Odesse turned to Azure and smiled nervously. "Azure, this is Eryx; he’s my best friend." Eryx looked down, sadness written on his face as Odesse introduced him to Azure. Azure looked him up and down, checking his attire from his scuffed shoes to his messy hair. She turned to Odesse and let out a soft chuckle. "I’m sorry, Your Highness, but do you really call this human your friend?"

Odesse’s face scrunched up as she responded, "Yes, he is." Azure smiled and said, "You are a queen now." Odesse interrupted, her voice firm and unwavering as she raised her head high. "Before being a queen, I was a servant. Before becoming a wolf, I was human—and I still am." Eryx raised his head; his eyes were no longer sad, but still downcast. Odesse looked at him and smiled.

Azure observed both of them, her face lit with concern. "What do you imagine His Highness will say when he finds out about this, Your Highness?" Odesse smiled. "Well, he’s already aware of it." Azure sighed. "Alright then, Your Highness, whatever you say. The sun has set; I shall take my leave now but will return at dawn." She bowed her head and walked past Eryx, giving him a smile.

Eryx looked slowly at Odesse and smiled back. Odesse said, "I’m really sorry about what Azure said; she didn’t mean any harm." Eryx replied calmly, "You don’t have to apologize. You are a queen now, and yes, a wolf." Odesse looked down and then back at him. "I had no idea I was, Eryx. I only found out a couple of days ago, but I never saw you at the wedding or afterward."

Eryx replied, "New horses were being imported from a different pack, so I and the others had to go pick them up. It was only meant to take a day, but unfortunately, it rained, and the mud got swampy, which made the carriage get stuck." Odesse said, "Oh, I am so sorry that happened to you, Eryx." He smiled, although his eyes protested.

A tall female servant walked up to Odesse and stopped behind her. "Your Highness," she said. Odesse turned slightly, and Eryx looked at the girl. She continued, "Dinner is served." Odesse smiled and said, "I’ll be right there." The servant nodded and waited.

Odesse turned to Eryx and asked, "Why don’t you come have dinner with me, Eryx?" He shook his head and said, "A human and a servant can’t be seen beside a wolf queen." Odesse replied, "What do you mean? Aren’t we still friends?" Eryx didn’t respond.

The servant interjected, "Ma’am, the food is getting cold." Odesse said, "Oh yes, I’m coming." She turned to leave but then looked back at Eryx. "If you’re going to stop being friends with me just because I have this title, then that means you never considered me a friend." Eryx’s eyes widened as he watched her walk into the palace at a slow pace.

The servant, whose head was down as Odesse passed, looked at Eryx and said, "She isn’t a servant anymore, you fool. You have to show respect. It turns out she was a wolf but didn’t know it. If you liked her, you could have told her sooner, but it’s too late now." Eryx continued to watch as Odesse walked down the hall, ignoring what the servant girl was saying.

She persisted, "But it’s not too late for me, you know." Eryx turned to walk away, and the girl rolled her eyes, saying louder, "If the king ever finds you next to Her Highness, just know you’re getting killed, so you’d better stay away."

Eryx paused, and the girl turned and walked into the palace. He looked at the sky and thought, "Queen Odesse— it does have a nice ring to it." He smiled as tears rolled down his cheeks.

...

Night had fallen, and Odesse had taken her nightly bath and put on her nightgown. As she settled on her bed and lay down, she pulled the covers up to her chin and let out a long sigh, closing her eyes to sleep.

Suddenly, Odesse found herself in the middle of a forest, surrounded by trees everywhere except for the small clearing where she stood. The moonlight shone brightly overhead, and Odesse looked around, saying, "I’ve been here before." Then, a large light floated down from the sky. Odesse looked at it and smiled, recognizing it as the moon spirit.

The light transformed into the figure of a woman, her voice calm like the ocean breeze. "Star child, we meet again," she said. Odesse smiled and replied, "I haven’t spoken to you since the shadow incident. It’s like you just disappeared."

The moon spirit responded, "We are not ones you can call upon at any time. We decide when to come, for we know when you need us the most." Odesse moved closer, asking, "So why did I come here? I don’t need anything right now."

The moon spirit replied, "There is something you need to accomplish, child, or have you forgotten?" Odesse looked at her, silence hanging between them. The spirit hovered a little higher and continued, "You are married to your destiny, child, but if you are too late, he will be dead soon."

Odesse’s eyes widened in shock as she exclaimed, "The curse!" The spirit moved around her, and Odesse turned to match the spirit’s movement. She continued, "But I thought it only killed his wives. Why would it kill him?"

The moon spirit replied, "The one who placed the curse on him has discovered that you have awoken, and he will do everything in his power to ensure you don’t ruin his plan."

Odesse asked, "Who is this person?" The spirit answered, "No one but the king’s brother." Odesse twisted her mouth slightly and said, "I should have known."

The moon spirit advised, "You have no time to waste, star child. When he is attacked, it will be impossible to help him." Odesse pressed, "What is Malrik planning to do?" The spirit moved closer, paused and asked, "Have you ever heard of mourn-root?" Odesse shook her head slowly.

The spirit explained, "This is the ancient art of drawing power from one’s ancestors and allowing them to control your body. It takes place in the middle of the forest and requires two days to activate. It involves negotiation; if you give them what they want, they will give you what you want. It was originally used by the Hollow Walkers, who were a small population and eventually went extinct. It seems Malrik is the last of them."

Odesse’s eyes trembled in fear as she said, "What?" The spirit looked at Odesse and warned, "You must be quick, star child. That man is insane. He wants to kill his brother and is using an ancient art he knows nothing about that could wipe out all existence. You have to break that curse."

With fear and concern, Odesse asked, "How? I don’t know how to." The moon spirit ascended higher into the sky, causing the moon to shine brighter, and said, "Your husband shall return tomorrow at noon. That gives you time. Before he awakens them, you and Valex must mate. Do not fear, I shall give you instructions. While you mate, you will pass out, and black blood will pour from your eyes continuously. You will enter a trance where you shall meet me, and then we will carry on." The moon spirit paused as she watched Odesse. "Her voice was low as she continued speaking.But there is a possibility that breaking this curse may result in your death."

Odesse felt her heart stop, and her knees weakened momentarily. She stammered, "De... death?" The moon spirit continued, "Yes, Odesse, your death. Your husband will know you are dead when the black blood from your eyes stops... But there is also a possibility that you may live."

Odesse laughed nervously and said, "Now I know why my mum broke her bond with you; this is crazy. So if I don’t go into the trance, not only will Valex die, but everyone will. And if I do go into the trance, there’s a possibility that I may die?"

The moon spirit interrupted, "If you complete the task of breaking the curse before Malrik finishes, then you will not die. But if you do not succeed, then yes, you, Valex, and all life on this world will be destroyed. There is also a possibility that breaking the curse will weaken you to the point of death."

Odesse raised her voice as tears streamed down her cheeks. "Then there’s a possibility of not getting out alive with either choice!" She collapsed to the ground, crying out, "I don’t want to die. I don’t want Valex to die. I don’t want anyone to die!"

Looking up at the moon spirit, she asked, "What about Malrik? What happens to him when I break the curse?" The moon spirit replied, "As I said before, the mourn-root requires a negotiation with the ancestors. I do not know what they will negotiate, but if you break the curse and Malrik is unable to fulfill his part of the agreement, then his ancestors will take care of him."

Odesse wiped her tears, stood up, and said, "Then I better make sure he is the only person getting mourned and thrown back with his roots."