Fire Moon - Miss CrazyPlantLady (sci fi books to read txt) 📗

greater than the force the moon has on the tides" her eyes glued to the road, "Then it was a bond, the deepest bond given by the moon herself."

Stronger than the gravitational pull of the moon.

I swallowed before I asked my intruding question, "What happened to your family?"

I watched her back straighten and her fingers gripped the wheel, her knuckles turning that powerful white, "My parents were killed."

Regret warmed my cheeks, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked."

An easy shrug and I gestured to the little ring on her pinkie, "What does your ring say?"

The smallest hint of a smile, "It's my family ring, my father's last name is engraved on it."

The heater was finally warming the car enough and I slipped off the stolen jacket, "Who was your father?"

She frowned, "I thought you knew?" she turned a corner before continuing, "He was Loren Rotaeche."

Rotaeche? That's August's last name.

The realization hit me like a brick to the face and I gasped at her, "You're August's sister!"

Quinn only ever smiled or laughed at Urith, never letting anyone see that side of her and I smiled as she let me witness the small laugh that escaped her lips, "How did you not pick that up?"

It all made sense. The fact that she was his Beta, the fact they had the same hair colour and Sara even shared the same music taste as her daughter. All the signs and I didn't put them all together. My head shook in disbelief. At my own ignorance.

The rest of the car ride was silent but I found myself smiling at the comfortableness of it. There were no awkward pauses nor did I feel the need to speak. Quinn's music acted as a lullaby and the warmth of the car invited me to the missing sleep I didn't get. My eyes slid shut as Quinn started to sweetly hum to the piano playing through the car.

My head banged against the window as the car turned. The trees were gone. I sat up and marveled at the open fields surrounding us. The hills in the distance looked like someone was trying to hide mountains under a blanket. Smooth and curvy.

"How long was I out?" I yawned.

Quinn's shoulder came up in a shrug, "Almost the whole six hours" she smirked after she shot a glance towards me, "It's fine, you needed it."

A row of large trees came into view, lining a drive way. Cameron.

Quinn slowed the car to stop once we reached the entry. Turning the corner into the lined driveway. Large live oak trees swallowed us. Oversized branches reaching across, creating a curve, a tunnel of branches and leaves.

My attention was captured by the grand manor that sat at the end of the stretching tunnel. Growing in size the closer we got and I couldn't take my eyes away. The colossal windows stared down at us, threatening to eat us whole and only then did I notice the group of well-dressed men standing in front of the giant chestnut door.

It was August. Standing with the Oracle and Sam. The Etas were standing off to the side, waiting for orders. The Zetas were also standing with August. Their armor glistening in the winter sun.

August's ring winked at me as he reached for my hand to help me out of the car, "She didn't bite your head off?"

Quinn gave him a vulgar gesture before letting Danny help her out of the car, "Shut up, Gus."

I shook my head and laughed, "I slept the whole way."

I was barely at the top of the stairs when the chestnut doors creaked open. A towering female stood on the threshold, face grim and looking unimpressed.

"Is he expecting you?" her voice was deep and smooth.

August met her dark eyes and nodded, "He sent a summons."

Without another word, the female stepped back and allowed us entry.

The foyer was large enough to fit all of us in and still leaving enough space to shut the door comfortably. The walls were covered in a floral wallpaper, flecks of gold and metals lined the edges. There was minimal furniture, only two bench seats and scattered house plants throughout.

The single coat rack started to sway under the weight of all our jackets. The house was warm but the skin on my arms rose once I removed my jacket.

"Follow me" the tall female entered another door. She didn't wait for us this time and kept going.

Only when we entered did we see him.

Cameron.

Sitting, no, lounging, in what seemed to be a throne. Like he was some King. Like he was royalty.

He sat up when he saw us, crossing his legs and dared to give us the tiniest of waves, "Ah, my friends."

The room was a replica of the foyer, except much larger. Windows lining the walls, floor to ceiling columns and a raised platform to hold his majesty and his ridiculous throne. The floor was so polished that I looked down and saw my reflection staring back at me through the black tiles.

Cameron himself was young. I assumed he would be my father's age but the man sitting before us, wouldn't be any older than August. His hair longer than mine, the darkest shade of brown.

Cameron's dark eyes rested on Sam before turning to August, "Of course, I should have guessed that this deaf emissary belonged to Augustus Rotaeche," August opened his mouth to speak but Cameron lifted his hand to silence him, "Before you speak, you must kneel before your King."

Sam was the first to kneel. The Zetas and then the Oracle. My eyes met Quinn's as she knelt. August's hand wrapped around my bicep, stopping me from kneeling. His eyes never leaving Cameron's. His ring cold against my skin. His fingers burning into my flesh.

You do not kneel.

Cameron's dark eyes captured mine and he let out a humourless laugh, "You guys are fun" he pointed at the rest of our party, "And this is the most interesting pack I've seen in my existence, all dressed up too."

"You know why we are here, Cameron" August spoke, his voice echoing through the empty room.

Cameron's eyes flickered at the mention of his name before shrugging, "Actually, I don't" he suddenly turned and pointed at me, "You're an Ember."

I blinked but Cameron didn't give me a chance to speak, "Wait actually, something else" he eyed me, searching my soul and nodded, "Did you know that an Ember born on a full moon is called a Blaze?"

I didn't dare speak or move. His attention was fully on me, his eyes not moving from mine and I swear I could feel him in my mind. Probing and searching.

"Like your Oracle friend here, I'm an Oracle too" Cameron's eyes glowing with amusement, "Except, I was born on a crescent moon. Making me, a Soothsayer and unlike your Oracle. I can manipulate you with your own mind."

I refused to let fear enter my body, I blocked it out with the flames dancing in my blood. August shared a look with Bain and I ignored the concern laced in that single look.

Cameron's mouth forming a wicked grin, "You, my friend, are a Blaze" his attention still stuck on me as he clapped his hands with his own excitement.

A Blaze? A full moon born Ember? How did he know?

Sam stepped forward, "We came to honor your summons but to also discuss the Burn Notice you gave my pack."

The seated King looked over at Sam with a deep frown on his face, watching Sam's hands dance through the air, "I do not understand you, deaf pup" he turned to his giant female, "Did you get any of that?"

She shook her head without moving her eyes from us.

"We are here to honor your summons, Cameron" Quinn gritted out, her shoulders tense with anger, "We also came to discuss the Burn Notice you sent to the Addandam's pack."

The frown on Cameron's face deepening after every word and I felt my own frown forming. My own confusion painted on my face at the confusion on his.

His dark eyes met mine, "You're confused too?" he uncrossed his legs and leaned forward with his elbows resting on his knees, "The first time you said it, I assumed was an accident and I was willing to let it go" he stood, walking towards us and sat down at the edge of the raised platform, "But the second time, now you're just being rude."

"We would never be intentionally rude to you" I quickly added.

"I know that, dear Blaze" his dark eyes drinking in mine before clapping his hands again, "This is hilarious."

"Care to share what you find so funny?" Quinn muttered with a glare.

His eyes didn't move from mine as he gestured to us, "A Blaze, an Oracle, a deaf pup and an ice-cold bitch" his laugh echoed through the grand room, "The strangest bunch of wolves I've ever seen and none of you even know my name."

My heart thundered in my chest. Blood going ice cold. My eyes meeting August's before capturing Quinn's. I registered the realization on her face as I let out a breath, "You're not Cameron."

Another clap and the unnamed host stood, returning to his throne and crossing his legs once more, "Cameron is dead. My name is Sawyer and I was not the one who sent the Burn Notice."

"When and how?" was all August demanded. I could tell just from the look in his eyes that he didn't believe this regal host.

Quinn held that same look in her eyes. She held her chin high, looking more like a royal than the monarch sitting at his handmade throne.

Our noble host shrugged, "Years ago; the guy was a fucking dinosaur and his old age finally caught up to him" he held up his hand to the large lady next to him as she tried to speak, "I am his nephew and I take Burn Notices seriously, trust me when I tell you that I did not send one."

That means that someone else was out there. Someone else was planning a war against my pack. None of us spoke. Shock painted on all our faces. Cameron was dead. Cameron didn't send the Burn Notice. Cameron was not going to attack us.

"So, you didn't send a marriage request for my sister?" my voice sounded strained and odd.

His dark brows rose, "Well, is she attractive?"

I shot him a disgusted look, not bothering to conceal my anger and I crossed my arms, "Then tell me how I received a Burn Notice from the dead?"

A glare shot from his dark burning eyes and it was sharp enough to cut flesh but I returned it with my own glare, even sharper. He huffed, "Maybe someone just sent it to scare you, little Blaze."

"Explain how one of our own had their mate's head ripped off in front of him" August's voice was a harsh growl.

Sawyer's eyes narrowed, his face becoming enraged and I felt the air in the room shrink as his eyes burned into August's, "Why would I want to take someone's mate away from them?" his words booming around the empty room, "What do you think I am, some fucking monster?"

I went to open my mouth but he flew up his hand, demanding silence but it was his beanstalk of a general who gritted out her words, "You cannot come into his own damn house and offend him in his damn throne."

His anger turning to the culprit who spoke and they shared a look. A conversation between them through their mental bond.

Looking at him, I knew he wasn't a monster. I believed that he wouldn't commit such a crime against his own kind. I believed that he was not Cameron.

"How do you know so much about Blazes and full moons?" I asked to break the tension that swirled in the room.

His shoulders rose in a shrug and the anger left his eyes, "Go read a damn book, take that deaf pup with you and there's a library through there" he rose from his amateur throne, "Let's talk Augustus."

"She comes with