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She smiled warmly. “Thank you, Walter. I’m sure it will all be fine,” she said earnestly.
I had utmost faith in Walter’s efforts, and I also knew my fated mate would make the best of any situation. He could have only packed a hairbrush and a few changes in underwear, and Celeste would still be fine. My wolf sighed, as if pleased with how resourceful she could be.
Walter looked back at me. “We will be making two stops based on our current location for strategic refueling. Val will meet us at the first to supply charms for the jet.”
“Bad weather again?” I asked as I found my regular seat. Celeste settled down right next to me.
“It’s Antarctica, Fenris. We’d need her charms even in good weather,” she said, her eyes twinkling as she gave Walter’s retreating form a knowing look.
I said nothing, but allowed myself a soft smile as I leaned back into the leather seat.
By some stroke of luck, I managed to fall asleep on the first leg of our trip, only stirring when Celeste got up to join Val in preparing spells. Though Val was perfectly capable—and I had a feeling that bringing her niece, Morgan, to Isla Lobo meant she’d also started training her to take over her role as my resident witch—I knew Celeste wanted to know every sort of magic possible.
I also knew that having not one but two witches to defend the plane against the Antarctic was more practical than just having one. Even witches got sick, after all. Yet I couldn’t help the itchy feeling just below my skin. I wanted Celeste as close to me as possible. However, the hour it took her and Val to prepare the plane for our journey to the South Pole aggravated my wolf, nearly to the point that I was pacing by the time Celeste returned to her seat.
“You okay?” she asked, raising an eyebrow as she looked me up and down. “I didn’t wake you up, did I?” She placed her hand over mine in concern.
I took a moment to observe how slender and delicate her fingers looked compared to mine. My wolf didn’t soften, but he found a brief respite from his misery as if marveling at the difference between our hands. And the similarities.
“Fenris?” she prompted.
“I’m fine,” I replied, fighting the urge to snap. I knew that was only my wolf’s temper, his patience growing shorter as the pain intensified and the threat of unbearable agony crept ever closer. I took a breath. “I’m fine,” I said again. “Just the moon.”
“Mmm hmm,” she murmured, giving my hand a little squeeze. “I know. I meant besides that.”
I paused, looking up from our hands to meet her eyes. I didn’t think of much outside of the impending lunar cycle—truth be told, it was almostallI could think about. My wolf not only became stronger during this time of the month but even less reasonable. He was all intensity, all feeling, all…I took a breath and exhaled. The more I thought of it, the more I fed him, and he didn’t need any extra strength right now.
“I’m fine,” I said again, belatedly realizing I hadn’t answered Celeste’s question.
She made a thoughtful noise and tipped her head to one side. For a moment, I thought she might argue with me. Instead, she just nodded and leaned back in her chair, making herself comfortable. “Okay. You mind if we chat a little bit, or do you need more rest?”
I offered a small smile—that was Celeste, always putting herself last. “This is plenty of rest. Besides, just as the moon’s presence gives you power, it gives me energy, too, though it doesn’t have to be visible.” I paused. “Anyway, what do you want to talk about?”
She thought for a moment. “Well…I guess I was wondering what a Lunar Bride actuallydoes. I’m assuming that you don’t just expect me to sit around and look pretty.”
I gave her a wicked grin. “You’re already very good at that.”
Celeste snorted and gave me a playful swat. “Stop that. I’m being serious.”
“So am I. You are the most beautiful woman I have ever laid eyes on, and I am confident my opinion on the matter won’t change with time, with mateship, or with anything else. And if it does, I will only feel more certain in my assessment.” My smile grew a little. “But you are also correct in your assumption that the Lunar Bride does more than be a mate.” I sighed, my smile fading a moment later. “In the past, you would’ve been able to learn from the current lord’s mate, even if she was not officially a Lunar Bride herself. I am sorry that option isn’t available to you.”
Celeste’s expression softened. “That isn’t your fault, Fenris. You don’t have to apologize for that.”
“I am sorry, all the same.” I shook my head. Admittedly, I had no experience in this—Lyka had never officially claimed his mate, so she was never technically the Lunar Bride. The same was true of my mother. She simply had the benefit of being born into the Celestial Pack, so she didn’t suffer a mortal lifespan like Sela before Lyka killed her.
I racked my brain, aware that explanation wouldn’t satisfy Celeste. “When there was the Celestial Pack, my mother often supported the more…business-like aspects. She made sure no one was ever hungry, that everyone had all the resources they needed. This was especially important as my father got on in age and the time drew closer for my brother to take his place. She also raised us, of course, but I think she simply considered that her duty as a mother—to raise her children to be respectful, productive adults.”
Her brows lifted. “Your mother was a Lunar Bride, too?”
“No.” I ignored the urge to sigh. It was no shortcoming of my mother’s—or even my father’s, for that matter. We were all at the whims of time, in the end, and meeting my mother had never coincided with a total eclipse crossing over a sacred place before my father started to lose his mind. “A Lunar Bride is incredibly rare. As a planetary scientist, I’m sure you understand howrarelya total eclipse occurs in the same place. It’s a necessary part of the ceremony.”
“And if everything isn’t perfectly lined up…” She trailed off, her expression falling a little. "There’d be no second chances.”
“Exactly,” I said. “But my mother was a boon to the Celestial Pack, even without the title.”
Celeste looked back at me. “What else did she do?”
I thought of my mother for a moment. “She was also in charge of our pack’s history. Most of it was in the oral tradition. There is not much to say about that, because our pack would be you and me.”
