“Luna, Luna,” a female youngling only four years of age called excitedly to her half an hour or so later as she landed on the balcony that overlooked the sprawling forest of nothing but trees all around. The sliding glass door behind her opened, and a second later, arms wrapped around her leg and squeezed. She reached down and hauled the youngling up into her arms. Innocent silver, ice-blue eyes peered up at her, her mouth slightly parted to reveal tiny fangs. “Luna, nakey.”

“Yes, I am naked. I should put on clothes.” The youngling nodded rapidly and squirmed in her arms.

“Evanna,” a female said exasperatedly from the doorway.

“It's all right,” Luna said and smiled at her sister as she walked toward her. “I jumped into the river before I came here.”

“I can see that,” Estoria said dryly and reached for her daughter. If one didn't pay attention or know what to look for, one couldn't tell them apart. Luna smiled and gently disengaged the youngling from her. She handed her back to her mother and followed her twin inside. They entered a bedroom made up of blues and white. Luna walked to the dresser and ran her fingertips along the white surface, before opening the top drawer and pulling out a pale blue nightgown. She slipped it over her head and allowed the cool, thin material to settle around her as she turned to her sister.

“How are things here?”

She shrugged. “Things around here are uneventful.”

“Good,” she said and smiled at Evanna struggling to free herself from her mother's arms.

“Down!” the youngling exclaimed. “Down-down-down!”

Estoria gave her a long, suffering look and sighed. “See what I have to put up with?” she asked in an audible whisper and set the youngling on her feet. “Go play,” she said and ruffled Evanna’s fine white-blonde hair affectionately.

Luna watched the youngling flash from the room and smiled. “She’s going to be a menace, that one.”

“I’m afraid that she already is,” Estoria said fondly as what sounded like a thousand rubber duckies being murdered reached their ears. The poor duckies, she thought, and then chuckled. “Did you find out anything more on the sword of tenebris?” Luna shook her head and scowled. She flopped onto the bed and let out a long sigh.

“No need.”

Estoria frowned. “Meaning?”

“I am ninety-nine percent certain of who has it.”

“Oh?” her sister asked and arched an eyebrow. “Please, do tell.”

Luna smiled. “I think I’ll leave you in suspense for a little while longer.”

She scowled, but nodded. “Very well.” She dropped down beside her and stared up at the ceiling. “Will you be off soon?” Luna shook her head and threw an arm across her eyes.

“I must sleep, then I will be off.”

“And Arild?”

“He will be joining me.”

She nodded. “I wish you luck, then.” Luna took in a deep breath and slowly let it out as her eyes drifted shut. Estoria watched her for a moment, listening as her breathing evened out and her body relaxed into sleep. She reached out a hand and pulled a light, purple blanket over her.

“Sleep well, sister,” she said softly and stood. Walking over to the window that looked out into a small garden, she secured the curtains more firmly, until no hint of light could be seen. From another room, Evanna squealed, and she winced as something thunked against the wall. The youngling burbled and gurgled as she threw something else at it a second later. Estoria smiled, rolling her eyes as she opened the door and stepped out. She closed it quietly behind her and walked into the next room, where Evanna was busy dissecting a stuffed wolf. The youngling looked at her mother, who bent and plucked her up into her arms. The bedroom, which was converted into a playroom, had a small white table and chair, a small mattress covered with a pale blue sheet, a shelf full of colorful books, and toys scattered everywhere. On the far wall, high up near the ceiling was a small window with a heavy white curtain that blocked out any trace of light. To the nairues, light was poisonous, agonizing on contact, and even fatal. At a very young age, one of the very first things they learn was how to shield themselves from such things. Evanna wrapped her arms around her mother’s neck, her wings fluttering behind her as she snuggled into her. Nuzzling her hair, Estoria walked from the room and into the cozy living space of their temporary home. She set her daughter on her feet and smiled down at her. “Hungry?” In answer, Evanna nodded her head with much enthusiasm on her part. Estoria laughed softly and ruffled her daughter’s hair affectionately. “Go sit, I’ll see what I can come up with.” The youngling nodded, all but hopping into the kitchen. Taking in a deep breath, she slowly turned and stared silently at Luna, who was casually leaning against the doorframe. She smiled at her twin, one arm around the male nairue’s stomach, holding him to her as she held a shadow blade to his throat.

“Look what I found lurking outside our window, sister,” Luna said and lowered her head. A pink tongue darted out, and the male stiffened as she licked along his jugular. “See to Evanna, I’ll take good care of our… guest.” She inclined her head, giving the male a smile before joining her daughter. “Now then,” Luna whispered in his ear. “let us talk, you and I.” She tightened her hold on him, taking him with her as she melded with the shadows.

Outside, surrounded by nothing but green grass all around, they solidified, and Luna released him, giving him a light shove. He staggered for a moment, before catching himself and turning to her with a curse. “You know, I do not appreciate it when my rest is disturbed,” she said with a smile. “I get… irritated.” She twirled the thin blade of shadow between her fingers and smirked. “So, tell me, why are you here?”

“That is none of your concern,” he growled, eyeing the blade with caution.

“Is it not?” she mused and twirled the blade faster and faster in her hands. “Please, do tell.” A flash of gold caught her eye, and she froze, forcing her twirling of the blade to come to a sudden stop. The blade dissipated back into the ether as a low growl escaped her throat.

“Is that clear enough for you?” he growled and took a step forward.

“Very,” she hissed, her fangs snapping down, fully extended. The sweet bitter taste of venom dripped from them, slowly creating a pool under her tongue. “Is it me you’re after?” she asked and smiled.

“You and your sister,” he hissed and bared his own fangs. “and that little, precious girl of hers.”

“I see.” Luna stepped forward, until their bodies were practically pressed up against each other. The male was too busy blinking in surprise to do anything about it as she wrapped her arms around him and bent backward. Her body was almost in a ninety-degree angle to the ground as she pushed him up and over her head. He hit the ground hard, and he snarled as he quickly got to his feet. She straightened and spun, smiling as she rushed him. They hit with a bone-jarring impact, and she ignored the pain that lanced through her skull. Growling, she grabbed his wrist and squeezed hard. A grunt escaped her as his fangs sank into her shoulder. She pulled at the darkness, hissing as she formed a thin blade. With a snarl, she stabbed it deep into his side. He released her shoulder and reared back with a hissing scream. She grabbed for the solar dagger, but he was just as quick. He stabbed her through the palm, and a strangled sound escaped her as a burning pain shot up her arm to course throughout her body like fire. With a smirk, he yanked the dagger free and came at her. Her free hand shot out and punched into his face, breaking through cartilage and bones. He screamed, staggering back several steps before dropping.

Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.

“Bitch!” he snarled and spat out a mouthful of blood and fragments of broken bones and teeth.

“Likewise,” she gasped as the burning steadily grew worse by the second. Her left hand was hurting like a son of a bitch, pulsing and throbbing in time to her pounding heart. She broke out in a cold sweat as her breathing grew shallow. She had to end it before unconsciousness took her over. A streak of gold flashed before her eyes, and she grunted as it struck her in the side of her neck. Fucking! Mother! Fucking! Son of a! Fucking! Fuuuuuck! She silently screamed as she grabbed the hilt and yanked it out with a pained snarl. Vehemently cursing her out, the male nairue struggled to his feet, his wings flapping as he launched himself into the sky. Luna let out a pained scream as the air rippled around her. A tendril of shadow lashed out, and he let out a roar as it cut into his wings, yanking him back down. With all the strength she could muster, she willed herself to remain upright as she staggered toward him. Due to pain and rage, her eyes—no longer ice-blue—had turned a vibrant red, all but glowing in the twilight. They stared at each other, fuming. At least, she was. Growling, he sat up and grabbed her around the throat. He screamed as she stabbed him in the gut, driving the dagger in deep. Her body arched as a blade slid into her back a split second later, and she snarled as she pulled out the dagger and drove it into his chest. Another scream escaped him, and he released her to grab at the dagger. The remainder of her strength left her in a rush, and she fell limply onto her back. Too bad that it missed his heart, but maybe it was close enough to kill him. Oh, who was she kidding? In order to instantly kill, it had to pierce the heart. It was aggravating beyond belief that she didn’t have the strength to rip his head off, tear out his heart, or drain him of his essence. Oh, how she wanted his essence. Better yet, she wanted to drain him of his psyche. Hmm, she wondered why she hadn’t done that earlier in the fight. Ah well, the moment she regained her strength, she was going to repeatedly punch herself in the face for it. She could barely breathe, and all that came out of her was a strangled wheeze as she struggled to get air into her lungs. Her ears picked up the unmistakable sound of a low hiss, but she was too busy trying not to die to sense who it was. There was a wet gurgling sound from nearby, and then she was lifted into someone’s arms. If she could breathe properly, she would have let out a relieved sigh as heat enveloped her.

Estoria shook in rage as she led Arild into her home and into the kitchen. Evanna jumped onto the counter and quickly unhooked the spigot before filling one of the basins with cold water. Arild lowered Luna onto a table and removed her nightgown with one swift yank. The table underneath her was covered with a white sheet, and if needed, it had wheels for ease of transport. A growling Evanna hopped to the floor and carefully picked up the water-filled basin with her mind. Once it was in her reach, she grabbed it and made her way to the table. Arild took it from her, ruffling her hair as Estoria dropped a washcloth in the water. “Thank you, sweetheart,” he said softly to the youngling and knelt beside the table.

“Is she going to be okay?” Evanna asked and held back the urge to cry and break things, because, she really, really wanted to break things.

“She will,” her mother reassured her and picked her up. She walked from the kitchen and into the small living space with its white walls and cream-colored carpet. Stopping before the small rectangular table, she picked up a four-by-six inch mirror and concentrated on it. After a moment, glowing blue letters began to form on the glass surface, spelling out a name. Estoria reached out with her mind and knocked on the metaphorical door. The mirror suddenly rippled, briefly shimmering as the endahlian female on the other side answered her call. The mirror was no longer a reflective surface, but a window to wherever the female was at that moment.

“Estoria,” she greeted and frowned. “What is it?”

“Solar poisoning,” Estoria growled and ripped open a portal. Without hesitation, the female broke the connection and stepped through the shimmering portal. She set Evanna on her feet and led the female to Luna, who was still conscious but staring at nothing. Arild wiped the last drops of blood from her face and stood aside for the endahlian female.

“Hello, Luna,” she said softly as a dark blue glow surrounded her hands. She placed them on her chest and smiled. “It’s Helentia, can you hear me?” Unsurprisingly, she got no response from the poisoned nairue. Helentia took in a deep breath, bracing herself as she channeled her magic and began to extract the murky yellow substance from the way too still female under her hands. Nearby, Arild, Estoria and Evanna silently watched her. As she worked to rid the nairue of the poison, Luna was silently screaming obscenities at her, because, who wouldn’t? Besides, it gave her something to concentrate on other than the volcano that was slowly taking its time in melting her from the inside out. Also, she couldn’t breathe, damn it. After what seemed like eternity to her, the pain slowly dissipated, to the point where she could breathe and see things other than just white. She blinked, and continued to blink as the rest of the poison left her bloodstream. Helentia pulled her hands away from her chest and took the plastic bottle of Mirinia water that Estoria held out to her.

“Thank you,” she said as the endahlian female cracked open the bottle and chugged the clear liquid like her life depended on it. Technically, it did.

“Any time,” Helentia said after draining half of the contents. “Luna, blood, and then a lot of Chiller.” She nodded and slowly pushed herself into a sitting position. When she felt nothing but the mild pain that still lingered, she slid from the table and stood. Arild’s hand closed around her arm, holding her up as she steadied herself. He led her to a chair, and she dropped into it with a grunt. He crouched beside her and held out his wrist. Luna grabbed his arm and brought it to her mouth. With a hiss, she bared her fangs and struck. Over at the table, Estoria spoke softly to Helentia. As for Evanna, she was playing ping-pong between them and Luna. After swallowing down a few mouthfuls of his blood, Luna reluctantly pulled back and swiped her tongue over the bite wound, healing it. Letting out a heavy sigh, she wrapped her arms around him and scowled. Arild smirked and straightened, picking her up and holding her against him. She wrapped her legs around him and smiled as his erection pressed into her core. A hiss escaped him, and Luna shivered as the air rippled around them. She turned her head, in time to see a beam of moonlight appear in front of him. It suddenly split in two, creating a portal that led into total darkness. Luna almost moaned out loud at the sight of it.

“Go,” she growled into his ear and tightened her hold around him. Arild chuckled and stepped through the portal. The last thing she saw before it vanished were her sister and Helentia, smirking and waving at them.