Suddenly, the enchanted garden's tranquility is disrupted as May enters with the other witches, engulfed in the magic of the surroundings. 'Wow! This is so beautiful. Look at that gnome!' May exclaims, her eyes sparkling with delight as she playfully pokes the gnome's belly.
The gnome remains motionless, but its stone-faced expression subtly transforms into irritation when no one is looking. May, still enchanted by the magical creatures around her, remarks, 'You weren't joking when you said there was a unicorn,' as she tenderly pets the mystical creature. However, her cheerfulness dissipates as she turns her gaze toward me.
'Nina, are you okay? You look like you've been crying,' May notes, her brows furrowing with genuine concern. My attempt to conceal my emotions falls short under her perceptive gaze.
With a forced laugh, I reply, 'Oh, no, I think I'm just allergic to some of these flowers. My eyes went all red and puffy after I smelt one of them.' Despite my efforts to maintain a facade, the strain in my smile and the unease in my eyes betray the lie.
'Well, Fern and the others are going to take me to see the Grimghouls, the Shadow Reapers, and the Vampire King next! Are you going to come with us?' May's voice rings with excitement, her eyes wide with anticipation.
I narrow my eyes at them, a mixture of frustration and protectiveness surging through me. 'You know, the Vampire King isn't some kind of freak show for all of you to watch!' I lash out, my words carrying an angry edge.
The sudden outburst catches them off guard, and they exchange perplexed glances with a tinge of worry, reacting to my unexpected defense of the vampire king.
'I apologize. I didn't intend to...' I begin to explain, my shoulders tense and my body language reflecting the strain of the situation.
Fern gives me an empathic look, her expression softening with understanding. 'We understand you are under a lot of stress, Luna, with everything going on with the Wolf Council,' she offers, her words a gentle reassurance.
'I know, but I still should not have snapped at you all like that. I'm sorry,' I grimace with a hint of remorse. My hand instinctively rubs Alec's mark on my wrist.
'It's fine. You don't have to come with us,' May says, her hand comforting my shoulder. I nod, appreciating the understanding gesture, and watch as they leave the enchanted garden.
'I need a cup of tea,' I announce to Reaper.
He nods in agreement, and together, we exit the garden. With Reaper perched on my shoulder, I carry us through the library and into the next room, where a warm fire flickers in the hearth, casting dancing shadows on the walls.
We traverse the hallway, passing through the mirror and into the kitchen on the right.
The iron kettle hovers gracefully above the flickering flames in the kitchen's hearth. I reach for a teacup, my fingers deftly placing it on the table. With precision, I fill it with one teaspoon of sugar before delicately depositing a teabag into the cup.
Waving my wand at the iron kettle, I exclaim, 'Lifto Levitatous.' The kettle responds to the enchantment, floating over to my waiting teacup and obediently filling it with steaming hot water. The room is infused with the comforting aroma of brewing tea as I sit, cradling the warm cup.
As I sip my tea, Reaper initiates a mind-link, his words breaking the tranquil silence. 'You need to tell Magnus about being Alec’s blood flame.'
Reaper's suggestion causes me to choke on my tea and tremble, the teacup wobbling in my hands. Setting it down, I take a deep breath, attempting to steady myself.
'I can’t tell him, Reaper, not just yet. There must be a way to break the bond?' I express as I try to ease the tremor in my hands.
Reaper, perched on my shoulder, jumps onto the solid wooden table and casually strolls before me. 'I’ve never heard of a way to break the blood flame bond, but you could always reject Magnus and break the mate bond with him? That way, you would only have one lover instead of two?' Reaper suggests a teasing tone in his mind-link.
I growl in response, my eyes narrowing in disapproval. 'Reaper! I love Magnus, and I am his Luna. We grew up together and have known each other all our lives. My love for Magnus is not something I will throw away. Can’t I reject Alec instead?' I ask, my eyebrows furrowing.
Reaper clicks his beak. 'I’m afraid it doesn’t work that way with vampires,' Reaper informs me.
Frustration crosses my face, and a deep sigh escapes my lips. 'Well, then, how does it work?' I ask, seeking answers.
'All I know is that it’s different with vampires,' Reaper replies.
'That’s not very helpful information, Reaper,' I sigh in exasperation. 'Maybe we can find some information in the forbidden room back in Shadow Crest?' I suggest a spark of hope illuminating my eyes.
'Perhaps there could be some information,' he conveys through the mind link.
Yiselda, May, and the others return to the kitchen, their faces marked by concern and residual shock. 'I’m sorry if he frightened you, May. I don’t know what’s wrong with him. I’ve never seen him in that state before,' Yiselda says with genuine concern, her brow furrowed in worry.
May, still visibly shaken, is trembling as she processes the recent encounter. I quickly stand from my seat with worry. 'What happened? Are you okay?' I ask.
'I’ll be fine. It was a lot more terrifying than I thought it would be going into that dungeon,' May admits, her admission accompanied by a subtle tremor in her voice.
'How so?' I press, my heart racing with worry as I search May's eyes for answers.
Yiselda, her gaze meeting mine, provides a detailed account of the distressing scene they encountered in the dungeon. 'The Vampire King was very distressed, pacing back and forth in his cell, pulling at his hair. He appeared to be quite anxious and was constantly muttering to himself. As we approached closer, he became wild, screeching loudly through the bars as if famished for blood. It set the Grimghouls off. They tried to attack us, advancing their arms through the bars and clawing ferociously at us. I had no choice except to temporarily put the vampire king to sleep with a spell. And being the vampire king, he’s stronger than other vampires, so our sisters had to help cast the Dreamus Sleepous spell as it had no effect on him even when I had cast it onto him myself,' Yiselda explains, her words painting a vivid picture of the chaotic and unnerving encounter.
A dreaded feeling consumes me—a gnawing anxiety that threatens to unravel my composure. The impulse to run back to Alec to ensure his safety wrestles within me like a storm. What if they hurt him? Was it my fault he was distressed? The internal conflict plays out in the subtle tension of my shoulders and the restless energy that courses through my body. 'Is he going to be okay? Why would he be erratic like that?' I ask. My eyes, wide with worry, search Yiselda's face for reassurance.