Solar Moon

Prologue

Kingdoms rise and kingdoms fall, but for one that plague them all,

Lady Luna hears our cries, sends out service from the sky,

Warrior keen of might unfailing, brave of heart and will prevailing,

Sister Midgard receives fain, bestows maiden for your gain,

With such gift your powers grow, lose it and your life in tow,

For many moons and suns may see, your descendants never flee,

Tried and true without waiver, Apollo grants a favor,

Life be gave in sacrifice, receives means afterlife,

Renewed once more without constraint, only need is her acquaint,

Two halves meet in decree. One flows strength to destiny,

The drawing sword knows no bounds, the waning of the foe that hounds,

The seeker of the end of fire, unite all through amplifier,

To all is owed the victory, henceforth live prosperity.

1

Many centuries ago...

The flames burned so hotly and strong their height reached the heavens turning the once blue and clear sky into angry shades of red and orange. Giant Redwoods that had stood proud for centuries now burned down to the ground, nothing more than embers.

Ash swarmed making it almost impossible to see and choking Ander’s lungs with every breath. The sooty mixture of dust and blood hung heavily in the air, clinging layer after layer to every inch of his uncovered skin.

Yet still, he pressed on. He and his troops needed to repel the ever growing demon throng as they converged on the roads leading into the Lycan dominion. The lives of his people depended on it. This fact alone fueled his battered and beaten body as he slew every demon in his path sending them back to the hell they came from.

With every step forward came another swing from his sword and bite from his wolf. And with every strike, another demon would catapult a fiery bomb from their fists landing their blows like bullets on his boiled leather chest plate. Sending him two steps back.

They were outnumbered a hundred to one. Every dispatched monster was followed by ten more. His men could see the grass they stood on scorching into nothing with the ever pressing progression of the demon army. They were losing ground. Losing ground fast.

“Brother, it’s time. We cannot hold them back much longer. They’ve already overrun us to the north and work their way west,” Tristan lept to stab his rune carved sword into the heart of a smoke demon.

“Not until everyone has made it inside!” Has it come to this? The vast and prosperous kingdom of his ancestors was crumbling under his watch. Yet he still had the faintest hope that their defense would succeed, that all refugees could reach the safety of their stronghold. Then they could regroup and go on the offensive.

“With the northern roads cut off, only the ones from the south are passable. It will be hours, possibly days to re-route everyone. Assuming the demons don’t get there first,” They had exhausted all means available to protect their people and beat back the advancing demon armies. All except for one.

“We fight on,” If only he had more time! He would fight until the very last second possible before accepting Marina’s offer. He would rather fight to the death if it could save his kingdom. As the Alpha, such a sacrifice would be an honor. But he knew this war was beyond him. It would not end when he did.

“Brother, look and see what’s before you. Our pastures are disappearing under the flames. The forests are burning, our game trapped and dying or fleeing. We must act while we still have a chance!” Every word his brother pleaded fueled him further into the throng of monsters slaying as he went. But to no avail. A firebomb almost the size of him sent him flying back unable to land on his feet.

His soldiers adjusted to close the gap he left behind. His brother ran toward him and clasped his hand to pull him up. “We’ve been fighting for days. If we continue on there will be nothing and no one left to fight for,” A simple truth, so why did he find it so hard to accept?

His brother was right. His troops were strong and fierce. No doubt the bravest he’d ever fought with and countless had already sacrificed their lives in this battle. He would not let another die in vain. Nor would he let innocent civilians travel a road meant for safety only to find themselves in a blazing inferno.

“So be it,” Ander’s last flicker of hope faded. “Summon her and prepare the offering,” Tristan acted without hesitation heading back to the fortified tower.

Ander called for his wolf who quickly ripped out the throat of a demon with his razor sharp teeth and then appeared by his side. “ Loki, stay here. Once the shield is down, remain with the men and take care of any demons trapped inside,” he despondently looked at his wolf soul who had been by his side since they were both pups. The only solace he took in this hail mary was that at least a part of himself would remain with his people through Loki. “ We will be united again, Nanyehi,” my spirit.

Ander surveyed his disintegrating kingdom one final time then turned to join his brother.

No amount of assurances from Tristan could calm his disquiet. Ander was a proud man, a proud Alpha. Nothing caused him more pain than knowing he was not strong enough to defend his homeland. That he had to turn to the mercy of a mage and surrender his kingdom's most valuable asset.

There was only one form of payment Marina would accept. The mystical flora native to their lands that was cultivated by their healers since the beginning of time. One that could be found nowhere else, but in one small meadow hidden far out of reach from the outside world.

Most beings did not even know what it looked like. Never had the flower been held by hands that were not Lycan. Until today.

It was the most coveted possession in all the Wiccan factions. Witches and their damn herbs. Who knows what kind of twisted magics Marina would use to weld its power and he would be the one ultimately responsible for it.

An eerie mist began to cumulate in the center of the tower basement where the brothers stood. Another hated trait of Marina’s. Now was not the time for theatrics. Once the mist thickened and dramatically rose to the height of 5’6, the lavishly clothed Mage appeared.

Deep purple and earthy green fabrics were draped from her neck and clung scarcely to her body. Adorned from head to toe in golden chains and jewels she looked more like a goddess than a mage. Weaker men may fall desperately into the traps of this temptress, but Ander could sense there was more than meets the eye with this one. That's what made him so skeptical.

“Hello boys…” her sultry voice vibrated. “Summoning me on demand to a dark room with two sweaty, battle maddened men can give a girl the wrong idea,” she sashayed around Tristan suggestively admiring his features. “Or perhaps the right one?”

“You know why you are here,” Ander spat. If she didn’t have what he needed right now, he’d teach her not to play these silly games with him or his brother.

“Do I? I can’t remember...” She sighed as she leaned into Tristan's chest. He stiffened but did not reject her advances. This behavior was clearly to goad his brother. Best to let her have her fun and then get on with it. Was the only way to deal with witches.

“We agree to your price,” Ander signaled to the attendant. A man in a white tunic carried a vase to the stone table in the center of the room. In the vase was a single flower, its cranberry and creamy petals a stark contrast to the black stone it sat on.

Marina’s breath hitched as she laid eyes on the treasure. Magnificent. More so than anything she could have imagined. She could feel the mystic energies radiating from the pistils beckoning her to consume their powers. And consume them she would.

She knew the crisis these princes faced. She would not let it go to waste.

“I will require a male blossom as well,” Suddenly standing tall and demanding, Marina’s playtime was over.

“So you can reproduce it? That wasn’t part of the deal!” This time it was Tristan holding back his anger. It was one thing to let one of their precious flowers out into the world. But to give her the means to create countless more, what chaos would come from this?

“No, it wasn’t part of that deal. You know, the one time offer that expired after you foolishly rejected it. But it will be a part of this one,” The brothers looked to each other knowing they had no choice. Another signal and the attendant brought out a second vase.

After inspecting it, Marina’s eyes lit up, “Shukriya” thank you- and with a wave of her hand, the vases disappeared. She produced a glass vial and dagger. “Palms” she motioned with the dagger.

Each brother extended a hand, she sliced Ander’s first collecting three drops in the vial. “Blood that powers,” then Tristan’s, “Blood that ease,”. Finally, she sliced her own palm, “Blood that bind mine shield to thee,” With all the blood collected she put a stopper in the neck of the vial.

“You might want to lay down for this next part,” she suggested to Ander who nodded with understanding. Tristan opened his mouth to speak but Ander cut him off laying a hand on his shoulder.

“I know you’ll get our people home brother. Everything is in your hands now. Restore the Taabe and rebuild Awenasa. As it has been foretold, you will see it be,” with that Ander laid down on the cold stone table with Tristan on one side and Marina on the other. She held the vial up in the air over him. When she drew her hand back the vial remained in place, hovering of its own accord. She began the rest of her chant.

“I give your due and take my desire, seal this vial in purified fire,” a small flame appeared to consume the vial. The air around them began swirling, “A trade in kind, a life of line, a refuge strong, a purpose pronged,” the ground began to tremble, the fire brighter and Marina’s chanting louder as she began to recite the ancient prediction. “Two halves meet in decree. One flows strength to destiny,” The whole tower began shaking as something from deep in the earth made its way up. “The drawing sword knows no bounds, the waning of the foe that hounds,” Marina’s conjuring grew so intense loose stones began toppling down the sides of the tower, “Until the time of commence, take this soul in defense!”

Three things happened simultaneously. The air calmed, extinguishing the flame and letting the vial of blood fall to Ander’s chest. An enormous stone wall shot up from the earth surrounding all of Awenasa cutting off the demon’s unending reinforcements. Ander Nova closed his eyes and breathed his last.

2

Present Day...

It was as if a thunderbolt came down from the heavens and struck his chest sending waves of currents through his body awakening every cell one by one until his cold body was brought back to life. His heart began to pump again, slowly shooting out bursts of liquid fire through his veins. Lungs began to fill with air like trying to blow a balloon to raise the boulders that were the heaviness of his chest. Yet he still couldn't move. The smell that embraced him was heavenly. It felt like home. When he completed his first breath that essence filled him, rousing him further and stoking a desire that had long been dormant.

Need more.

The scent was growing fainter as if moving away from him. He was able to finally open his eyes taking in his surroundings. The room was bare with only the stone slab he lay on inside it. Just as he remembered. Something must have gone wrong, he wasn't supposed to be alive. And if something went wrong then ….

Fueled by adrenaline he was able to rise and head toward the only door that led out of the room. He needed to act quickly. Seconds could mean countless lives lost. Lives he’d given up everything to protect. And yet he was torn between investigating the status of his kingdom and following the rapidly receding trail of the scent that promised to ease the yearnings long left unsated.

His mind was muddled. Not just because he had died and was now suddenly alive again, but because every time a thought would occur, he would be pulled back to the scent that was calling to him.

Follow me.

He obeyed. Reaching out to the doorknob. Before he grasped it he hesitated. Trying to make sense of the situation. He recalled his deal with Marina. He gave up his life essence to power a protection spell for his kingdom. So why was he alive now?

She must have betrayed him. He knew better than to trust that Witch! The earthy honey-sweet smell reclaimed his attention…

Just then he heard scratching on the door coming from the other side. An animal was whimpering trying to get in. No not an animal, a wolf. His wolf, Loki.

Opening the door a wave of heavy damp air crashed into the crisp and cool tomb. In an instant his thin cotton tunic stuck to his chest and back, sweat acting as glue in between the two. The oppressive humidity wasn’t here when he was on the battlefield earlier. Before he could think what to do next Loki jumped up putting his front to paws on his shoulders knocking him down.

“Hey boy, what has happened?” the wolf, seeming unconcerned of any danger, wagged his tail in excitement and let out a howl. With a huff, Ander pushed the wolf aside to see a man standing before him, jaw dropped in shock.

“I-I can’t believe it… when Loki came for me all but dragging me down here by his teeth I was worried something had happened, but not-not this,” Jace lent his hand to pull Ander up to his feet and then embraced him in a hard hug. “How can this be cousin?”

“Marina took advantage of our desperation. Come, where is my armor? I must return to battle, we may go down, but we sure as hell won’t be going down without a fight,” He turned to exit the room and entered into a dark cobblestone tunnel.

“Cousin wait! There is no battle,” Ander looked at Jace in confusion, ''Marina did not betray us. She delivered an impenetrable shield as promised. A demon has not been seen in this realm in over five hundred years…” He trailed off realizing his cousin was unaware of how much time had passed since that fateful day.

“So you’re saying that after half a millennia, today I was suddenly brought back to life?” Ander slumped against the wall to support himself in his state of puzzlement. Jace nodded his head seeming to debate reality as well.

“Marina told us to leave your body lie. Not to disturb it in any way. That your body would be preserved while the spell fed off your life force. No one except for Tristan and I have been allowed in this room since, no one even knows what happened that day. Most assume you died in battle.”

“My brother, where is he? Was he able to get the rest of our people inside after the shield went up?” Ander’s voice was tense but the scent he was after still called to him.

He must find his brother immediately. Together they would find the reason for this happening.

“Yes, he managed to bring in everyone who did not make it in time. Though it took a while since only Tristan’s blood could create a passage through the walls. The demons still regularly scout the perimeters, so it made things more difficult” Jace explained.

“Take me to my brother,” At the command, Jace’s face had fallen. “What is it?”

“After things were set to order here, Tristan and the troops would go out aiding our allies in their own battles with the demons. As well as bring back anything our population was lacking here. The last time he left he went alone, refusing to let anyone come with him. He would not say why or where he was going but since he last left ... he has not returned,” The battle may have ended but the warring was not over. And he’s missed five centuries of it, leaving his brother alone to bear the burden.

“How long ago did he last depart?” Ander knew his brother would not abandon the kingdom. Something must be keeping him from returning.

“He’s been gone for over twenty years,” Fuck. What could have made him leave on his own? Many questions needed answers, but he knew he would not find them here in this dark, dank tower.

He knew going right would lead him to the great walls that protected the gate to this domain. And going left would lead deeper into the estate and eventually to roads that lead to the outer villages. The latter still had the faint smell of sweetness. He followed.

Ander charged on down the hall turning abruptly when the scent led him up a set of stairs that entered into a service hallway.

“Where are you going?” Jace continued at his heels with Loki not far behind.

Ander however carried on like he was on the hunt and tracking prey.

Jace sped up as he saw his cousin head straight to one of the maids and grabbed from her the crate she was carrying. Perhaps he has lost his mind as well as a few centuries. “What are you doing?” Jace dismissed the frightened maid before she found out just who it was rummaging through the linen box like a mad man.

The delectable smell was coming from here. From this box filled with nothing but sheets. He turned it over emptying all of its contents onto the floor. Kneeling down he held each up to his face trying to determine where it was coming from. He heard his cousin’s objections to his behavior but his mind was now consumed. Where the hell was it coming from?

Finally, he saw it. A dainty white silk scarf had been mixed in with everything else. It had elaborate designs sewn into it with gold and ivory thread. This belonged to a female, one who must have been of high importance to own something so fine as this.

He whistled for Loki to come around and held up the fabric to his nose. “What do you think?” he asked the wolf much to his cousin's surprise. The wolf inhaled deeply then let out a series of joyous barks that filled the room. “Yes me too,” he smiled and tucked the fabric into the inner pocket of his tunic.

Jace recognized the look Ander and Loki were sharing. It was one he hoped to have on his face one day as well. Every wolf did. And it only meant one thing. Ander had found his mate.

Or at least the scent of her. Which must be what had woken him. They knew of nothing more powerful for them than the bond of matehood. If anything would bring a wolf back from the dead that’d be it, but as far as anyone knew nothing like this had ever happened before.

“Where did this crate come from?” Ander asked now inspecting the wooden box for any clues as to its origin.

“I’m not sure, but we can find out. A lot of these fabrics are woven by women from the villages outside of Tabbe. It’s likely from one of those,” Jace said as they began moving further down the corridor. “I know in the past you never wanted to get your hopes up but…”

“It’s her, I’m sure of it,” Ander answered confidently, “Take me to the merchant master, her scent is fresh. These goods must have arrived today,” he motioned for Jace to lead the way. He stepped in front of Ander but then turned to face him, blocking him off instead of continuing on.

“We will find out where she is, but we need to be discrete. Ever since Tristan has disappeared, the people have been uneasy without their Alpha. Some are calling for a challenge to replace him. If you suddenly show up after centuries, it could be perceived as a threat to those who are all but demanding the conclave to gather and precede.”

“So? I’ll fight anyone who wishes to challenge my rule in my brother’s stead. Same as I did after my father died, that is if there is any wolf foolish enough to confront me after I’ve already conquered death,” Jace could see his cousin hadn’t lost his confidence. Which he would need when he entered into the new world that awaited him.

“There is one other thing…” Jace trailed off unsure how silly he would sound if he brought this up in a time like this. But a time like this was foretold for many millennia before, ever since the beginning of their blood feud with the demons. Though less believed or even knew of it now, unlike in the old times.

“What?” Ander asked impatiently. Every second not spent on finding her was a second his mate was away from him, from protection.

“Your return, the possibility of finding your mate… you know better than I do that sounds like the prophecy. The people now, they’re different. They enjoy the safety and peace inside the walls...”

Why was Jace concerned about this? If it truly was the prophecy at work, then they were about to achieve what none had in history. “Cousin, our warriors are brave and strong, if now is the time then we will be ready. We always have been. Now come, let’s go bring my mate home.”

His cousin didn’t understand. Things had changed drastically since the old times and he was about to find out.