The Blood Moon Twins
Chapter 74

UNKNOWN

"There are intruders in the territory."

"How many?"

"Three. No four."

"Where are they coming from?"

"The northern border."

"We need backup now. s**t. s**t. s**t. There are more of them than we realized. Get here now."

"I'm on my way."

"Alpha Mark, hurry. Darian. He's... They got him. He needs help."

"I'll be there as soon as I can. I can heal him."

"Luna... I'm afraid it's too late."

-

REMY

I woke up from the dead of sleep with a sinking feeling in my stomach. I didn't know what was happening, but I flew out of bed in a heartbeat. "Remy," Blade said, catching me in his arms.

He had been in an armchair next to my bed, keeping an eye on me while I slept. He didn't sleep as much as I did, and usually he slept during the day. He thrived during the night. I had tried to tell him he should spend his time doing something else, but he insisted on making sure I was safe. He claimed he was okay just reading and entertaining himself. He was used to being by himself at night.

"Something's wrong," I sputtered. My forehead was damp with sweat, and my body was tense. I felt sick, and I didn't know what was happening.

"How did you know?" Blade asked, his eyes growing wide. He kept his arms firmly around me, which I felt like I needed. My legs were wobbly as he held me.

"What do you know?" I asked when he realized he knew more than me.

"Not much. A warrior stopped by your room and told me we had to stay in here. He didn't say why other than that it was dangerous. You were fast asleep, so I didn't want to disturb you," Blade explained. "What do you know?"

I shook my head. "Less than you. I just have this gut feeling that something is terribly wrong."

A sharp pain attacked my head, causing my body to crumple through the pain, but Blade easily caught me. Flashes of blood filled my head along with cries of pain.

I looked at Blade, tears pricking at my eyes. "Someone is hurt. Badly."

"Did you just have a vision?" he asked.

"I... I don't know. I have to go." I pulled away from him and started pushing towards the door.

He caught my hand and held me back. "They told us to stay here."

"If I always did what I was told, I never would have met you," I said. "I can't explain why I feel this way, but I know I have to go. You can stay here or come with. Either way, I'm going."

He started walking forward, still holding my hand. "Guess we're going then."

We ran through the pack house, heading straight towards the front door. I opened the door, and I immediately saw chaos outside. A group of people were carrying Darian into the house on a makeshift stretcher. I quickly stumbled out of their way and watched as they brought him in, likely taking him right to Doctor Zayla's office.

I didn't get a good look at him, but there was a lot of blood. Too much blood. My stomach twisted as I feared the worse.

"Remy, I need you to go back to your room," my dad said, following behind the convoy of people.

"What happened?" I asked, ignoring the command he gave us.

My dad paused, looking at Darian, who was disappearing in the distance now. "We were attacked. It was a small group of six vampires. Most of them have been dealt with but there is still one that's not accounted for," he explained.

I nodded slowly. I hadn't predicted this incident, but if I had been able to get control of my powers sooner... No. I shook my head. I told Harper she couldn't think like that, and I didn't want to be a hypocrite.

"Is Darian going to..." My voice trailed off, unable to finish the sentence.

"I don't know," my dad answered honestly. "I was going to check on him, see what Doctor Zayla says, but they are calling me back out there. I need you to keep an eye on Darian for me and let me know what happens. Can you do that?"

I knew he was just trying to keep me out of danger, but I found myself nodding my head. I had grown close to Darian recently, and I wanted to make sure he was okay. Maybe I could even try to heal him. I hadn't practiced my healing magic yet, since I had been focusing solely on attack tactics, but it was worth a shot. "Thank you, Remy. I'll be back soon." My dad placed his hand on my shoulder, and suddenly my entire body tensed.

I felt desperate to know what was going to happen to Darian, and then it felt like I was being transported away. I was standing in a grassy field, and it was like there was a movie playing in front of me.

The sun was shining, which felt wrong. This wasn't the kind of day that should welcome the sun. I could feel the grief as I looked over the crowd of people standing in a circle, all dressed in black. I slowly approached the crowd to get a better look, but my gut was telling me I already knew what was going on. Sure enough, a casket was being lowered into the ground as several people sniffled.

Everyone standing around was from the pack, and my dad was standing at the front of the group, giving a speech. I could see the pain in his face as he spoke, but I couldn't hear the words.

I walked closer, testing to see how much I could do, and no one seemed to notice my presence. I kept approaching the headstone, trying to read who was being lowered into the ground, even though I was already sure I knew. I stopped when I was able to read the words. Darian Ernouf

Beloved Leader of the Warriors

Died Protecting his Pack

My hands shook. It wasn't supposed to happen like this. He had to be saved. I turned and started running. I had to get back to the pack house. I had to change Darian's fate. He was too important to the pack and couldn't die like this.

I kept running, and I could feel the rough ground underneath my bare feet. I pushed myself faster, hoping that if I could just make it back to the pack house, back to where Darian was bleeding out, I could change his fate. My foot caught on a rock, and I tripped. Right before I hit the ground, my body jolted forward, and I was back in the pack house.

My dad and Blade were staring at me. I looked between the two of them, wondering why they had twisted expressions.

"Are you okay?" my dad asked. He looked me up and down, a frown on his face.

I shook my head. "I just saw Darian's funeral. I can't let it happen. I have to do something."

Without further explanation, I ran up the stairs and bolted straight towards the medical room. I pushed through the door and saw a team of people hovering over Darian's body, trying to save him.

"Remy, you shouldn't be in here," my mom said. There was blood covering her hands.

"No, I have to-" I cut myself off when I realized the heart monitor was flatlining.

I stepped forward, and each step felt heavy. I pushed past the people standing around until I could see it myself. Darian's eyes were closed. I wanted to pretend he was just sleeping, but I couldn't even do that. He was covered in scratches, including a deep one on his neck. I was sure he died of blood loss.

I curled my fists so hard that my nails broke the skin on my palm. I wanted to kill every last vampire. Darian didn't deserve this. He was on the older side, but he had several years ahead of him still. It was too soon.

An arm wrapped around my waist, and I found myself being pulled into Blade's body. I buried my face into his chest, and let the rest of the world disappear around me. I knew people were talking, but I didn't hear any of it. Blade was the only thing keeping me together. He dulled the rage that was threatening to erupt inside of me.

Blade picked me up and carried me out of the room. He took me back to my room and set me on my bed. He knelt in front of me and grabbed my hands, looking up into my eyes.

"I want to go back out with your father to see if I can help them replace the last vampire," he said. "But if you need me to stay with you, I will."

I wanted him to stay, but I also wanted to help him replace the vampire, especially knowing not all of them paid for what they did to Darian. "I'll go with you."

Blade squeezed my hands. "I don't think that's a good idea. If Draven is out there, he might target you, and I don't think this pack could handle a second loss tonight."

He was right, but it didn't change my mind. I still wanted to go, but I decided it was best not to push it. "Give me five minutes, and then you can go." If Blade joined the others, he would be able to do what I couldn't. I knew he would have some insight into the vampire attack, but I needed him with me for a few more minutes before he went. The rage inside of me was still strong, and I was afraid that if he left before the rage was quenched, it would burn me alive.

"I will stay for as long as you want," Blade said. He pressed himself forward and kissed me lightly.

He started to pull away, but I grabbed him and pulled him back into the kiss. I wanted him. I needed him, and as our lips moved as one, the desire inside of me grew more and more. I grabbed Blade's collar and pulled him onto the bed with me. He hovered over me, getting lost in the makeout session just as much as me.

For a moment, I just wanted Blade to take advantage of me and touch me everywhere. The prophecy felt like it was too much to handle, and I didn't want to fight it anymore. I just wanted to become one with the man I loved.

Blade was the first to break apart. "We can't," he whispered, and I knew his thoughts were right there with mine.

I nodded, knowing he was right. "Go help my dad and get revenge for Darian."

Blade kissed me one more time before getting off the bed. "I will."