The Lost Moon of silver

Nefretiri

A strange snapping sound filled my ears when the words were uttered. Then the discomfort I'd felt earlier when I'd talked to myself came back, but now it was pain, and it was intense—radiating from the small of my back up to the base of my skull. It felt like the wounds were reopening, but I felt no blood trickling down my skin. I don't know what's happening, but I'm suddenly tired.

"Are you alright?" Ivan pulls me close so my head can rest on his chest. I nod silently, the shock still washing over my mind. "Is there anything I can do?"

Ivan must think my reaction was because I was sad, but it's the opposite. The pain was hard to ignore, but I felt elated. I was suddenly unburdened by the weight of whatever I'd carried around, and any lingering feelings I had for Ricky, his family, or anything else related to him disappeared. Penelope was the only thing that mattered to me, and even that had changed. She wasn't our child. She was mine... and... Ivan's. 

"Is it supposed to feel... good?" I ask softly, looking up at him. 

"I've never heard it put like that, but that can't be a bad thing." rubbing my back, Ivan readjusts me so I'm resting on his shoulder. His hands on my back send soothing relief through my body, and the pain subsides. "You won't regret it, do you?"

"No." My hand goes to the chain, and I play with it idly as I let the effects settle down. "I feel... free."

There was no other word for it. The obsessive pull to always do what my husband told me was gone—the desperate desire to please him and make my marriage work no matter what felt like a joke. In the middle of this park, I had somehow found my freedom, and I'd done it with a man I hardly knew but never wanted to leave. Did I feel bad about what I was doing? Fuck no, and I didn't care if that made me a whore or a terrible wife.

"I like cooking." I almost laugh at what I've said, but I'm so relaxed now that all I want to do is get to know my mate. "Baking, too."

"So, I can indulge in everything you make, huh?" Ivan's hands never stop moving, his lips lavishing my skin with soft, tender kisses. "Because whatever you make, I'm eating."

"I only like milk chocolate." A contented sigh comes out when Ivan kisses right under my ear, and he pauses, noticing the reaction. "I'm not a big fan of dark or white."

"Funny, because I hate the milk kind. So we can share a box of assorted without fighting over it." He chuckles, and I smile, unburdened by doubt for the first time tonight. "You see? We're perfect for each other. I know this is moving fast, and we still need to talk about things, but I hope you'll allow me to make you happy."

"Do you know what would make me happy right now?" Feeling slightly bolder, I kiss his lips. Gently at first, but then with more passion as Ivan responds. All thoughts of my question evaporate. I can only focus on the incredible way Ivan kisses me.

"What will make my mate happy?" Ivan breathes when we break away. My lips tingle, and I have to stop myself from demanding more. 

"Uh..." I was about to tell him I wanted to sleep with him. Granted, that wasn't a lie, but I managed to stop myself. "I, um, miss the baby."

"Okay, it is pretty late. Let's go." Ivan chuckles, but I think he knows that wasn't what I meant to say. The whole day belonged to an urban legend, but I had to accept that this was happening. 

We get up, and I have to stop. My body suddenly felt vertigo, and Ivan had to steady me so I didn't fall into the grass. I didn't think I was sitting down for so long, but my legs had that sensation of pins and needles up to my hips. It takes a lot longer for the feeling to go away, and I can move again. Ivan held onto me that entire time, never letting me lose my balance.

"You alright?" 

"Yeah, just legs fell asleep." I manage to laugh before I try walking again, but Ivan picks me up instead. That only makes me laugh more. "I can walk now."

"But I like having you this close." The ride only lasts a few seconds until we return to the picnic table. Ivan sets me down and grabs the last of our food, which neither of us will finish. 

I watch him cleaning up in the light of his phone and take a moment to look at the dog tags. It's not diamonds or gold but the most valuable thing I've ever received. Ivan said he wasn't proud of what he'd done, but that didn't apply to being a soldier. I'm sure he would if he had the chance to go back. 

"Ready?" I nod, and Ivan picks me up again. I don't comment this time, only wrapping my legs around his waist, which has him purring like a cat. Honestly, my leg still hurts, and the less pressure I put on it, the better.

We get to the truck, and he sets me in the passenger seat before kissing me again. Undoubtedly, I've kissed this werewolf more in one day than my husband in a year. That should depress me, but it doesn't. I love how perfect it is when our lips touch. The soft texture of his skin and the sparks only intensify the sensation. Even the way he snakes his tongue into my mouth is seductive. Not cramming it down my throat, no, it's slow and teasing, and I'm getting addicted already.

We break apart reluctantly, but he keeps staring at me, a warm, incredible smile on his lips now that has me cocking my head to the side. Ivan only shakes his head before shutting my door and walking around the truck to his seat. We're silent as the car turns on, and Ivan types an address into the GPS. It isn't far from here, and I'm surprised because I know that area.

"You're staying in Liam's territory?" Leaning closer, I'm even more shocked to see how close to the dragon's house Ivan's taking us. Technically, the whole city of Farmington was Liam's, but the smaller neighborhood was his private land. No one came in or out who didn't live there without his blessing. 

"Wait, you know the dragon?" Now, it was Ivan's turn to look stunned. I smiled, nodded at him, and pointed to the screen.

"I do. His house is over on this street." I'd been there a few times. Sarah paid me to help her in the garden, and I'd been invited to several of their garden parties. "How did you find him?"

"We didn't." Ivan scowls, looking at the GPS. "One of his guards approached us while trying to fix Greg's car. He told Taylor we could rent a house from the dragon until the repairs were done. Fucker's charging us three times what the rent should be."

"Yep, that's Liam." You had to take Liam as he was. Otherwise, you were perpetually angry at him.

"So, how do you know him?" 

"Well, when we first moved here, I had a car. I was driving around to get a feel for the area, and I got lost." Even now, I still remember that day. I'd been so depressed until I met Liam. "I stumbled into his borders, and I met him. He sensed magic in me, and I don't know. We all clicked. Though I'm mostly friends with his mate, Sarah."

"If they were your friends, why didn't they help you?' Now, Ivan was angry. He pulls out of the parking space and drives, but I can see how clenched his jaw is.

"They did. I just didn't take it." It wasn't their fault; they had been more than helpful, and I'd never told them the truth. "Liam even offered me a job in one of his stores, but Ricky didn't want me working, and when he found out where I was going, he smashed my phone and sold my car."

"I'm assuming he knows that there was a dragon here." Ivan sighs, turning on the road leading into Liam's land.

"I don't know. He probably did." 

"The dragon still could've helped you." Ivan's grip tightens on the wheel. "Instead, they left you there."

"Liam is business first and foremost. He's nice, but nothing comes without a cost." Unfortunately, it was how he was; you just had to deal with it. 

We drive silently, but my body reacts when we go over the territorial line. My back starts to hurt again, and I feel itchy, but it's deep in the skin, so you can't get to it. Staring outside, I see one of Liam's security strolling along the side of the road, and he waves at me. It's a little past one, but the guy acts like it's an afternoon. Ivan turns down another street, and the pull of Liam's magic strengthens. 

"You okay?" Ivan notices me fidgeting, and I have to take my jacket off to cool down.

"Yeah, can you put the air on?" He nods, not questioning me, and I sigh in relief when the cold air hits me.

"So, when we get to this house, we can check on the baby." Ivan's trying to find something to fill the silence now, but I'm glad the burning sensation was dying. "Taylor said she's sleeping, but you can see that she's okay, and then you should probably get some rest."

"Wait, you didn't get any calls." I scowl, turning to him. "How did she call you?"

"Mind link," He winces, realizing I have no clue what he's talking about. "We can communicate with others in our pack with mental communication."

"You mean mind reading?" I thought only dragons knew how to do that.

"No, not exactly. More like wireless communication. You only hear what the other person wants you to hear." We're close to Liam's house. Well, they call it a house. I called it a mansion. "I'm the only one who can force someone to talk or block everyone out."

"Oh, well, that's useful." What else could I say to that?

"When we're..." There's hesitation now, and I wonder what he wants to say. "When we're fully mated, you can do the same. Since you're my Luna, and we share the same rank."

There was that word again. Luna.