Page 3 of Luna

With bare limbs and a fluid glide through still waters, she’d entranced him. He’d returned night after night, looking for her. Though she’d never called to him, he knew she sensed his presence. A skilled huntress, she remained vigilant, undressing in the water rather than on the bank. He noticed how she sniffed the air, searching for his scent. When he was there, she hummed soft melodies with long notes. This became their ritual. Her singing to him on a far offshore, cursed to look upon a female so lovely, yet unable to touch her. It cracked his soul open like glass upon the rock.

“No,” his Luna stormed onto the scene, a royal blue cloak bellowing around her short, curvy frame. A fine sheen of perspiration brushed her nose and rosed her cheeks.

Both males spun in Luna’s direction.

“A female far away from her protectors. That’s a costly mistake... for you.” The wind elementals chuckled at the sinister innuendo.

Kole pulled on his reserves, sending what remained of his cold into his blade.

“Stop where you are,” she said. Lifting both hands, she pushed the hood away from her face. Light, pure and warm, temporarily blinded him, but not before her beauty made the heart in his chest thud to a halt. “I’m Princess Luna of Thornica. This male is mine.”

He liked the sound of Luna claiming him, but announcing her lineage, meant these males could fetch a higher price for her body. His brother’s mating had given rise to illegal activity within the sectors. Rogue males abandoned their duties in search of suitable females. Desperate for companionship, some had resorted to illegal underground markets where stolen elemental females were exchanged as commodities.

“Leave this place now, female,” Kole growled. Did she have no sense of the danger she faced?

“Not without you,” she challenged.

As the second son to King Burr, Kole would never be king. To hold his position as captain of the royal guard among his kind was both a curse and a blessing. Like all the males under his command, he wielded incredible power, one touch from him could result in ice burn... or death. That a high-ranking female considered him worthy by risking her safety was an honor he could not abide.

“How cute. They want to stay together,” Cyclone groused.

In an effort to protect Luna, Kole tried to distract the males from their depraved plans. “I have no knowledge of this creature,” he rasped in a dismissive tone. “Be on your way, little one. We will handle this as males.”

Luna gasped at his blatant cruelty. At once, Kole steeled himself against the urge to look in her direction. He couldn’t bear to see the hurt he’d caused her.

“Sounds good.” Cyclone nodded, giving Kole a wink, and then lifted his meaty hand. “But this is more fun.”

Luna never saw the vicious backhanded blow coming. Rage, swift and deadly, shot through Kole at the crack of the male’s knuckles striking Luna’s face. She went flying. Her small frame hit the ragged ruin. A pained grunt left her lips before she crumbled to the ground, unmoving. While his heart froze in his chest, Kole roared louder than a wounded beast.

“Oh no, your female is hurt,” Cyclone taunted, a swirl of howling wind started to circle his entire body. “Whatcha gonna do, water boy?”

Kole answered in a language this male would understand. He slammed into Cyclone’s solid mass, taking them both to the ground. Pinning him in place, Kole nailed him in the temple with the hilt of his sword. Stunned, the male’s eyes crisscrossed before he shook off the blow.

Kole used a split second to search for his female. Slowly, Luna struggled to get her wobbly legs to support her weight.

“Goddess,” she muttered, giving Kole a pained smile.

All of a sudden, high winds surged, whipping at Kole’s face, arms, and legs. Angry red slashes stung like fire burning his skin off his bones. Dust and dirt hung in the air, making it difficult to breathe. If he didn’t stop this wind, he and the female would perish here. Hauling his weapon above his head, Kole drove the handle like a hammer into Cyclone’s skull.

Gust seeing his companion motionless, sprang into action. Lifting his foot, he drew back and delivered two swift kicks to Luna’s ribs. “Back to sleep, princess.”

Luna curled into a protective ball, one glowing hand stretching to the sky, her gaze on Kole.

“Goddess Moon, unleash your tide,” Luna called, her mouth bloody. “Protect me and mine.”

The ground began to quake. Though impossible at this distance, the crashing rumble of water thundered in the air. Kole sensed the presence of energy renewing liquid. His muscles expanded, blood hammered in his veins, and cold vapor rose from the ground beneath his feet.

Gust backed away, his eyes darting around. “What’s happening?”

Kole looked on at his unmoving female and raised his sword. “You’re about to die.”