Children of the Moon 04 - Dragon's Moon

but maintained a translucent beauty that proclaimed her both princess and spiritual leader.
    Others were yelling their displeasure toward the prince of the people, but their monarch let no emotion show on his handsome, though young, features. He merely looked on, his expression stoic, his thoughts hidden behind his amber gaze.
    The dissension grew more heated. This was unheard of. In any other circumstance, Una would have been appalled by the behavior of her fellow Chrechte, but not this day.
    She hoped beyond hope that the anger and dissent would sway their leaders toward reason.
    “Enough!” The prince’s bellow was loud and commanding despite the fact he was only a few summers older than Una.
    Silence fell like the blacksmith’s anvil.
    Emotion showed now, his amber eyes glowing like the sacred stone during a ceremony. “We have had the Faol among us on many occasions these past three years.”
    Those wolves had only come to visit. Una, and many like her—justifiably frightened by the race that had done so much to eradicate their own—had stayed away from the visitors. She’d avoided all contact and had not stolen so much as a peek at any of them.
    Not like when she was younger and let her curiosity rule her common sense.
    But Anya Gra said these ones, these emissaries from the Sinclair, Balmoral and Donegal clans, would live among the Éan for the foreseeable future.
    Live. Among. Them. With no end in sight.
    Una’s breath grew shorter as panic clawed at her insides with the sharpness of her eagle’s talons.
    “It is time the Chrechte brethren are reunited.” Prince Eirik’s tone brooked no argument. “It has been foretold this is the only chance for our people to survive as a race. Do you suddenly doubt the visions of your high priestess?”
    Many shook their head, but not Una. Because for the first time in her life, she did doubt the wisdom of the woman who had led their people spiritually since before Una was born.
    “Emissaries are coming to live among us, to learn our ways and teach us the way of the Faol.” This time it was another of the royal family who spoke, the head healer. “We will all benefit.”
    “We know the way of the Faol,” one brave soul shouted out. “They kill, maim and destroy the Éan. That is the way of the Faol.”
    “Not these wolves. The Balmoral, the Sinclair, and the Donegal lairds are as committed to keeping our people safe as I am.” The prince’s tone rang with sincerity.
    The man believed his own words. That was clear.
    But Una couldn’t bring herself to do so. No wolf would ever care for the Éan as a true brother. It was not in their violent, often sadistic and deceitful natures.
    “It is only a few among the Faol today who would harm our people. Far more would see us joined with the clans for our safety and all our advantage.”
    Join with the clans? Who had conceived of that horrificnotion? First they were talking about having wolves come to live among them and now their leaders were mentioning leaving the forest so the Éan could join the clans?
    Una’s eagle fought for control, the desperate need to get away growing with each of her rapid heartbeats.
    “In the future, we will have no choice,” Anya Gra said, as if reading Una’s mind. “But for this moment in time, we must only make these few trustworthy wolves welcome among us.”
    Only? There was no only about it. This thing the royal family asked, it was monumental. Beyond terrifying.
    It was impossible.
    “You ask too much.” The sound of Una’s father’s voice brought a mixture of emotions, as it always did.
    Guilt. Grief. Relief. Safety.
    Stooped from the grievous wound he had received at the hands of the Faol when rescuing Una from their clutches, he nevertheless made an imposing figure as he pushed his way toward the prince and priestess.
    The leather patch covering the eye he’d lost in the same battle gave her father a sinister air she knew to be false. He was the best of men.
    And forever marred by wounds that would never allow him to take to the skies again…because of her.
    “You ask us to make welcome those who did this,” he gestured toward himself in a way he would never usually do.
    He ignored his disfigurements and expected others to do the same.
    “Nay.” The prince’s arrogant stance was far beyond his years, but entirely fitting his station as the leader of their people. “I demand you make welcome wolves who would die to protect you from anything like that