Luna. Chapter 35

(Lyra's POV)

The great hall had been transformed for dancing. The exhibition tables had been moved aside, creating a large open floor. Soft music played from a string quartet in the corner, and the lighting had been dimmed to create an intimate atmosphere.

I stood at the edge of the dance floor, watching couples move gracefully across the polished wood. When no one was watching me, I instinctively touched my heart.

It seemed as unsettled as I felt.

"You look nervous," Derek said, appearing at my side with two glasses of sparkling cider.

"Thank you." I accepted the drink gratefully. "I guess I am nervous. This is all so overwhelming."

"Finding your family often is." Derek's smile was warm but sad. "Christina felt the same way when I first brought her to pack events. She said she felt like everyone was watching her, waiting for her to prove she belonged."

"Did she? Prove she belonged?"

"She never needed to. From the moment she walked into this hall, she was home." Derek's eyes grew distant with memory. "The pack loved her immediately. She had this way of making everyone feel seen and valued."

"She sounds wonderful."

"She was. And you remind me so much of her." Derek studied my profile. "Not just the physical resemblance. There's something in your manner, the way you carry yourself."

Before I could respond, General Cassius appeared beside us.

"Alpha Derek, I hope you don't mind if I steal the guest of honor for a dance."

It wasn't really a request. Cassius was already extending his hand toward me, his expression expectant.

"Of course," Derek said, though he looked uncomfortable. "Lyra?"

I glanced around for Magnus, spotting him near the refreshment table talking quietly with Kael. Both were watching me closely.

"I'd be honored," I said, placing my hand in Cassius's.

His grip was firm and cold. He led me onto the dance floor as the quartet began a slow waltz.

"You dance beautifully," he said as we began to move.

"Thank you. You're not bad yourself."

"Military training. We learn many skills that seem unrelated to warfare." His smile was sharp. "Though dancing and fighting have more in common than people realize."

The comment made me uncomfortable, but I tried to keep the conversation light.

"Have you known Derek long?"

"We've had dealings over the years. The Sebastian family has always been... interesting to certain government agencies."

"Government agencies?"

"Oh yes. Werewolf packs may be autonomous, but we still fall under federal oversight in certain matters."

He spun me gracefully, bringing me back into his arms. This close, I could see the calculating intelligence in his eyes.

"Tell me, Lyra, what do you remember about the night you were separated from your family?"

The question caught me off guard. "I don't remember that night at all."

"Nothing? No fragments? No dreams?"

"Why are you asking me this?"

"Because the circumstances of your separation were... unusual. Not a typical adoption scenario."

My steps faltered slightly. "What do you mean?"

"I mean there was an attack. A very sophisticated attack on the Sebastian family compound. Several people died that night."

The music suddenly seemed too loud. The room felt too warm.

"People died?"

"Your parents. Your older brother. Several pack members who tried to protect the family." Cassius's voice was matter-of-fact, as if he were discussing the weather. "You and Christina were the only survivors."

"But Christina wasn't separated—"

"Christina was found three days later, hidden in a safe room. You were never found at all. Until now."

I stopped dancing entirely. "Are you saying my family was murdered?"

"I'm saying your family was targeted by people who wanted something specific. Something related to the Sebastian bloodline."

"What could they possibly want?"

"Power. Influence. Access to certain... capabilities that the Sebastian line possesses."

Cassius guided me to the edge of the dance floor, away from the other dancers. We stopped near tall windows that looked out over the lake.

"What kind of capabilities?"

"You haven't figured it out yet?" Cassius seemed genuinely surprised. "The stone calls to you. You hear voices others can't. You have instincts and knowledge you shouldn't possess."

"That doesn't mean anything supernatural—"

"Doesn't it? Tell me, Lyra, have you ever known things you couldn't possibly know? Sensed danger before it appeared? Felt drawn to places or people without understanding why?"

I thought about the familiar feeling I'd had about this territory. The way I'd known about the island in the lake. The voice calling me Isabella.

"Everyone has intuition."

"Not like yours. The Sebastian bloodline carries genetic markers that are extremely rare. Markers that certain parties would pay handsomely to study."

"Study?"

"Or exploit."

The word hung between us like a threat. I looked around the room, suddenly seeing everything differently. Were all these people really my family? Or were some of them here for other reasons?

"Who are you really?" I asked quietly.

"I'm exactly who I appear to be. A government official with interests in unusual bloodlines and their potential applications."

"Applications for what?"

"Military purposes. Scientific research. National security interests."

My blood ran cold. "You want to use me as some kind of weapon?"

"I want to understand what you're capable of. What your children might be capable of."

My hand moved instinctively to my belly. "My children?"

"The genetic markers are hereditary. Your child will likely possess even stronger abilities than you do."

"I don't have any abilities—"

"Don't you? How did you know to look for the thief behind the exhibition hall? How did you know which route he would take?"

I stared at him. "What are you talking about? What thief?"

Cassius checked his watch. "Right about now, I'd say."

Suddenly, screams erupted from the exhibition hall. People started running, shouting about theft and attackers.

"The Goddess Stone," someone yelled. "It's been stolen!"

Chaos broke out in the great hall. People were pushing toward the exits, trying to get to safety or to help. The lights flickered and went out completely, plunging us into darkness.

"How did you know?" I demanded, but Cassius was already gone, disappeared into the panicking crowd.

Emergency lighting kicked in, casting eerie shadows across the room. I looked around frantically for Magnus or Kael, but I couldn't see them in the confusion.

"Lyra!" Derek's voice called from somewhere in the darkness. "Where are you?"

"Here!" I called back, but my voice was lost in the chaos.

Something was very wrong. This wasn't just a random theft. It was coordinated, planned. And somehow, General Cassius had known it was going to happen.

I needed to find Magnus. I needed to get out of here.

But as I tried to push through the crowd toward the exit, I couldn't shake Cassius's words about my abilities. About knowing things I shouldn't know.

Because he was right about one thing. I did know where the thief had gone.

I could feel it, like a compass pointing toward the back of the building. Toward the gardens and the lake beyond.

Against every rational instinct, I found myself moving in that direction instead of toward safety.

I had to get the stone back.

This’s the only clue I know the truth.