?" I prod.

He gives a stiff nod. "Your realm is wrecked with eternal winter. And mine... eternal night. Because of the mountains, it's common to not see sunlight for months at a time."