Page 42 of Full Moon
Chapter 20
Feray
I'm up before dawn,the first light of day still just a whisper on the horizon. I carefully untangle myself from the pile of twisted limbs beside me, slipping out of bed with relative ease. The air is cool against my skin as I pad down the hallway, my bare feet silent on the wooden floor.
Once I'm far enough from the others, I let my body shift, muscles and bones reshaping until I'm on four legs. Knowing my wolf's nose is more sensitive than anyone else's, I decide to investigate. I start my search of the house, sniffing every corner for hidden secrets. I remember the basement tunnel we found yesterday, concealed behind a false wall. That tunnel took us far from the house, but something tells me it's not the only secret this place holds.
It has to be here somewhere...
In the kitchen, I shift back to human form, a slight tingle running through my limbs. I grab Khal's sweatshirt draped over a chair, the fabric warm and comforting as I slip it on. I recall noticing yesterday that a section of the wood paneling lookeddifferent from the rest. My wolf's instincts tell me to investigate further.
I scan the room and head to the cutlery drawer, pulling out two butter knives. From another drawer, I grab a meat tenderizer. Determination sets in. One way or another, I will pry that baseboard away from the wall.
Thunk... Thunk... Thunk...
The flat side of the meat tenderizer meets the knives with a dull, rhythmic thud. Slowly, the baseboard gives way, revealing a slight gap. I move a little further down, repeating the process.
"Feray, what are you doing?" Khal's voice startles me.
I glance up to see him entering the room, heading toward the coffeemaker.
"I noticed something odd about this baseboard," I say. "I think there might be something hidden behind it." My other mates file into the kitchen as I raise the meat tenderizer again.
"There are easier ways to remove that," Torben says, smiling down at me.
Narrowing my eyes, I wrinkle my nose before turning back to the knives. "That may be true, but this is how I can do it. I feel like there's something here. And I want to be the one to find it." I glance over my shoulder at Torben. He has that look—the one that says he's waiting for me to call him over.
Anger floods my system, hot and relentless, and I shift my nails to claws, ripping at the baseboard. I growl in frustration as the wood comes off in chunks, far too slowly for my liking. As the anger builds, my vision blurs. I rip larger pieces away, woodsplintering under my fingers until the entire section is gone. I move on to the paneling, tearing it off with a snarl.
When the sheet falls away, there it is. The drawing of the star we found downstairs, painted in vibrant colors. Around the outside of the painting is the same script as on the sandstone.
My heart pounds as I stare at the mysterious symbols.
"Diaval, what does it say?" I pant. He freezes in his tracks, eyes flying over the text.
Diaval steps forward, his movements measured, and clears his throat. The weight of his words is evident in his eyes. "To my progeny," he begins, voice trembling slightly, "I wish I could be more specific, but your mom's scent just changed. You hail from a warrior race that was damn near unstoppable. Baron Tarvis, I believe, poisoned your mom. It killed our first baby, but not her, thank Fenrir." As Diaval reads my father's message, I see him falter when he mentions the baron. His eyes meet mine. "He was the one who summoned me to witness the arranged marriage," Diaval continues.
I nod, encouraging him to go on, feeling a lump forming in my throat.
Drawing in a deep breath, Diaval resumes. "If you are reading this, then unfortunately we are dead, and we came up with a Plan B to keep you alive. Completing the star is the key to unlocking your full potential. You are a true child of winter, the last of the descendants of the winter wolves. The bloodline lives or dies with you." He pauses, his gaze searching mine for strength. I give a small nod.
"Hopefully, you have a dragon in your family group, or this whole note was pointless. Dragon, protect my progeny. Theyare the sole heir to the Crescent Valley throne. War is coming, and we need to prevent the extinction of Lyra's bloodline. My progeny, we love you more than our own lives. I am sorry we are not with you." Diaval's voice breaks slightly as he finishes reading.
He points to the bottom of the wall, where a small map of the house is drawn. Three more hiding places are listed. My dad planned ahead, thinking of every outcome. A pang of longing hits me hard. I wish I could have met him, to feel the strength of his embrace and the warmth of his voice.
I motion to the wall and sigh, fighting to keep the tears at bay. "I wish I could read it myself." My voice trembles. My parents sacrificed everything to ensure I survived. A mug of coffee appears over my hands, and I look up to see Diaval wiggling it slightly.
"I can share the knowledge of the language with you. After all, I taught Easton years ago; I can teach you too." He crouches down, still holding the mug out to me, his eyes soft with understanding. I realize that in his own way, this whole situation with my parents is affecting him as much as it is me.
"It might be useful." My voice sounds so small and weak.
I want to cry, to rage, to destroy whoever this Baron guy is. The worst part is knowing that he, or whoever he's working for, stole my parents from me. Diaval shocks me by sitting on the floor and pulling me onto his lap. I lean against him, seeking comfort in his solid presence as I sip my coffee. His deep tenor voice draws me out of my thoughts. "With us being mates, it will be like breathing. Picking up the language, that is."
I take another sip of my coffee and force a smile. "How do we teach me?"
I set the mug down beside us and wait.
"Close your eyes, my eternal." Diaval's voice drops several octaves, and my wolf stirs at the sound. "Listen to the sound of my voice." His lips brush against my ear. "My dragon is going to teach your wolf, his mate, how to read the language. Let him in." His voice gains a rumble, and I feel my body heat. The familiar slip and slide of his dragon reaching for me caresses every inch of my being.
