Chapter 37

Luna to Skye.

It's my last breath and my last thought as I pass out in the cage where Vastian placed me, weights on my ankles and collar also locked back on for good measure. I appear as a hapless pet once again and the weights exhaust me into a quick and deep sleep.

Vastian's reveal of my fate – his interpretation of Vorth's action – is too mind boggling for me to realise as something real right away.

It is just words, after all.

Knock, knock.

I hiccup awake – approximately 5 hours later.

I tilt my head to the side to look out of my prison.

I'm still exhausted, but it's now the beginning of night – and the neon blue glow of the moon covering the sky, lights my cage, and the woman kneeling down looking in, after tapping her knuckles on the glass.

Lemeri is wearing a relaxed red dress with crinkled long red hair, perfectly groomed behind her shoulders – her eyes sparkle with mischief and she seems happy that I've awoken to find her looking in.

"Wake up, sleepy head, how are you feeling?" Lemeri presses her nose to the glass cage, as she watches me closely as I groan and sit up in the cold moonlight. I am still sore after two nights getting fucked by two Alphas, but 5 hours sleep was better than nothing.

"What's wrong, Lemeri? Why are you here?" I ask her immediately, without a smile, "Is Skye okay?"

"Ryder. Don't be silly. Calm down. Skye is the Alpha of Wolf Dominion," Lemeri furrows her brows at my worried look, looking confused by my question but also amused, "He rules the planet, why wouldn't he be okay, silly thing? Both Vastian and Skye are entertaining guests in the Ward – a fake counsel room for guests from the underground. Shades."

"I've heard of them a few times now – Shades, Genesis kind who are not tied to Dominions?" I ask, "Rogue people?"

"Correct and Raygar is a Rogue Master," Lemeri murmurs, "It means he has a task of killing these rogue persons. It's very much illegal to roam freely outside a Dominion. You must choose a side."

"So, Shades are killed by all Dominions," I guess.

"Correct, Cat, Wolf, Reptiles – Bears, all of them," Lemeri nods.

"That sounds to me like pointless killing, why do your Kind delight in such pointless murder of each other?" I hiss now, unable to remain calm as I glare at Lemeri, "Why? Why is a child in a cage in that lab? Why am I in a cage here? I have a right to be safe – just like you or Skye or anyone else who is free to choose!"

"I am not free, I am a hostage!" Lemeri reminds me, her tone cold, "I think about the family I miss every day. You don't understand this world – you're not from here. You don't belong on this planet. Your Kind are foreign to this ecosystem which does not tolerate many living forms. Ryder, we cannot survive in high dense population – so little of this planet is habitable. Dominions control population breeding. It is the only rule they all abide by. We cannot exceed a population of three thousand each, or the food, the water and the solividian do not go far enough to keep us alive," Lemeri educates me, passionately, "Any craters full of valleys and life – are neutral grounds because they grow vital sustenance we all need. We war in them so the death of our Beasts and their decaying remains keep the soil fertile."

"Don't care. Nope. I don't care. I've heard enough – none of that matters to me," I cut her off – because it's hurt me. This information. It gave a logical reason as to why Human Kind were killed so vehemently. There wasn't enough room for all of us to exist here. To thrive. But still – it couldn't be the final truth. There had to be solutions.

Genesis Kind were so stubborn and close minded – so focused on violence that innovation and compromise seemed the last thing on their minds.

"Ha. You should care – but we'll drop the subject since you care so little for basic politics," Lemeri rolls her eyes, catty, "Anyway I've come to fetch you – Skye requests your presence. You're to meet the Shades."

"Have you spoken to Vastian today?" I ask her, as casually as possible, to find out what she knows.

"No, I haven't seen him," Lemeri opens my cage, "Come out, I'm going to dress you – and then I'm going to deliver you as a prepped and pretty thing for Skye. Except I'm going to make you look formidable. Scary. Vile. Skye will love it."

Lemeri is too eager about decorating me – and I'm not sure what she means by vile.

I simply follow her to her residence – so I can be tortured by her makeup and then released to roam once more back into the dangers of freedom.

****

Lemeri keeps my collar and ankle weights on – she can't remove them, she says.

So, my braids are tightened, and my eyes are black and my outfit isn't really clothes. It's paint. Black paint – around my breasts and down below I wear a piece of string with a slip of black for panties… except it's so small you can barely say it's wider than a finger. Beyond that is more paint – covering my body in slashes and whirls.

It looks 'sexy', I think. Lemeri seems to think so while I feel completely morphed into some kind of warrior but also a naked and confused 'Slut to Skye' as Skye might label it.

Yes, I'm thinking of it in funny terms – as humour seems to become more real to me lately. A coping mechanism with such odd things happening, one after the other.

Luna to Skye… it sounded romantic – and also a lot like imminent death.

I had always wanted to live until I was old, to die too young without achieving anything for Human Kind would be the ultimate failure. So, I wouldn't be spreading the information about Vastian's interpretation of Vorth's decision. I keep it to myself.

"Why do I have to walk in looking like this?" I whisper to Lemeri as we reach the mock counsel area, the Ward. I can see it's like a big deep red pit for Genesis gatherings – a nest for Genesis you could say. Homey in a strange way. Red fires burn as the only light, while the black walls absorb that light and the whole area remains dimly visible. It's… cozy, for such a sparse area.

Around one pit of red flames, Helpers feed Skye and Vastian, who are sitting on Solividan arm chairs, decorated thrones that seem rather barbaric – as their guests stand and also receive hospitality.

The Shades are not what I expect.

There are no formal robes – only men and some women wearing layers of clothing, that look well worn – as if they consider the fabric a second skin. Warriors who thrive alone, and don't listen to law.

Skye and Vastian are dressed 'down' for the occasion. Wearing their military uniforms, still prestigious but not as up tight as metallic fancy robes.

The atmosphere isn't sweet or friendly – it feels violent.

In an exciting way.

Lawless – it feels magnetic.

We have not approached closely yet, but Lemeri does pull me off to the side, to whisper me one last warning, "Just so you know, Ryder – Shades probably hate Human Kind more than any Dominion. Only a few are Human allies, but they are rare and not within this party… these are Shade Traders, the richest of the rogues – they'll kill you if you so much as make eye contact. They'll know you are a Human – but Skye wants you there to listen. To appear as an obedient slave. You must prove Human kind are good pets to Wolf Dominion. So, be well behaved, okay?"

I turn to Lemeri, as I feel her suddenly start to move off, slipping away. I snatch her wrist and pull her back, while we're behind one corner, near the exit.

"Why is Skye risking my life?" I ask, if I am his Luna, why would he ask me to be here?

Lemeri looks me over, "You're a Lunette, Ryder – you are worth risking in war. It is a compliment, believe me. I'll watch from afar," Lemeri acts coy, but she does add in, with a husky whisper, "On a side note, my respect for you will be higher than ever if you survive this – then I honestly don't care if Raygar fucks you upon his return. You'll have a right to my lover's love if you can prove your worth as a politician. Just… don't die, I thought we made good friends," Lemeri goes cold as she shrinks back and turns to leave me.

I feel her disconnect from me, but almost as if she has to force it.

I strangely understand her encouragement.

I had to prove myself. She wanted to see me be strong, but I had my own reasons.

How else was I meant to prove to myself I was a worthy Luna if I could not act as such? I had to survive everything.

Vorth – chose me. To match the reigning Alpha of the entire planet.

No pressure.

However, it meant Vorth smelled something from me.

I hoped that meant I had some kind of advantage.

I listen to the conversation before I approach too quickly.

"…and so we come here again to find our terms are not met," one voice, full of authority and a lean to a vicious snarl, addresses the host, "Skye – you do, however, touch my heart for one reason. Zrot. Your infamous Wolf Beast. Slaughtered, I hear. But how did you lose your bond to the beast, I wonder? How do you feel?"

"In a great war, Zrot was caught and executed, while I watched the Cats behead him, slowly," Skye answers and he speaks quietly, "I do not feel broken, if you wonder such – I feel free, Hades," a death drawl from my Alpha to the enemy – but with a hint of something else.

Some kind of primal need to dominate.

"War, is something we don't know," Hades responds with a low undertone of pride, "Why war – when one on one is far more telling of a Dominion. You couldn't win a fight with my weakest warrior, Alpha Skye," I am surprised of this Shade's audacity, but there is one thing I can't deny from what I see. The Shades are built far bigger and far taller in every way, even though Skye and his family are giant compared to me – the Shades were something else, "Why did you call us here earlier than the scheduled date?" Hades loses his casual tone.

Now they will speak business.

"Eradication of the Residue in your territory is my first concern," Skye responds, ice cold, "I have a duty to this planet to rid ourselves of the infestation of Human Kind."

I pause as I hear the disgust in Skye's voice.

Did… did he really call me down here… or was Lemeri playing a game?

I doubt Skye for a moment, but I remain and I listen from afar for now. I'm worried about the intention here, but now I am too invested in the conversation to back away.

"Really? I hear rumours you've fallen for a slave Human girl –" the Shade accuses with a small amused smile.

Skye laughs robustly, as if it truly is a joke, "And you, Hades, fell in love with a rock… Solividian unclaimed. The most dangerous kind of love is when it comes to riches over tangible wealth – and cohesion and obedience is a real display of dominance and power," Skye is well rehearsed in this, I can tell from the way the words roll off his tongue.

"It is only a small deposit I have access too," Hades chuckles and ignores any mention of the Dominion's beliefs, "Human fucker. I knew you'd cave into primal needs soon enough. Fuck your religion. The moon is a rock."

"The moon guides our Dominion and our civil and merciful way – your cock guides you, Hades. You have a reputation for anything that moves. Shades all fall too easy for delusion – and reality will soon eat or burn you all alive," Vastian chimes in, but not in a quiet way.

For the first time, I see Vastian as something other than placid and retained. His blue ice eyes could cut through Hades, as they're wide open and focused on the rival.

Hades even looks down away from the penetrating gaze, in a moment of self-defeat.

Hades breaths to the ground as he considers his response and tries to calm his inner rage, "When I feel like it, I eat Human meat. I don't fuck it… they're too bony," Hades almost chokes on his own joke, whatever joke that might be, I'm not sure. His eyes rises up – and he's looking over his shoulder.

At me.

Well, shit.

Hade's nostrils are flared. So he didn't look away from Vastian from intimidation – rather by my smell wafting over.

I'm staring right at his green eyes – those of an alligator. Reptilian.

I swiftly look to Skye, even as I feel the whole party turn to see me on the far end of the room, hiding behind a corner.

"Spy?" Hades whispers to Skye.

"Ryder," Vastian snarls at me – Skye goes a tad pale but does not address me. I quickly step forward, "Come to me."

I approach, while Hades is torn between observing me and Skye's strangely quiet response.

Until he remembers to talk.

"Eat them all then," Skye's death drawl does not leave him tonight, "I want them dead or enslaved like this whore," he motions to me, a little bit too obvious he is rattled by my sudden appearance, "…and in a generous payment I will give you a third day access to Ryer Valley each year. Escorted and protected. And ten tons of Solividian. If you round them all up. Alive preferred."

"Alive?" Hades turns back to Skye – and I am promptly forgotten.

I skid around the edges, avoiding the group to kneel next to Vastian's knee, keeping my head down as he grabs my collar and pretends to hiss at me in punishment.

"How did you escape?" Vastian asks me.

I meet his gaze and I am mute. I'm not sure what I'm meant to say.

He looks surprised I'm here, too. When I glance at Skye – I can assume he is also unsure how I got here.

So Lemeri did shove me into this.

Skye now glances over at me and we hold a long and paused look we can't help but share.

Luna.

And.

Alpha.

Together.

I can tell it's taken a toll on Skye's tolerance and patience today, not just mine.

"Is that your infamous whore?" Hades whispers, intrigued.

"That's the kind of slave I want in Wolf Dominion," Skye forces the words out, "Beautiful. On the eye. Submissive in nature," Skye glances to Hades, "Stupid too."

"Huh? Human Kind are clever," Hades mocks Skye, "You do not know this?"

"Clever when they want food," Skye responds, a little flustered.

Shit. I didn't know I'd ever affect him this much.

Lemeri, oh why– why do this to Skye?

Perhaps this was a game of revenge. A way to humiliate him.

"Much more clever than you are being honest about," Hades shakes his head, "They're good liars. I know plenty Genesis who've thought Human loyalty knows no bounds – only to be killed in their sleep that very night of love and declaration. Human Kind are like spiders. They steal and kill and rape. Far more than we do," Hades shrugs, "That one, she looks like a killer to me. Burnt from the sun in the Dry Canyon life. The kind that searches for blood. Because your Dominions slaughter the babies… the mothers… the fathers… not just the soldiers," Hades looks on at Skye, happy to education the Alpha, "I'll eat the soldiers, but I won't eat the mothers. So. Who killed your family?" Hades looks at me now, dead in the eye, once again. Lemeri is wrong. This Shade doesn't mind looking at me. I feel he is trying to gain my trust but there is a strange falsity about it. So I remain silent. I am unsure what he is trying to do, "I would say she's traumatised – not good, never good. Oh, and she enjoys being in your company. Human Kind… they… do enjoy power. That is why we kill them. They could rival us. If they weren't so bony, of course."

"Ryder is very intelligent, you are most correct in that," Skye gives in, smiling a little, "You see past my lies. I want them enslaved because I'm going to force them into Wolf Dominion. The first Dominion to tame the Residue."

"Ha. Dead or enslaved, make up your mind, what do you want, Skye?" Hades does not trust Skye's word.

Neither do I, to be honest.

"If they resist, they'll die –"

"They usually resist," Hades looks at Skye like he's a spoiled brat who doesn't understand the world.

I'm almost on Hades' side at this point. He seems so logical. Down to earth.

"Bring them in and you get what I've offered," Skye changes tact, trying to wrap up the deal quickly.

"Of course I agree, I only come here to be entertained by your fickle head," Hades mock bows to the Alpha, "You are a hard act to follow with your instability and reckless decisions. I do admire your tenacity toward your tendencies to rebellion, against your own religion, Skye. Fascinating fickle head."

"Enough talk. You will bring every human here, rounded up and enslaved from Cracklen. In seven days," Skye tightens up.

"Oh, yes – I will bring every Human back here in chains. For the gold. For the neutral ground. And one more thing. I'm going to declare a cease fire. We're going to be allies too."

Skye goes silent.

Even Vastian straightens up, "Come again?" Vastian murmurs.

"It's all you've ever wanted, to be friends with us Shades," Hades smiles at his confused cohort, before facing Skye.

"I don't take kindly to jokes in my territory," Skye warns him.

"I'm not joking," Hades shakes his head, "Hell. Let's integrate to Wolf Dominion next week," Hades gets complete silence from his own friends, "I just want one thing. I want her head on a stick. Now. Rip her head off," Hades looks at Vastian, who's hand has not moved from my collar, "And we'll be allies. And obedient. And lawful. Do it, why are you thinking about it? I'll never offer this again, she's just a slave, she's nobody, a human, you don't care about her, not at all, scum," Hades rattles off quickly to Skye, trying to rouse a reaction.

Skye is starting to go… pink.

Um.

He can't speak.

Vastian is even frozen.

Shit.

I have to act – they don't know what to do.

I stand up and pull away from Vastian, distracting from Skye.

"I am loyal to – Wolf Dominion," I try to sound like a politician.

My voice cracks half way through.

But at least I say it.

I clench my fists by my sides as I stand right in front of Skye and Vastian – as if I am protecting them.

I face Hades, who's just around the edge of the fire.

He happily focuses on me, while his crowd jitters and starts to whisper.

The look in his stark green eyes is like that of Raygar.

I am about to be tested.

Don't. Run. And. Don't. Flinch.

I tell myself this very calmly, hearing Jawkin's voice and Lemeri's voice, despite her wickedness.

Hades approaches me slow, first one small step, then a larger swift lunge – until we're an inch apart and I'm staring directly up into the Shade's green eyes.

Hades is not a prestigious leader.

This Shade is not a well-mannered alligator.

No.

But he is graceful like a snake – especially the eyes that dilate and focus on my own eyes.

I observe that Hades has a razored head with symbols showing a fondness for lakes and swamps and rivers. He smells like wet dirt up this close. I try not to gag on his rotten smell as Hades looks at me closely for cracks in my facade.

It feels like an eternity but as his nostrils flare, he turns away and walks back to his side of the fire.

"…we'll bring the slaves, alive or nearly dead – back to you. Forget my tail end of the deal, I'm bored with the idea of kneeling," Hades talks himself out of it, while facing Skye.

Suddenly, I do not exist.

Despite the fact I stand between them.

Hades looks through me.

Skye and Vastian don't move.

"Good," Skye's only response.

"Move out," Hades tells the others to go, and at the last second, he briefly glances back at me.

It's a nothing look.

Not even a second.

Nothing.

Definitely nothing to worry about.

I wait, while they all leave, emptying the Ward.

Even the Helpers run from Skye's glare.

And then it's just me, Vastian and Skye and the red flames.

"I've said it once… I'll say it again… I'll say it a hundred times," Vastian holds my eyes, "You're going to get my brother killed. Alpha?"

"Shut up," Skye immediately scolds his oldest brother, while now catching my frightened eyes, murmuring to me, deep and proud, "Well done, Ryder–"

"Well done?" Vastian hisses, "You're encouraging her."

Skye stands, unleashing all his pent up steam and rage with Hades, onto Vastian, "If you want her dead and out of your way, you'll have to go through me first!"

His voice echoes throughout the entire deep pit that's the Ward – three times over.

Vastian remains calm, waiting for the echo to fade.

"Ryder is your house pet," Vastian murmurs from his chair, "Don't forget that, Skye. I like her. I don't want her dead. I want my family alive. I want us to keep our rule over the Dominion safe."

"If I die, Raygar will rule – and you'll all thrive without me and my strange ways of ruling, where I try new things – I try new ways, Vastian –" Skye is starts to sweat.

"And I follow our religion closely, I do not follow anything else – Skye, please, you need to sit down… you're going to have a fit," Vastian is worried, "Please breathe."

"Skye?" I whisper, as I watch him turn from both of us and fall to his knees.

I watch as he rips off his military jacket, his skin sweats and shifts under the red light.

From pale to tan and scarred and branded.

Skye looks like he's dying, as he fights to stay conscious.

I've seen him shift like this.

I look to Vastian, who's staring at me.

I wasn't deluded.

I was seeing this along with Vastian.

"What's happening?" I ask Vastian, "I won't say a word, I'm loyal to Skye."

Even as I say it, Skye falls to his side and I drop with my hand on his shoulder.

He goes cold – his skin feels softer as he sweats heavily even as he lies breathing deep in a sudden sleep.

Vastian comes over to kneel on his other side, placing his hand on my hand.

"Listen. Skye is my only half-blooded brother, we have the very same mother, but his father is a Human warrior from an infamous generation ago," Vastian reaches over Skye with his other hand to grab my chin so I can not look away with this information.

I hold his gaze as brave as I can, "So Skye is… half a human?"

"What is important is I am full Genesis – so is Raygar, so is Mila," Vastian changes the topic, "I will kill you if you speak a word out of place. I have no feeling toward your Kind. None whatsoever. I pretend to, for his sake."

I see Vastian's hold on his inner most true feelings.

I gulp and I nod, "…but does he know that he's…?"

Vastian doesn't answer me on that specifically.

"Help me put him to bed – these seizures only happen once a month. From anxiety," Vastian looks at me again – that's the real reason. The accepted reason.

"Anxiety. I understand," I murmur submissively.

"Let's move," Vastian picks up Skye, "Help me navigate the elevators. Don't get me wrong. I love my brother."

"I know, Vastian, I can tell," I smile at him, despite his threat to my life, "I love him too, you know?"

For the first time since knowing Vastian, he visibly relaxes.

Thank goodness.

"That's good," he murmurs, looking down at his brother, "Good," he reaffirms, "…I'm glad to hear it…" Vastian looks back at me, "You would die for him, you proved that with Hades."

"I guess I did?" I keep close as I walk with him.

"You're doing what Vorth knew you'd do – protecting the Alpha. Your life before his."

"The Luna to the Alpha," I whisper, "…me."

"Unfortunately, yes," Vastian holds my eye as we walk, "Vorth has chosen and that is the only reason you're not dead yet –"

"Vastian, you are the eldest… why are you not the Alpha of Wolf Dominion?" I ask it lightly to change the subject – but I don't expect his response.

"Not? I am the Alpha."

Vastian… doesn't sound like he's joking.

"But Skye –"

"Don't be stupid. No Dominion ever puts the real Alpha on the head seat… that would be foolish," Vastian shakes his head, looking ahead with his strong strides, "So… Skye is the Alpha. Sure."

He sounded expendable like a Lunette.

"But you –" I try to get a word in – I can't.

"You heard me, Ryder, don't repeat it," Vastian's patience thins visibly.

"Vorth pushed me into Skye –" I hiss up at him as we step into the elevator beyond the Ward.

Vastian looks over at me, his eyes shining with both tears of passion and also strict calm complacency for his outer image, "No. He stepped in front of me, so you fell into him."

What the hell.

"But I love Skye."

"Good," Vastian's eyes soften on mine for a moment, "I'm glad," I look away. My breath hitches. Vastian… he… if he… "It's okay. It'll never matter. Skye is Alpha of Wolf Dominion," yeah, as I am Lunette Ryder.

But Vastian is the true Alpha of Wolf Dominion…

And I am Luna?

But it'll never matter, Vastian reassures me.

Ha.

He reassures himself. Yeah; it'll never matter.

I wasn't so sure about that.