The Alpha's Mother-In-Law's Forbidden Love (The Cresta Chronicles)

Jiro POV

Jiro watched Ravyn and Jude huddling together, whispering. His instincts went on high alert. Frowning, Garnet followed his gaze. "What do you think is going on?"

Jiro kept his voice low. "I don't know, but they both looked far away for a moment. Maybe Hades was talking to them?"

"It's possible," Garnet acknowledged. "Whatever he said, it must have been serious."

Jiro absently stroked her back, deep in thought. "It happened right after the bonding--could it have something to do with Makhel and Kulenza? Or the Orc Kingdom of Nauru?"

Garnet's golden eyes widened. "It's possible, but what could he have said?"

"Only one way to find out, my love."

As he started towards Ravyn and Jude, Garnet held him back, frowning. "Jiro ... maybe they're not ready to reveal everything just yet."

"Maybe not, but Hades has centuries of experience." Jiro howled softly. "I never thought I'd trust his word about anything, but I should be used to the unexpected by now. We need to know whatever he knows."

Cyran and Naomi joined them. Gently, Cyran tapped Garnet's arm. "Sis, I can sense Hades is very active. Jiro's right. We need to find out what's got him hopping around like mad."

The decision made, they headed toward Ravyn and Jude. Garnet tapped Ravyn gently on the shoulder. "May we speak with you a moment?" she asked softly.

Jude and Ravyn both jumped, slightly startled. "Yes, of course," they both said together. 

Huddling around them, Jiro, Garnet, Cyran, and Ravyn formed a comforting circle. "You two looked troubled after the ceremony," Jiro began. 

"And I sensed Hades was very active." Cyran's golden eyes gleamed perceptively. "Don't tell me he's misbehaving already."

Ravyn and Jude smelled agitated--like spicy beef, the kind Jiro loved to eat over his noodles. They looked at each other the way bonded mates do, and silent conversations passed between them. Then, at last, they came clean.

The news sent Jiro reeling, and Garnet held onto him, both of them swaying, steadying each other's limbs. 

"Queen Durgat is cursed?" Jiro gasped.

Cyran's eyes flared with fire. "I wondered. But of course, it was a clever, cunning illness. Makhel has the Mystics of Merkur, who are experts in curse detection. This must have been a particularly devastating curse to escape detection--much like the one put on Daxius."

Jude smiled darkly, and said in a deeper, silkier voice reminiscent of Hades, "How do you think Hades made the connection?"

Naomi gripped an amulet that Lilia and Ravyn had made for her, with Kyon's help. Carved fro, the blackthorn tree in the Brighmere Grove, with dusky tiger's eye crystals set in the intricate knot design, the amulet helped Naomi hone her hunter's instincts. "So, Queen Durgat can't mention the curse, even if she's aware of it?"

After concentrating for a few moments, Jude answered, "The curse may be designed to keep her from knowing about it. Which means it also wouldn't be immediately obvious to skilled mystics or healers who can spot curses around every corner and under every bush."

Garnet snarled, personally offended because of her own experience with Cyran's darkness, "So, someone in Makhel's family unleashed this nightmare. They clearly don't care about the suffering it's caused, because they don't have to deal with it. No wonder they distanced themselves from Queen Durgat."

Jiro glanced over at the radiant Makhel and Kulenza, currently getting congratulations from Anneliese and Patch, as well as the three wise women. "You have to tell them. Maybe not today, but before they leave. Today is their bonding day--it should be a happy time."

Cyran rubbed his chin, which had a bit of blond fuzz on it. He'd decided to start to grow a beard, since Jiro had one. "I can persuade Prince Makhel and Princess Kulenza--that has such a nice ring to it--that they should stay in the shifter lands. After all, even flying on the dragon-pulled coach, it's a long way back to Nauru. Makhel always values his trips to the shifter lands and often says he wants to stay longer each time."

Garnet added, "After all, he and Kulenza look completely locked together."

Makhel and Kulenza clung together gently, with eyes only for each other. 

Ravyn followed Garnet's gaze. "Alright, it's settled. I hope we're doing the right thing, waiting to tell them."

* * * * *

Jude POV

Sternly, he looked at Ravyn. "You and I have made the decision, with the help of fellow Alphas and Lunas. Don't second-guess your decisions. You are the leader of the pack."

Ravyn huffed, stroking her hair the way that she occasionally did when she felt uncertain or insecure. "I'm not doubting anything. It's natural to have questions, isn't it? For something that could have far-reaching consequences?"

"Aren't you a powerful witch?" he asked, running his fingers through her silky hair. "You know what you're doing. You can read people's emotions before they even walk in the room. You know that our newly mated pair is NOT going to appreciate this grim news. Or at least, they won't welcome the timing of it. Besides ... you know that the minute they hear this, they'll have to make some hard decisions. Shouldn't they have a day or two--"

"Or three," Garnet added with fondness, her eyes full of nostalgia. Jiro chuckled and put his arm around her.

"Exactly. They need a few days to just be together," Jude decided. "Not as a prince and princess, or a future king and queen--but as a couple. Just like we've had together."

Ravyn sighed, surrendering. "I suppose that's fair."

"Of course it is." Jude kissed her on the forehead. "And both Hades and I agree. We love you for your caring and concern. It's worthy of a Luna."

Alert, Cyran snuck a furtive look at the happily mated pair. "We should rejoin them."

Wise Garnet shook her head, with a soft smile on her face as she watched Kulenza and Makhel stroll out of the ballroom. Although they towered over the shifters and were as massive as trees, they moved fluidly and with grace ... until they gripped each other's hand and rushed out of the room, laughing and in love, presumably back to their quarters. 

Tulaska, Eirika, and Roslynn drifted towards the huddled group. "Makhel and Kulenza are sailing in the clouds with the Moon Goddess," Eirika said poetically. "They really didn't notice you all conspiring over here. But we felt it."

Tulaska's eyes fixed on Jude, her nose quivering. "I can smell him, you know. Your scent is different. What is he saying?"

She didn't have to say whom she meant.

Jude and Ravyn briefly shared the bombshell about Queen Durgat's illness. Eirika nodded thoughtfully, and Tulaska paled, which for her was saying something. Roslynn's eyes burned, looking more striking in her glowing dark skin. 

"Their skin is all going to peel off, that so-called family," Roslynn growled. "Their ears will shrink to a human's. Their muscles will become as weak and useless as their hearts are. The curse will rebound on them. It always does."

Jude's eyebrows shot up. "Roslynn!"

"Oh, you thought wise women just spoke in riddles and brewed tea?" Roslynn gave a low growl. "We know the dark side of the spirit world, too. Better than most people. Do you disapprove, Alpha?"

A smile stretched Jude's lips. "Certainly not. We're shifters. Even our wise women are ferocious. And you're right, Roslynn. Anyone who casts a curse, or wrongs their mother so horribly, deserves everything you've said and more. And if we can help Makhel get justice and right this wrong, we will."

"And dance at Makhel's and Anneliese's royal wedding," Patch added. "All of us."

Ravyn, Jiro, Garnet, Cyran, Naomi, Patch, and Anneliese all grinned, with the shifters' eyes turning wolf colors. Jude vowed that he would support such a strong ally, and friend, no matter what!