Their Warrior Luna
Chapter 99

Lennon:

I tossed and turned until I realized the possibility of sleep was slim. I rolled from the bed, threw on the workout clothes I had laid out for in the morning, and made my way to the kitchen. I was too scared to go back outside alone after what happened tonight, so I stood there looking into the darkness that used to be a massive part of who I am… or who I was. Somehow, my death was my beginning. Now without even forcing it, I feel happy and determined.

I saw Knox’s headphones and cell lying on the counter. I cheerfully stole both, half expecting him to have a passcode, but I was ecstatic that he didn’t because I popped his headphones in and made my way down to the basement. I made a playlist of all my favorite songs. With the jams of rock and metal playing through my ears, I wrapped the same weights around my ankles like Knox had and climbed onto Knox’s fancy treadmill starting out slow. When that pace didn’t give me the same buzz the hill that Knox had made me run for the last two days did, I turned it up, and I ran my guts out chasing that cloud-eating high. I sang my favorite Us From Outside song at the top of my lungs, and then when the sweat started dripping onto the treadmill belt around my feet, I realized I had been here for some time now. I turned it off, pulled Knox’s headphones from my ears, and leaned my forehead against the treadmill.

“You smell like shit.” Knox’s husky voice snapped me out of my failed attempt to tire myself out. His hooded eyes were locked on me, his dark brown hair was disheveled, and his shirtless torso begged me to look.

“Yeah? You look like shit.” I rolled my eyes, pretending I didn’t just check him out.

“Bullshit. I know I’m aging like fine wine, Princess. Why can’t you sleep?” I don’t even know how to answer that. I don’t know why other than the darkness has lifted.

“Something happened when you tore that creep off me… I don’t know if it was the fear that froze me or the realization that I let someone come close enough to hurt me like that again, but I don’t ever want to feel that helplessness again.” When I look into those orange eyes, I replace an unwavering strength. It is as steady and as sure as the beating of my heart, and I know with him at my back, I will replace the strength I need to stand on my own without the help of anyone.

“Come on then.” He yawned, walking over to the machine that I hated the most.

“Not that one.” I g*****d.

“Just get it over with. You can nap after we finish training. That way, you aren’t a total dish rag at the party tonight.” He smirked, crossing his muscled arms over his chest.

I had forgotten about the party and regret not trying harder to sleep. I pouted the whole way over to the machine. That is the machine from hell. It always kills me faster than anything else here. I climbed on, letting him help me release the weights. Just like that, the absolute misery began.

Knox:

We have been at this for hours, and now the sun is rising. She has pushed herself harder this morning than she has in the other two days, and it makes me wish I had let her watch me beat someone’s a*s for her before we even started.

“It’s hand-to-hand combat time, princess.” The way her face fell made me smug.

“Knox, I don’t think I have anything left.” Her whimpers were enough to let her have a coffee break, but I wanted to show her why I needed her to be strong. I need her to be brave.

“Come here. I need to show you something.” She trudged over to me with a pouty look that would make anyone want to k**s her pretty lips.

“The Nothing is a realm of banished souls. Originally it was created as a cage to hold a god named Eros. Years ago, it was found that when the queen banished him here for a second time, her power was so great that she created a whole new spiritual realm, and he was never seen again. This realm, this realm, is where soul eaters should feed from. I can’t enter this realm, so to teach you to feed, I have to prepare you physically and mentally to enter without me.” I used my index and middle fingers to open a portal to The Nothing. I opened a small window large enough for her to peep inside, and whatever she saw made her face pale.

“I need coffee.” She rubbed her face with both hands.

“We have a lot of work to do if I am going to survive feeding in that place.” A shutter shook her small frame. But the second her green eyes met mine, I knew the fire that flowed through her loose curls had spread to her soul. There is nothing helpless about this girl. She just doesn’t know that yet.

Lennon:

The images of my feeding grounds are on replay in my head. I’m unsure if he knew what it looked like there, but it is as close to hell as I could imagine. I will be doing those souls a service by removing them from there. Maybe that’s why beings like me are created… Population control for planes like that one.

“Snap out of it, Princess. You are almost to the top!” Knox yelled from the top of the hill, where he always waits for me. After this, we are done for the day, and to say I need a shower is an understatement. After the combat stuff he tried to teach me went south, we decided to go for our run and then try the fighting stuff again tomorrow.

“Shut up, d**k weasel. I’m running as hard as my little legs will pack me!” I yelled back, noting how my stomach fluttered at the sight of his dimples. His laughter pushed me. It was like being close enough to the stars to touch them, and when I can make him laugh without even trying, when I least expect to hear the tune, that is when it is the sweetest.

He ran past me without even letting me get to the top. That bastard is trying to cheat!

“Do you really think cheating will help you beat me to the bottom?” I zoomed past him on my way back down. If he can run down before I even hit the top of the hill, I don’t have to go to the top at all.

Like every day we have done this, I beat him to the bottom and stood there with a snarky grin when he finally reached the bottom.

“You are a cheater.” I had to force my eyes not to look at his chest again, and knowing that it was becoming a habit of mine was pissing me off at myself.

“You are a sore loser.” He replied immediately.

“NOT ME!” I gasped in mock disbelief, making him chuckle.

“Go shower and take your nap, Princess. We leave for the party in three hours… If you don’t want to go, we can stay here. I don’t want to make you feel pressured.” I had honestly thought about staying behind. I don’t want to crash the party or anything, and I don’t want him to feel pressured to hang out with me instead of enjoying his time with his friends.

“Do you think I will be a bother?” He looked at me like I had grown three heads.

“NO! I mean, I may have to kick the king or his betas a*s over you, but that’s because both are the world’s biggest man whores. Other than that, I think you would really get along with Fallon, and there are a few other people that are likely to be there that you will really like.” His gaze softened. He turned to face me and kept walking backward.

“You aren’t going to be a bother, Lennon. You will be safe with everyone there, I assure you.” I nodded, trying not to think about the last time I was at a party. Not to mention it is a beach party. I will be half-naked in front of everyone there because I would refuse to let the green blotches still covering my skin keep me from enjoying my first time seeing the ocean. Water has always been my happy place, and nothing or no one can take that from me.