43. Luna’s duty
Tony
I saw the car leaving and was glad about it. My hand was still twitching with annoyance at the whole thing. It wasn’t out of the ordinary to have luna meetings, but it wasn’t normal for them to just pop up. And to have Lucy be completely unprepared set me on edge.
They couldn’t be trusted, given that their daughters had been slated to be married into our pack. They would likely be a danger to Lucy going forward. I was on a call, so I sent Matt to go and check on Lucy. He left, and I felt his apprehension.
What’s wrong?
…She’s in the luna’s chambers.
I frowned. They aren’t done.
The door is locked.
My heart lurched, and I went to the door. I raced towards the hallway and found Matt outside the room. I heard her heart beating on the other side of the door and her breathing, coming in slow, soft breaths.
“She’s probably just asleep,” Matt said, frowning at the door and turning the handle. It clicked, still locked. “Why would she lock the door?”
I knocked. “Lucy?”
I heard movement from just the other side. Then, the click of the lock. Her head was down.
“Yes?”
“The wall isn’t done yet. If you’re tired, you should sleep in my room.”
“Or mine,” Matt said. “I know Tony’s room is stuffy.”
“I’m fine.”
I narrowed my eyes at her. “Look at me.”
She slowly craned her head up to look at me. I cupped her face, searching for something in her eyes, some sign that she was finally feeling something, but there was nothing. She hadn’t felt any sort of mate compulsion to obey. She was just obeying me. It made me think of what she’d told Tina.
I pushed that thought away.
“We need to talk about what was said. Come with us.”
She blinked and stepped out of the room, closing the door behind her. She followed us silently. Her heart rate was calm, but I felt something off.
I ushered her into my office and onto the couch between us. She sat stiffly.
“What did she have to say about the festival?” I asked.
“Nothing.”
I frowned. “You mean they’re not expecting you to help?”
“I don’t know.”
“What does that mean?” Matt asked. “What did she say?”
“Nothing,” she said anything.
“You didn’t talk about the festival?”
“No.”
I frowned. “Then… what did you talk about?”
“She told me a luna’s duty… and that I’ll probably die in childbirth.”
I winced, and Matt went still.
“That’s… true since you’re a half-breed, but it’s not inevitable,” Matt said, looking uncomfortable. “There are ways around that to make it safer. The doctor had witch connections. Don’t worry about that. You’ll be just fine. The pups will be fine, and you’ll get to watch them grow up, to love them….”
I swallowed, thinking back to what Lucy told Tina about not wanting children. Perhaps she was afraid of childbirth, but that didn’t feel right. I clenched my jaw and pushed that thought away. She was just confused and young. She didn’t know what joy it would bring her to have our children. How much stronger our bond would be when she got pregnant. She didn’t understand because she’d grown up with humans. She’d learn.
“You’ll love them, and you’ll have the chance to have plenty of them.” I kissed her head. “I’m leaving you in Matt’s care while I head back to the conference.”
I kissed her, pushing for some sort of reaction, but there was nothing. Matt huffed.
“It’s a death trap. I don’t see why you have to even go back,” Matt said, pulling Lucy up against him.
“It was, but if I don’t, who knows what the hell they’ll think is a good idea… Between David and Peter, they’ll end up putting us on the edge of war with just a few words.”
I sighed and stood. “Will you be all right?”
He wiggled his eyebrows, slipping his hand between Lucy’s thighs. She turned bright red. “I’m sure we’ll find something to do while you’re gone.”
“If you fuck in my office, I’m going to make you clean it,” I shoved him. “Fuck in your own office.”
He smiled at me. “Fair.”
I headed downstairs. Let me know if you can get anything out of her… other than an orgasm.
Sure thing, Matt replied as I got into my SUV. Are we still looking into those missing people from the pack?
Yes, I said, cranking up the car and driving away from the Estate. Are you feeling anything?
No, Matt said. You?
No, I grit my teeth. Keep trying. We can’t…
I know, Matt said. How are you feeling otherwise?
Less furious, I said. But not by much. Having to sit in and listen to whatever else Peter has to say isn’t helping.
Just imagine what it’ll be like to come home and crawl into bed with Lucy again.
I tried to smile, but my stomach clenched with anxiety and churned.
What is it? Matt asked.
You know what.
Matt said nothing for a while. I promise I won’t let you kill anyone that doesn’t deserve it.
I laughed, a real one for the first time in a long time. By the time I made it to the hotel again, it was later. I headed inside and greeted the receptionist again. Luckily, they hadn’t checked us out, so all of our luggage was still in the room. Hopefully.
Several people glanced at me from within the main hall. It smelled like they were serving dinner. I caught David’s eye as I passed. I met his gaze briefly before I caught sight of Peter, who gave me an intrigued look. I didn’t hurry away from the main hall. I walked leisurely through the hallways, stopped for a snack at the buffet, and headed to the elevator. I could feel eyes watching me as I walked down the hallway. The feeling of being watched only lessened when I closed the door behind me.
Nothing looked like it had been touched, but there were other scents in the room. I glanced across the room to the mirror, the bedside table, and a few other spots where I could hear the faintest buzz of electricity. There were cameras and microphones hidden around the room. They were probably on every inch of the hotel.
Our luggage is still here. David and Peter watched me come in.
Matt scoffed. Well, better unwind a bit before having to deal with either of them. Do you think it was about Lucy?
Not sure.
Is the room safe?
Absolutely not. I loosened my tie and tried to roll the tension out of my shoulders as I went to my suitcase and opened it.
Any luck with Lucy?
None. She went to sleep on me.
They say excessive sleeping is a sign, I said, trying not to let myself put too much hope into it. Check with the doctor.
I can’t imagine how a mate wouldn’t want to have children…. Matt said. Do you think that the time in the human world… damaged her or something?
I bit back the words of protest. I don’t know. If you get a chance, go to the attic and check the journals again. I didn’t get through them all.
I bet if we had that necklace, it wouldn’t be like this.
Maybe, but we can’t focus on that right now.
I splashed my face with water and tried to pull myself together. I couldn’t risk revealing any weaknesses when I went out there. If I was right, I’d be seated with the alphas of those lunas and their daughters, along with Peter or someone else. Goddess, I hoped it wasn’t David.
I didn’t have the patience for that today.
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