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Roxanne shrugged and leaned against the rail off to my left. "Isn't that how it usually goes with royalty? Having guards protect you while you hide away somewhere until the danger is over? Hell, I'm pretty sure you won't see the president literally fighting for his life either."
"But that's not what I wanted," I countered loudly. "I didn't sign up on the sidelines while everyone else risks their lives for me. I already have a lot of bloodshed on my hands after that chaotic escape from Kingsrose. If I lose anybody here because they put themselves in danger for me, I'd never forgive myself."
"I admire that about you, Rose," Roxanne said. "You want to be part of the action rather than let people fight your battles for you. It shows you're not afraid to get your hands dirty. Sometimes running and hiding isn't the answer. Sometimes you have to fight for yourself."
"And sometimes, throwing yourself into enemy hands is the fastest way to get yourself killed," Sabina countered. "Look, Rosie, I get how you feel, but there's a lot more at stake if something happens to you. And that goes for you too, Roxie. You both were chosen by my mother to carry pieces of her power. That's not something to take lightly."
"You think we don't know that?" Roxanne asked. "From the sounds of it, Rosie just had her whole life turned upside down in a month, thanks to her gift. I was born knowing I was Moon Chosen, and rather than being sheltered, I was made a villain by my coven. We couldn't take this shit lightly even if we wanted to."
Roxanne was spitting facts. There was no way to ignore what we were given and what life may bring us in the future. Taking our gifts lightly wasn't an option, which was why I desperately wanted to find answers about it. If I was stuck with this mysterious power, and the Pierces of the world wanted it, I deserved to know what we were dealing with, and why it was so important to keep it safe. I was late to the party, but Roxanne knew since birth that she was chosen by the Pink Moon. Though I was sure that for her, it acted more as a curse than a gift, considering how her coven shunned her.
Sabina seemed to understand what Roxanne was saying too as her posture relaxed. "I understand."
"No, you don't," Roxanne argued. "How could you possibly understand? Because, what, you've been a demigod for a couple of weeks now? You're not even Moon Chosen, so you'll never have to watch your back for the rest of your life. At least until the next generation is chosen. Rosie and I are stuck in this endless cycle that'll never end. Once this is all over, you'll have the luxury of living your life peacefully while we have to spend every waking moment wondering if today will be our last."
"Is that what you think?" Sabina scoffed and took a step back. "You think I'll get to have a lazy life after this?"
I knew things were getting heated, and I wanted to intervene before they may end up hurting each other. I was about to speak up, but Sabina held up a hand in a stop motion. My mouth slammed shut and I threw my hands up in surrender. Whatever, if these two wanted to fight it out then I was going to let them.
Sabina said. "First of all, let me remind you that you can't just be a demigod. I may not have known about it until a couple of weeks ago, but I was still born a demigod. Second of all, yes, I'm not Moon Chosen and I'm sorry I'm not. If I could take one of your guys' place so you'd never have to watch your backs twenty-four-seven, I would. Nobody should have to live their lives constantly paranoid that they might get attacked, it's awful. Instead, I'm having to play errand girl for a mother I never knew personally, and act as a guide for other unsuspecting Moon Chosen from here on out."
"What do you mean?" I asked curiously.
"You girls have seen the Moon Dial, correct?" At mine and Roxanne's nod, Sabina continued. "There are other Moon Chosen out there, most of them aren't even aware yet, and I'm the one who has to be their guide from now on. There's also the Blood and Cold Moon chosen that I have yet to see, which is what I'll end up having to do once the matter with Pierce and the New Moon's Curse is dealt with. So no, Roxie, I don't get to sit on my ass after this. Instead, I'll have to break in other Moon Chosen who are having to shoulder the same responsibilities you have."
I didn't realize how complicated Sabina's life was going to be. She spent most of her life in Kingsrose, and now she was having to leave her own and travel from place to place searching and mentoring other Moon Chosen. She wouldn't have a home anymore, not one where she could settle down and have a life of her own. She may not have been Moon Chosen, but she also had the rug pulled out from under her when she learned that Selene was her mother. I wondered if Sabina resented Selene for uprooting her life like that.
"You don't have to do it alone," I said meekly, hoping she'd understand that she wasn't alone in this. "I'll help you if I can."
Sabina regarded me with a small smile. "That's sweet, Rosie, but the responsibility is mine."
"Why is that? I mean, if you're going to have to find other Moon Chosen and guide them to their new life, wouldn't it help to have someone who's Moon Chosen to lend a hand? I don't know, maybe I can visit one of the current Moon Chosen and be there for them, while you travel to another one."
I could tell Sabina loved the suggestion, and the more I thought about it, the more it seemed like a good idea. There was no way Mother Moon could expect Sabina to find every single Moon Chosen alone. She'd need help.
Sabina shook her head. "Rose, you're trying to get back Kingsrose. Once you do, you'll have a pack that'll be relying on you. I can't expect you to abandon them for a task that was meant for me."
I gestured for the cabin door. "My brother has a pack to run, and he's here with me. He's part of Del's harem of lovers, and they're all co-alphas of the pack. Two out of five of her men went back to the Blue Moon Pack to watch over it while Javier, Raph, and Caleb are here. If we can strip Pierce of his alpha role in Kingsrose, then my boys and I would be taking over as alpha. I could do the same with them. They could stay and manage the pack while I help you. Maybe take one of the boys with me."
"Rosie, that's—"
"Rosie!" Kao's voice rang in the distance, and judging from the tone in his voice, something happened.
"Kao?" I called back, sensing trouble through our mate bond. I walked down the steps just as he broke through the trees, naked and covered in blood from mouth to chest. I ran to him frantically. "Kao, are you okay? What happened?"
"Don't talk, just listen. We got trouble. There was—" That was all Kao got to say before two distinct howls sounded in the distance.
I knew who they belonged to: Caleb and Raph. We were about to have unwanted company coming.
"Rosa," Javier's voice boomed as he stormed out of the cabin with Rowan. "Rosie, get inside. Quickly."
Was he serious right now? "Fuck that, I'm staying and fighting."
"Milady, please," Rowan pleaded as he shucked off his clothes in preparation for shifting. Javier did the same.
We didn't have time to argue about this, so instead of talking, I began undressing as well. Javier looked ready to berate me when our enemies flooded in. We all shifted swiftly and went to attack. I collided with one wolf and we toppled to ground, rolling and snarling. When my enemy had me under him, another wolf I recognized as Kao tackled him off me and went for his throat. Two more wolves made to jump him, but I took one while Javier went for the other one. It took some effort, but I managed to reach for his throat and ripped it open with my teeth.
I looked back at the cabin, remembering that Abuelita was in there, but I shouldn't have had to worry. Roxanne stood at the top of the steps, and when a wolf went for her, she stretched out a hand, flashing purple that matched the fire in her eyes. The wolf vibrated with a whimper even though it didn't look like he was injured. Though, I recalled Roxanne mentioning her power over the mind. When her fingers curled into a fist, the magic in her hand exploded to speckles, and the wolf collapsed. What the hell did she do to him?
