Hour of the Moon

Chapter 30: Up in Flames

" I thought i'd never see you again," Kamari emerged from the moon portal, as she stepped into the night. I had taken a walk, leaving Keiran to sleep.

" Likewise," Her gaze was fixated on the cabin where Keiran lay.

" Why are you here?" I had a suspicion as to why she was here.

" I'm worried for Keiran, I thought giving her the necklace would sure as protection, but-"

" You realized the moon is taking her energy. I'm going to assist her the best way I can."

" Thank you," Her hand rested on my shoulder in a gentle squeeze. " I owe you."

" The Moon Goddess owes  nobody, I am at your service." Her departure faded into the midst, her moonlight scent trailing.

Peaks of sunlight obscured by the trees surrounding the cabin awoke me, as I stretched my arms over my head.

What smelled like sauteed onions filled the room as I found Akita cooking over his stovetop.

" Good morning," He said, a soft smile on his lips. "I thought I'd make you some breakfast. I didn't know if you'd like eggs."

" Eggs are fine, thank you." I took a seat at the circular table as he also made toast, and brewed some coffee.

For someone who was such a recluse, I was taken aback that he would go on a grocery run. As if telepathic he chuckled.

" You forget I yield magic, obtaining material items is easy."

" I won't turn into a frog or anything?" I half-joked.

" Not if I permit," He teased.

I learned Akita was on a strict vegetarian diet that he acquired after giving up his lycanthropy.

" I had never been so repulsed eating meat after I made the switch," He says as he takes a sip of his chamomile tea.

"Do you regret it?" I inquired, my voice a whisper, heavy with the weight of our shared history.

Akita's gaze turned inward, his expression clouded with memories. "Regret?" he mused bitterly.

"I was given no choice. Yes, I miss my brethren, but the slaughter? Being shackled to the moon's whims, a prisoner of its shadow. It was a life of solitude and despair. The Fae offered me freedom, but it came at the cost of my sight. Yet, loving the Moon Goddess... that's the one thing I'll never regret. I've never known a love so consuming, so profound. I was willing to sacrifice everything for her."

His words hung in the air, heavy with the weight of his past, leaving me to ponder the depths of his sacrifice.

"I thought I understood love," I admitted, my voice tinged with vulnerability. "But all I've seen is pain, betrayal, and disillusionment. My parents' love was a façade, built on status and material gain."

Akita listened intently, his eyes reflecting understanding and empathy.

"It may sound selfish," I continued, "but I fear sacrificing anything, afraid of where it might lead me."

"The wolf boy, right?" Akita's tone held a hint of amusement. "Stubborn as they come."

I nodded, a wry smile tugging at my lips. "He dared challenge our connection, determined to break it. But there's a fire in him, a strength that's... compelling."

Akita's chuckle filled the room, warm and comforting. "You and he are cut from the same cloth. Don't let fear harden your heart. Sometimes, the greatest sacrifices lead to the most unexpected joys."