A little after midnight, Moon gave up on trying to sleep.

The silence of the hospital was calming to her ears, after the last days where she heard nothing but the sickening voice of Archie, then Caelan.

She started paying attention to her breathing as she stared at the ceiling. Looking at either a blank wall or a blank ceiling became her way of meditating and putting her mind in order before returning to the real world, which was getting messier each day.

She felt a light pressure on her chest as dark smoke got out of her. Noira was out. Strangely, this time, she did nothing but lean on the window frame, staring at the outside.

Moon felt confused.

So lost of what to do next.

A tug on her finger made her raise her hand as she looked at the vibrant red color of the thread.

― What do you think? ― she asked so softly that Noira was confused for a moment.

― About what?

― This. ― she pointed to her right hand.

― You can’t break it.

― Earlier, when I was being operated… Were you talking to someone or was it just the anesthesia in my mind?

― I was talking to the Sophus. Or… were they talking to me? ― Noira sighed, leaving behind the street view and focusing on Moon, while she crossed her arms.

― Sophus? So they do exist?

― Yes. They just told me that you couldn’t die, as you haven't completed your purpose yet, which, I suspect, will be achieved together with… him.

― Ugh… ― Moon whined, resting her arm over her eyes. ― I shouldn’t have messed with Archie that night…

― It wouldn’t matter… All paths lead to him.

Moon chuckled as she shook her head.

Soon, the silence was back again, with nothing but their low breaths on the room. So quiet that they could hear the cars out on the street.

Then footsteps echoed in the corridor just outside.

― Well, now it’s the time to follow the advice of that old man… And I do not want to witness any make-out session between you two. ― with that, Noira slowly disappeared back into Moon’s body and the girl felt how her energy was radiating through her body.

A few seconds later, while she was sitting up straight in the bed, the door opened.

― Hey… Can I…? ― Gray asks, hesitating at the door.

― Be my guest. ― Moon nonchalantly says, covering herself with the blanket, cold.

Gray gets in, and closes the door, but stays still at the foot of the bed. It’s clear to Moon how he's battling with himself. The man is thinking hard of what to say, as a mix of emotions runs through his mind, leaving him on the edge of losing it.

― About earlier… When I hesitated…

― You were losing control. You were giving in to the thirst, weren’t you?

― I would never hurt you, I can promise you that.

― You can’t… ― she stared at him. ― To be honest, I don’t even know how you came this far without any blood… Whatever you’re doing, it might be working but it can’t be a permanent solution… ― Moon sighed. ― We both know how strong the thirst can get.

― If that is what scares you, then we can work out something, cause I swear I won’t hurt you. Never.

― Gray! We barely know each other… There are no feelings between us… If not for this fucking thread, you would’ve never looked at me!

― You don’t know that... ― Gray retorts. ― If the Goddess connects two souls with the red thread, she knows what she’s doing.

― True. But that doesn’t mean that I have to accept this so easily. I’m sorry, but it’s too much of a risk.

Gray stays quiet.

He doesn’t have an answer to that. He asked himself many times if he would ever find his mate; to his surprise, it was a witch, a vanik. Someone from a race with a bloody history with his kind.

― We can still try…

― Sorry, but my answer is still no. Right now, my priority is to make sure that my brother is safe and to build good memories with him. Of course, I’ll help the Velum with this… Cerdaville guy. But after that… After that, I’m not sure I’ll stay around.

― No, no, no… ― Gray shook his head, getting up and then pacing back and forth. ― I won’t let you leave. I won’t accept your rejection. Don’t even try.

Moon looked at him, emotionlessly, as she uttered some words.

― Hypnos, pacem aliquam et tranquillitatem huc adfer.…

― Don’t you dare use your magic with me! ― Gray growled, loudly.

― ...noli oblivisci eum in Lethaum amnem ducere et in illis aquis ingerere...…

― I said stop! ― Gray growled once more, eyes red, as he unconsciously put his fingers on her throat, pressing it gently.

She didn’t stop, not feeling one bit scared.

― ...evanescat imago mea ab eius memoria.

As she uttered the last word, a thin and shiny white light surrounded Gray’s body, making him struggle with all his strength, unsuccessfully. In seconds, a sweet lullaby could be heard and soon, his body dropped to the ground, unconscious.

― Noira, take him back to his room, please.

Far from the city, right in the middle of the Mensdosa Forest, in the South, Huxley had bought a small hut a few years ago. Whenever he had a few days off, he’d go there to rest, hunt, and simply enjoy nature.

It’s been a few months since he last came, so the house was extremely dusty, cold, and messy.

― You’re getting slow… ― Huxley says while smirking when he finally decides to take the duct tape off of the woman’s mouth.

She winces in pain but chuckles soon after.

― Maybe I wanted to get caught?

― Did you?

The woman shrugs her shoulders, seeming rather calm in the situation she finds herself in, tightly tied.

― What brings you back here in Berkshire? You certainly did not miss me…

She tightens her jaw and looks to her side, avoiding his eyes.

― Work brought me here.

― What kind of work?

― You know what kind.

― Right… To kill Moon… Who hired you? Was it the Cerdaville?

― No. ― she chuckled. ― But they did try to hire me… Unfortunately, to them, someone offered me more money.

― Who?

― Bailey Byrd.

― Call her back and cancel the job. Give the money back… ― Huxley says as he pulls a chair and sits in front of her, unbuttoning his first three buttons and rolling up his sleeves.

― How much? ― the woman asks.

Hux looks at her confused.

― How much will you pay me? ‘Cause she paid me a lot to get rid of her…

― How about joining my side? The right one?

― There’s no such thing as right or wrong. There is who pays better.

Huxley shook his head, in total disbelief. He couldn’t believe that someone could change so much over the years.

― Come on, Ada... You’re better than this…

For a second, Huxley caught the look of surprise and shock across her face, but she soon composed herself.

Ada lowered her head, shaking lightly.

― That’s a name I haven’t heard in a long time…

― We’ve known each other for ages, Ada. And to top that, we’re mates, whether you like it or not.

― So? As far as I remember, we’ve never completed the bonding…

― And whose fault is that?

Ada keeps her eyes focused on her lap.

― Your family hated the fact that I’ve come from an orphanage. No background. And as I was greatly raised by Nana, incorruptible. ― Huxley crosses his arms, staring deeply at her.

― So, my fault?

― No, your parents.

― It doesn’t matter anymore, Hux. It’s too late anyway… Just… let me go.

― I can’t.

― Why is that girl so important?

― She’s a good person. She’s also Gray’s mate… She never did anything bad to get her life taken away so easily… Do you know why Bailey wants her dead?

― I don’t care.

― Out of jealousy. ― Huxley sighs. ― I know, deep down, that no matter how much someone offers you, you wouldn’t kill someone without a fucking good reason. So, please, don’t do this.

― Let me go, Hux. I don’t want to hurt you…

Huxley smiled thinly, but fondly at the woman. He got up, reaching his hands ever so slowly to her head, and caressing her hair, as always really short.

― Go ahead, try. Try to escape, Ada. But listen to me: I’ll follow you to the deepest parts of hell if I have to.

Ada clicked her tongue, looking at him as he left the room.

― And Ada…

― What? ― she asked, clearly annoyed at his actions.

― It’s never too late.