Luna. Chapter 169

I drove home from the meeting with Cordelia feeling like my world was ending. Kael was going to challenge his brother tomorrow night. One way or another, everything would change.

When I got back to the house, Asher was still awake despite the late hour.

"I couldn't sleep," he said. "Bad feelings in the air."

"What kind of bad feelings?"

"Like something terrible is going to happen."

I pulled him onto my lap. "Sometimes grown-ups have to make hard choices to protect people."

"Is Dad going to fight the bad king?"

"How did you—"

"I can feel his scared-but-brave feelings. It tastes like metal and fire."

"Yes. He's going to fight."

"Will he win?"

"I don't know, baby."

Asher was quiet for a long moment. "I want to help."

"You help just by being safe."

"No, I mean really help. With my special abilities."

"Asher, this isn't something you can fix."

"Maybe it is."

He got up and ran upstairs, returning with a small silver bracelet I'd given him for his birthday.

"Can you put protection magic in this?" he asked.

"I don't know how to do that."

"But you have the sparkly feeling now. Maybe that's magic too."

He was right. Ever since the curse mark had disappeared, I'd been feeling different. Stronger.

"What kind of protection are you thinking?"

"Something to keep me safe so you don't have to worry about me during the fighting."

The idea made sense. If I could create some kind of magical protection for Asher, it would be one less thing to worry about when everything went to hell.

"I can try," I said.

I took the bracelet and held it in both hands. I'd never attempted anything like this before, but desperation was a powerful motivator.

I closed my eyes and focused on my love for Asher. My need to keep him safe. The fierce protectiveness that had only grown stronger during my pregnancy.

The familiar tingling sensation started in my belly and spread outward. When it reached my hands, the bracelet began to glow softly.

"Cool," Asher whispered.

I concentrated harder, pouring every protective instinct I had into the small piece of silver. I thought about shields and barriers and safe spaces.

The glow grew brighter.

When it finally faded, the bracelet looked the same but felt different. Heavier somehow, like it was carrying more than just silver.

"Put it on," I said.

Asher slipped the bracelet over his wrist. Immediately, a faint shimmer appeared around him, barely visible but definitely there.

"It worked," I said, amazed.

"I can feel it. Like being wrapped in a warm blanket."

"Don't take it off. No matter what happens."

"I won't."

I hugged him tightly. "I love you so much."

"I love you too, Mom."

After I put Asher to bed, I went to my own room and tried to sleep. But every time I closed my eyes, I saw Kael facing his brother in single combat.

Around three in the morning, I gave up and went downstairs to make tea.

That's when I felt it. The same magical tingling I'd experienced while enchanting Asher's bracelet, but stronger.

I looked down at my hands. They were glowing again.

This time, I didn't try to stop it. I let the feeling build, curious to see what would happen.

The glow spread up my arms and throughout my body. When it reached my belly, the baby kicked hard, as if responding to the energy.

For a moment, I could see everything. Not just with my eyes, but with some deeper sense I didn't understand.

I could see the magical barrier around Asher's room, strong and protective.

I could sense Kael miles away, tense and preparing for battle.

I could feel the other coalition members scattered across the territory, anxious and afraid.

And I could see something else. Dark shapes moving through the forest. Ashwalkers, heading toward the pack territories.

The vision lasted only seconds, but it was enough.

Tomorrow night's challenge wouldn't just be about stopping Adrian. It would be about surviving what was coming after.

I spent the rest of the night planning. If I could enchant Asher's bracelet, maybe I could do the same for other objects. Create magical protections for the coalition members.

By sunrise, I had a list of items and people who might need protecting.

It wasn't much, but it was something.

And right now, something was better than nothing.