บท 149: Chapter 149: The Magic of a Ballroom

Jude POV

The first official dance as Alpha and Luna.

In the center of the dance floor, Jude waltzed with Ravyn, her skirt swirling as he spun her around, then turned her back and twirled her across the floor.

How long had it been since he'd done this? Oh, the Silverpaws had had state occasions and celebrations and feasts. He might even have danced with important guests and members of his pack and his family. But they all seemed like a blur. As though they happened to someone else. Moon Goddess, the last three years felt like another person had lived them.

Now, he felt fully present, dancing with his Luna, surrounded by a ring of smartly dressed people. Makhel was handsome in his silver military uniform as a warrior prince, while Kulenza wore a long, flowing gown that looked like it had been woven out of moonbeams. Dane wore midnight blue, while Lilia showed off her slight baby bump in a pale blue gown. Kyon's green tunic and trousers were satiny, while Azandra wore a cream-colored ballgown. Jiro and Garnet wouldn't wear anything other than crimson, likewise Cyran and Naomi. Patch loved his wardrobe for his "Duke of New Moon" persona, and so he wore his blue tunic with gray trousers, while Anneliese opted for frilly pink. Dirge and Thessi complemented each other in brown and green.

He noticed everything. He felt hyper-alert. Everything seemed new, and vivid, and different. Ravyn in his arms felt far different than before. Her skin, the way she moved in his arms ... it was as if he'd been half-asleep when he held her and made love to her.

Maybe having her here, officially, as his Luna made the difference--just as it had with Emer.

The talk and laughter swirled around them. Three Alphas he only knew casually were laughing and getting tipsy in the corner, but most of the people looked eager to dance. Their toes tapped, and they swayed to the music.

In a flourish of notes, the song ended, and Ravyn and Jude bowed to each other while the audience applauded. Grayson Chalice asked Ravyn to dance, and Lilia did the same with Jude. Before long, the dance floor was packed with happy couples.

"You and Mother look so natural together," Lilia complimented him, her violet eyes glowing.

"Thank you. Although I didn't notice, to be honest. I still think this is a dream."

A sweet smile slipped across Lilia's face. "I can understand that. After doubting that she was your fated mate, which I contributed to--"

He put a finger to his lips. "None of that now."

With a little laugh, Lilia surrendered. "It didn't make any difference in the end--I happen to know the Moon Goddess always gets her way in these matters."

"That she does--she's the reason our society is so successful, with happy unions and strong families, for the most part."

As he twirled Lilia around, he spotted Bram dancing with Thessi, Mali with Dirge, Eamon with Naomi, and Cyran with Eirika. Dane partnered Garnet while Jiro took the floor with Ambassador Windmail. They made an odd pair, the lanky Alpha and the petite bearded dwarf. William, Talon, and Kelara danced together.

"We should have these sorts of balls," Lilia observed. "There are large halls like this in Cresta House--probably they were ballrooms once. Funny how those old customs fall out of favor. I'm so happy you and Mother revived them."

"They used to be the talk of the territory," he murmured.

"That's what Dane said," Lilia answered, spinning in his arms, her feet lifting off the ground just like Ravyn's did when they danced. "He also said Evenhide's were legendary when his grandparents reigned. You know Dane. Evenhide does everything better than everyone else. Most of the time."

Jude started out across the sea of dancers in the ballroom. "Nothing can equal the grandeur of a Crimsontail ball."

Lilia's voice held a note of surprise. "According to Garnet and Jiro, Crimsontail balls stopped at least fifty years ago. How do you know?"

How did he know?

How did he know these things?

Lilia squeezed his upper arms. "Jude ... there's no easy way to say this ... but could you be a reincarnated Crimsontail?"

Jude blinked, astounded.

Until he started associating with witches and wizards, and mated with one, he never considered the possibility of reincarnation. When a shifter died, he or she want to be with the Moon Goddess and experience whatever lay beyond this life in the Celestial Realms. He'd occasionally heard Eirika discuss reincarnation, but that belief was rare in shifter society.

"Reincarnation? It's possible, I suppose. You witches have me believing in all kinds of things."

Lilia considered, chewing her lip the way Ravyn did when she felt stumped. "Or you could have Crimsontail ancestry, and collective memory is surfacing. Because you wolves all link with members of your pack and even across packs where family is concerned, there is a collective mind ..."

"I suppose it's possible, but why would it come up now?"

Lilia rolled her eyes. "I'm willing to wager that you've spent more time with the Crimsontails in the last three years than you have in your entire life."

"True."

His attention wandered, because he saw Alicia, Florinda's companion, getting bullied on the dance floor by the Silverpaw Hemmings.

Narrow-minded people. How could Ransome Hemming ever be related to them?"

He steered Lilia toward the trouble spot. Her amethyst eyes narrowed to slits as she grasped the situation. "I thought you imprisoned them?"

"So I did," he growled. "But they're slippery. They could have escaped. He stalked over and intimidated the Hemmings. "Leave that human alone."

They both sneered at him. "YOU might be a human lover, but we're not," Ewan said.

"What you are is stupid. She's the mate of a Crimsontail royal," Jude growled. "And I am your Alpha. And you'll leave her and all the representatives from Lugdunum alone or you will be exiled. Do you understand me? I should have expelled you from the pack already. Don't make me regret my leniency."

"You wouldn't," Grainne spat.

"Oh yes, I would. You are exiled," Jude snarled. "GUARDS!"

Talon shouted, "Aldwin! Men! Assist Alpha Jude's enforcers."

Kelara added, "Don't let these hateful people escape."

Grainne and Ewan sprinted out of the ballroom, knocking into guests. Gasps of shock and dismay erupted. Aldwin and a few of Talon's men joined the enforcers in pursuing Grainne and Ewan. Patch and Dirge also cheerfully chased the rogues.

Ravyn was at Jude's side in a flash, her eyes full of questions.

Jude cleared his throat and projected his voice. "After attempting to divide me from my son and stage a pathetic coup, Grainne and Ewan Hemming--my own family--bullied Lady Alicia Van Ells-Blackthorn, the mate of Lady Florinda Blackthorn--a trusted Crimsontail and Lugdunum ally. I won't tolerate it."

"Nor will I," Ravyn affirmed, raising a fist.

Murmurs of agreement rippled through the ballroom. "We're with you, Alpha and Luna," Bram called out.

Dane, Jiro, Alpha Tyrell, and Alpha Caden howled their approval. Ransome Hemming looked at Jude with increased respect. "It was too long in coming," Titania Hemming sniffed.

Ravyn clapped her hands. "But we can't let them spoil the ball. All of you, enjoy yourselves. Our brave enforcers will deal with the rogues!"

Jude felt a swell of pride and love. What an incredible Luna he'd found.

* * * * *

Aldwin POV

Following Lady Kelara's and Lord Talon's orders, Aldwin Brocius followed the trail out of Faolan Castle. Those fools at least had the sense to make a break for the open, where they might have a chance. Aldwin could follow a trail just as well as any shifter.

The trail led him on a wild chase out of the city and into the countryside. The enforcers had shifted into wolf form, bounding after their quarry ... which appeared to have vanished into thin air. Where could they have gone?

Scanning the area, Aldwin listened for clues. A bird startled into flight. Crunching grass. Footsteps. The night was particularly dark, and he didn't have wolf sight ...

CRUNCH.

Someone slammed into him from the side, and claws slid into his chest. Aldwin had been stabbed before, and it always made colored light explode before his eyes. Then the sheer agony hit. Those claws pierced deep, puncturing something vital.

Maybe his heart.

Ewan Hemming laughed cruelly. "Great human protector! You're weak. Just like our Alpha."

The claws ripped into him once more, and, wielding the dagger Caden gave him, he stabbed blindly. He couldn't see through the fog in his eyes.

It was too difficult to stand, much less hold a blade. His knees buckled. What would Caden think of him now? Some warrior he was.

"BACK AWAY FROM HIM."

"Caden," Aldwin cried out, overcome with gratitude as he collapsed to the ground.

Hemming hissed, "Not even the Alpha himself can protect this human. We've done you a favor. Humans are savages evil, stupid, and weak."

Aldwin felt so cold.

He wasn't weak. He'd robbed merchant caravans crawling with guards, for Goddess' sake. He could survive this.

But he felt his strength ebbing away. Was this how his life was going to end?

Caden's arms swept him up. "My poor little mate. You're not safe anywhere. I'm going to make sure no one ever bothers you again."

Protected by Caden's strong arms, Aldwin didn't have the energy to protest or to question where they were going. He barely heard Lord Talon's and Lady Kelara's shocked cries before everything went black.