Page 34 of A Luna’s Dynasty (Celestial #1)

“Where’s Lita?” Asher looked back to see Caspian walking toward the packhouse. “Caspian!” He jogged up to ask him, since he had seen Lita with him last.

“Lita said she needed to use the restroom, but it’s been a while. I was going to check on her.”

“I’ll check on her. She probably got overwhelmed with the crowds, and because of your barrier, she can’t mindlink us.”

“ASHER!” Felicia’s shrill cry echoed as she ran through the brush. Her arms were cut up and bleeding, her eyes full of panic. “It’s Lita!” she panted.

“What about Lita?!” Asher growled, stepping toward her as she reached him. She gripped his arms and began to cry.

“There were rogues, and she led them away from me. There were so many of them, and—”

“You left your luna alone?!” Asher growled, wide-eyed.

“I was scared! It happened so fast. I don’t think she—”

“Caspian, pull the barrier down. Caden! Garrett! ON ME!” Asher roared, shifting into his wolf. He didn’t wait, sprinting away. He could hear the paws thundering behind him.

The barriers are down. Caspian’s voice entered his mind.

WARRIORS, YOUR LUNA NEEDS OUR HELP! Asher commanded as he felt panic surge inside of him. Lita was strong, but if she was outnumbered like Felicia said … hopefully she could hang on.

What was she doing this far out?! Bo growled. I’ll tear them all apart!

I can’t lose her. I need her. Gods, please let her be okay.

Asher sniffed the air, trying to locate her scent.

He could smell the rogues but also the scent of blood.

He tore through the brush and outside his pack’s territory.

As soon as he got to the ridgeline, he came to a halting stop.

The carcasses of wolves were spread over the trampled grass.

Blood painted the dirt red as the ground lay littered with body parts.

What the hell happened here?! Caden looked over the area in horror.

LITA! Asher called out in panic, trying to reach her through the link.

Caspian’s blond wolf rushed into the massacre, inspecting the ground, and hurried up the hillside.

He disappeared in the bushes, but Asher couldn’t be bothered with what he was doing.

He felt as if his insides were collapsing.

What happened here? What could have done this?

Where was Lita? Was she running away and too far for his mindlink to work?

It’s okay, Asher. Lita is safe. He heard Caspian’s voice enter his mind.

Where is she? Is she with you?! Asher sprinted with urgency in the direction where Caspian had vanished from sight.

His heart pounded in his chest as he weaved through the dense forest, the underbrush crunching beneath his feet.

Finally, he spotted Caspian standing near a towering oak tree, his eyes intently focused on the ground.

She’s been taken. Caspian looked up as Asher arrived next to him. Look at the prints on the ground.

What is that … a horse?

It’s a centaur. You can tell by how the front feet dig deeper into the earth. Centaurs are allies to fairies. They’re the ones who killed the rogues, and they would have taken Lita to keep her safe.

They took her? She wouldn’t have just left with them—

They probably didn’t give her a choice.

They kidnapped her, Asher snarled. Let’s get her back!

Asher, wait! Caspian jumped in front of him as he started to move. The centaurs are strong, and they will defend Lita viciously. It would be a pointless fight, with many casualties.

I’m not going to just let them have her, Asher growled, narrowing his eyes at the blond wolf.

Of course not. We’ll need the help of a guardian to get her back peacefully. They won’t fight against him, and the guardian will respect Lita’s wishes. If Lita wants to return with you, he will make sure it happens.

I can’t just wait around!

The pack will be slaughtered! Look what they did to those rogues! Listen, please trust me. This is the best way to get her back without any casualties. I’ll reach out to a guardian right away. I know how to get a hold of him.

WHAT RIGHT DO THEY HAVE TO TAKE MY MATE?!

They have their reasons for taking her. Lita is important.

She is more important than just a pack’s luna.

Caspian glanced down and then back up at Asher.

I’m going to tell you something about Lita …

something you should know, since having Lita here is a direct threat to your pack.

I think you need to be informed before we go after her.

That way, you can make the best decision …

for the both of you. But what I’m telling you has to be kept a secret, even from Lita.

And if you decide not to bring her back, I will inform her of—

Never. I don’t care if she is dangerous to my pack or not. My place is by her side, no matter what. Now, start explaining.

Lita felt her head throbbing as she breathed in the unfamiliar scents.

She laid there trying to think about what had happened.

Everything was blurry. Her eyes fluttered open as she took in the unfamiliar surroundings.

Glancing upward, her eyes met a towering wooden ceiling, its beams intricately carved and polished to a glossy sheen.

Sunlight cascaded through the tall windows, casting warm, golden patterns on the floor.

The building was modest, just a single room, yet it was filled with an airy brightness that felt inviting.

Despite its charm, it was an unfamiliar place to her.

We were taken. Mira’s tired voice entered her mind as the memories flickered. She was running after Felicia and was surrounded by rogues. Then, centaurs came, and … she quickly sat up.

“Easy,” a gentle, deep voice cooed to her. “You’re alright. Everything will be clear soon, once the sleeping drug wears off.”

Lita snapped her gaze to the centaur near the bed. “You drugged me?! So you save me and then abduct me?! And to think I was excited to meet centaurs.”

The centaur chuckled. “What an honor that you were excited to meet our kind. I promise we didn’t mean any harm. We’re just keeping you safe. My name is Brad.” He raised his brows at her expectantly.

She snorted. “Lita, but I think we’re a bit late for introductions. I want to go home.”

“We’re keeping you safe. You’ll stay here until a guardian comes for you.”

“So I have to stay here until someone who I don’t know shows up? And how would this guardian even know where to look for me?!”

Brad chuckled. “If a guardian is looking for you, he’ll find you.”

“You can’t just keep me here.”

“You have no idea of the danger out there. We can’t let you leave.” Brad shook his head at her. She was being impractical.

“I wasn’t asking.” Lita swung her feet off the bed, her dress flowing over her legs.

Her bare feet hit the wooden floor and she swung the door open.

She caught sight of several log cabins nestled within the dense, wooded area before her.

Each cabin was built with sturdy logs, their rough textures blending seamlessly into the natural surroundings.

As she gazed beyond the cabins, her eyes widened in pure awe at the breathtaking sight that unfolded.

The entire area was encircled by towering, unyielding boulders, like ancient sentinels standing guard.

These massive stones were bordered by a forest of magnificent pine trees, their verdant needles whispering secrets to the sky as their branches stretched upward, forming an extra protective barrier around the stone wall.

To her side, a cascading waterfall tumbled gracefully down the rocky cliff, its crystal-clear waters shimmering in the sunlight before settling into a tranquil, mirror-like pond.

The air was filled with the soothing symphony of the water meeting the pond’s surface, and the scene would have been utterly enchanting if not for her current predicament.

Eager to take in more of her surroundings, she took a few cautious steps forward, absorbing every detail.

All around her were centaurs, their powerful forms moving with a grace that belied their strength.

It was a village of centaurs, their presence both surreal and thrilling.

She felt a surge of fangirl excitement bubbling within her, but she quickly reined it in, aware of the need to remain composed.

Remember Lita, you’ve been abducted. This is not the time to get excited. But they’re centaurs! I know, and I was taken by a centaur. True. True. So we’re mad … in all senses, yes, we’re mad. Lita had an inner dialog with herself as she stared at the village.

She felt Brad’s presence behind her, and she turned to face him. She wouldn’t be able to fight her way out of here, but maybe she could try to escape.