Luna. Chapter 81

(Lyra's POV)

Victor arrived home Friday morning looking pale but determined to pretend nothing unusual had happened. I was making breakfast when he appeared in the kitchen, already dressed for work despite being officially on medical leave.

"Dad, you're supposed to be resting."

"I've been resting for two days. I'm fine."

"The doctors said—"

"The doctors said my heart is strong and my blood work is normal. Everything else was just stress." He poured himself coffee with the careful movements of someone trying not to appear fragile. "Speaking of stress, how are you handling everything?"

"Better now that the house has been purified."

"And the person who planted those cursed glasses?"

"Still unknown. But I'm working on a plan to make sure nothing like that happens again."

Victor sat across from me at the kitchen table, studying my face with the sharp attention he usually reserved for business negotiations. "What kind of plan?"

"I'm going to learn to use my celestial wolf abilities. Real protective powers that can help me defend our family from supernatural threats."

"Lyra, that sounds dangerous."

"More dangerous than doing nothing while someone systematically targets the people I love?"

He considered that, sipping his coffee slowly. "What would learning these abilities involve?"

"Research, practice, possibly contacting other celestial wolves who still have their divine connections." I hesitated, then decided he deserved the truth. "And maybe attempting to contact the moon goddess directly."

Victor set down his coffee cup carefully. "The moon goddess."

"I know how it sounds."

"It sounds like you're considering risking your life for powers you might not be able to control."

"It sounds like I'm considering taking control of a situation that's been controlling us."

We sat in silence for a moment. Outside, I could see Kael and Asher playing catch in the backyard, their laughter carrying through the morning air.

"There's something else," Victor said quietly.

"What?"

"Something I should have told you about celestial wolf abilities years ago."

I felt my stomach clench. "What do you mean?"

"Your grandmother didn't just have the ability to sense supernatural threats. She could manipulate them. Redirect cursed energy, neutralize dangerous artifacts, even communicate with entities from other planes of existence."

"Other planes of existence?"

"Spirits, ghosts, souls trapped in objects. She could speak with them, understand their motivations, sometimes even help them move on to whatever comes next."

I thought about Marcus Nova's trapped soul, about the rage and frustration I'd seen in his ghostly form during Morgana's purification ritual.

"Why didn't you tell me this before?"

"Because those abilities came with a price. Every time she used her powers to help others, it cost her something. Energy, life force, pieces of herself that she could never get back."

"What happened to her?"

"She died young. Burned herself out trying to help every supernatural entity that asked for her assistance." Victor's voice was heavy with old grief. "I didn't want the same thing to happen to you."

"But without those abilities, I can't protect Asher from the kinds of threats we're facing."

"And with those abilities, you might not survive long enough to see him grow up."

The kitchen fell quiet except for the sound of Asher's delighted squeals as Kael tossed him into the air and caught him.

"Dad, can I ask you something?"

"Always."

"Do you think Grandmother would have used her abilities to protect me if someone had threatened our family?"

Victor was quiet for a long moment. "Yes. Without hesitation."

"Then you understand why I have to try."

A knock at the front door interrupted our conversation. I wasn't expecting anyone, and it was early for casual visitors.

I opened the door to find Kael standing on the porch, looking uncharacteristically serious.

"We need to talk," he said without preamble.

"About what?"

"About your plan to learn celestial wolf abilities."

I stared at him. "How do you know about that?"

"Because Felix called me last night. He's worried about you attempting something this dangerous without proper preparation."

"Everyone seems to think they know what's best for me lately."

"Because we care about you. And because we've all seen what happens when supernatural abilities are used recklessly."

I let him into the house, leading him to the living room where we could speak privately.

"What exactly are you worried about?" I asked.

"I'm worried about you attempting to contact divine entities when your lunar connection has been severed. I'm worried about you pushing yourself to develop abilities that might be beyond your current capacity. And I'm worried about what happens to Asher if something goes wrong."

"Nothing is going to go wrong."

"How can you be sure?"

"Because I'm not going to be reckless about this. I'm going to research thoroughly, find experienced guidance, take every precaution."

Kael sat on the couch, running his hands through his hair in frustration. "Lyra, there's something I need to tell you about celestial wolf abilities."

"Everyone has something they need to tell me about celestial wolf abilities, apparently."

"I lost mine."

The words hit me like cold water. "What?"

"During the Ashwalker infiltration. The rituals they made me undergo, the spiritual corruption I absorbed over three years—it severed my connection to lunar energy permanently."

I stared at him, understanding dawning slowly. "You're a celestial wolf too."

"Was. The abilities I inherited from my mother's bloodline are gone. Completely."

"How do you know?"

"Because I've tried everything to restore them. Rituals, meditation, even attempting divine contact. Nothing works. Once the connection is severed, it can be nearly impossible to repair."

"Nearly impossible isn't the same as impossible."

"Lyra, listen to me. The process of trying to restore severed abilities can be more dangerous than the original loss. I've seen celestial wolves burn themselves out attempting reconnection rituals. I've seen them lose their sanity trying to force divine contact."

"And I've seen my family terrorized by supernatural threats while I stood by helplessly."

"You're not helpless. You have the pack, you have Council protection, you have people who care about you."

"I have people who want to keep me safe by keeping me weak."

The words came out harsher than I'd intended, but they felt true.

Kael was quiet for a long moment. "Is that what you think I'm trying to do?"

"I think you're trying to protect me from risks you've decided I can't handle."

"I'm trying to protect you from making the same mistakes I made."

"What if I'm willing to make those mistakes?"

"Then you're not thinking clearly."

I stood up, anger flaring. "Don don't get to make that decision for me. Not anymore."

"Lyra—"

"You lost your abilities because you chose to sacrifice them for something you thought was more important. That was your choice. But this is mine."

Kael stood too, his expression pained. "If something happens to you, what happens to Asher?"

"If something happens to me because I was too afraid to protect myself and my family, what kind of life would he have had anyway?"

We stared at each other across the living room, both of us wanting the same thing but unable to agree on how to achieve it.

"What would it take for you to support this?" I asked finally.

"Proof that it can be done safely. Experienced guidance from someone who's successfully restored severed lunar connections. And a plan for what happens if things go wrong."

"And if I can provide all of that?"

"Then I'll help you any way I can."

It wasn't the unconditional support I'd hoped for, but it was better than outright opposition.

"Kael?"

"Yeah?"

"Thank you for telling me about your abilities. I know that wasn't easy."

"Nothing about this is easy, Lyra. But losing you would be impossible."

The honesty in his voice made my chest tight with emotion I wasn't ready to examine.

"I'm not going anywhere."

"Promise me?"

"I promise I'll be careful. That's the best I can do."

It would have to be enough.