Page 96 of A Luna’s Dynasty (Celestial #1)

A young girl with shining silver hair raced through the field. Her heart pounded as she pushed herself to run even faster. She giggled as she heard the rushing steps behind her.

“Reiya, give it back!”

“Come and get it, Hunter!” Reiya squealed as she jumped at a tree limb and hoisted herself off the ground.

“Reiya!” Hunter growled as he stared at his sister climbing the tree. “Just give it back already!”

“Hunter?! What happened?” Hunter turned to see his older brothers, Chasen and Brody, jogging up to them.

“Reiya took my charger!” Hunter pointed his finger up the tree.

“Reiya, what are you doing up there? You might get hurt. Come down.” Brody moved closer to the tree nervously.

“Not until Hunter apologizes!” Reiya huffed and threw a stick down at her twin brother.

“I’m not sorry. Timmy had no business grabbing your hand. He won’t try it again,” Hunter said proudly as Chasen patted him on the back.

“Good job protecting Reiya.” Chasen grinned up at Reiya. “Princess, little Timmy is a bit full of himself if he thinks he’s good enough for you.”

“I thought he was very brave! You don’t let anyone else play with me.” Reiya listened as her two older brothers chuckled.

“Okay, Reiya, you made your point. Come down now.” Brody watched as she shook her head.

“No, I don’t think I will.”

“Reiya, don’t make me come up there.” Brody folded his arms across his chest and arched a brow at her.

“Come on, Reiya. I’ll make it up to you. Don’t be mad at me,” Hunter said, changing tactics. He walked forward and jumped to grab the tree branch. “I’m coming up.”

“Don’t do it, Hunter,” Reiya warned as she shifted in the tree.

“Come on, Reiya. Let’s go play together. Don’t stay mad at me.”

“How would you like it if I pushed Emmy down when she held your hand today?”

“That’s different,” Hunter huffed as he climbed higher.

“No, it isn’t.” Reiya watched as her brother smiled up at her.

“Yes, it is. After all, you’re a girl,” he teased, purposely provoking his sister.

Reiya stared down at him until an idea hit her. “I’m braver than you.”

“Ha! No way.” Hunter grinned up at her as she smiled down at him.

“I bet I can scare you before you can scare me.”

“You’re on!” Hunter shouted, as his sister looked at him almost triumphantly.

Suddenly the sound of a branch cracking filled the air. He watched in terror as his sister went falling to the ground.

“Gotcha!” Brody said, catching Reiya in his arms. He held her protectively against his chest. “You’re going to be the death of me.” He let out a sigh as he determined she was fine.

“Let me see her. Is she okay?” Chasen asked as Brody growled protectively.

“Don’t smother her.”

“She’s my sister too! Let me see her,” Chasen growled back.

“Reiya!” Hunter yelled, running over. He watched as she turned to look at him with a big, wide smile.

“Scared you, didn’t I?” She grinned and watched as he parted his lips in shock.

“You fell like that on purpose?!” Brody growled, looking down at her angrily.

“I knew you’d catch me.”

“She’s got you wrapped, brother.” Chasen chuckled as Brody snorted.

“You were here to catch her, too, so I think she’s got us all wrapped.” Brody chuckled as he put Reiya down on her feet. “Seriously, I’m not going to survive being your guardian.” He looked down at her, shaking his head.

“Okay, give it back to Hunter, Reiya.” Chasen snorted and held out his hand.

“Oh, I don’t have it.” She shrugged and smiled, chewing on her bottom lip. She watched as his brows furrowed, and he stared at her.

“What are you hiding? You look guilty.” Brody watched as she looked away. His little sister was horrible at secrets. She did little things that practically gave them away.

“He’s right. Reiya, what are you hiding?” Chasen smirked and tilted her chin up to stare into her eyes. “You have a secret.”

“Reiya …” Hunter sighed and slapped his forehead.

He knew Mom and Dad shouldn’t have told her the surprise.

His sister couldn’t keep a secret if her life depended on it.

Even when they had the perfect script prepared.

Though her falling out of the tree stunt was spontaneous.

Things like that happened when she didn't stick to the plan.

“I didn’t say anything!” Reiya whined in her defense.

Brody placed his hands on her shoulders as Chasen cracked his knuckles in front of her.

“Sweet, precious little sister … what secret are you hiding?” Chasen wiggled his fingers threateningly in front of her face.

“Why are you only asking me? What about Hunter?” Reiya watched as Chasen shrugged his shoulders.

“You’re the easier prey.”

“Some guardians we have, Hunter. They don’t like challenges.” Reiya watched as Chasen’s lips twitched upwards and Brody chuckled behind her.

“Trying to provoke us, little sister?” Brody squeezed her shoulders, holding her in place.

“We aren’t gonna fall for it. That stuff may work on Hunter, but not us,” Chasen said with a smug grin on his face.

“But Chasen, I thought you said Brody was too gullible for his own good,” Hunter said, watching as Chasen shook his head at Brody.

“I never said that.”

“Yes you did, to Uncle Grayson.” Reiya blinked up at Brody. “I don’t think you’re too gullible.”

“What have you been saying, Chase?” Brody asked, lifting his gaze to his twin brother.

“You aren’t really buying that. You aren’t THAT gullible, right?”

“Sooo I AM gullible?!” Brody growled, releasing his grip on Reiya.

“This is Chasen deflecting again, huh, Brody?” Reiya said, taking an ever-so-small step back.

“What’s all that about?” Chasen straightened up to glare at his brother.

“I don’t know. I’m too busy being gullible,” Brody growled, then swiftly snapped his hand out as Chasen did the same.

He held Reiya in his arms as Chasen held Hunter.

They both laughed as they proceeded to give their younger siblings noogies.

“You two really do think you can outsmart us.” Brody laughed as Reiya squirmed in his arms.

“Let me go.” Hunter growled as he struggled helplessly against Chasen.

“Adorable children … think they can outwit their guardians.” Brody looked up at Chasen. “I think they need to be punished.” His lips curled up as Chasen’s did the same.

“I think you’re right. This is going to hurt me more than it’ll hurt you, Hunter,” Chasen said with a fake frown.

Chasen and Brody grabbed their victims’ heads and raised their arms, slowly moving their armpits toward their faces.

“Okay okay! I’ll tell! I’ll tell!” Reiya squealed as she pushed away from her brother.

Suddenly, Brody and Chasen were both effortlessly hoisted in the air. “Now, that is no way to treat your younger siblings.”

“Uncle Grayson, let go!” Chasen growled as he struggled to get free.

“I think a lesson must be learned,” Grayson said with an evil glint in his eyes. In a swift movement, he lodged both boys’ heads under his armpits. “Now, now, boys, you struggle in vain. You’re too young to have a chance against me.”

“And you wonder where they learned such dirty tactics.” Asher chuckled as he headed their way.

“Pleeeeaaaasssse …” Grayson drawled out in an arrogant tone. “I teach them good lessons. Don’t listen to your father, he isn’t aging well … mentally,” he teased as he released his two hostages, turning to face Asher.

“Well …” Asher began as Reiya ran up to him.

“Daddy!” she cheered, leaping into his arms.

Asher raised her above his head before bringing her down to his chest. “Reiya, you and Hunter are too close to the pack borders. You know your mother and I don’t allow you to be this far from the pack house.”

“But Daddy, we were just doing like you asked,” Reiya said, batting her eyelashes at her father.

“We never said to go this far out just to keep your older brothers busy.” Asher sighed and shook his head. He couldn’t be mad at his little princess. “Just remember to stay farther away from the borders. It’s safer near the house.”

“Safer from what, Daddy?” Reiya asked and watched as her father looked over at her Uncle Grayson quietly.

“From the many dangers of the world,” Asher said, giving her a small smile.

“What kind of dangers, Daddy?”

“The kind of danger you’ll be in for disobeying your momma.” Lita’s voice rang out as she walked up to everyone. “The rules are made for a reason—to keep you safe. You children know this is too far out.” She then raised her eyes at Asher. “You’re being too easy on them.”

The rules were made to keep the children safe.

Demons had been found too close to the pack territory, and they were afraid they were spies sent by Abaas.

They hadn’t seen or heard from him since their last battle, but they knew he made it out of the river.

It was only a matter of time before he would come for Reiya.

Lita figured he was waiting for her daughter to get older.

The safest place for Reiya would be Elysia.

They knew they would have to take her there in order to truly keep her safe.

Until then, it was imperative that the children follow the rules they had in place.

“Sorry, mom. I should have kept a better eye on her.” Brody looked down at the ground, feeling bad for letting his parents down.

He remembered the dangers of the demons out there.

It was another reason why he was so protective of Reiya.

He felt arms wrap around him in a gentle embrace as his mother patted his back.

“You’re still a kid, Brody. Reiya isn’t your responsibility.

That goes for both of you. Be kids. Have fun.

You don’t have to worry about these two.

That’s your father’s job, and mine. Speaking of you two still being kids …

” Lita reached out and grabbed onto Chasen’s hand. “We have a surprise for you two.”

“A surprise? For what?” Chasen asked.

“Your birthday!” Hunter said, jumping around excitedly.

“But we already celebrated our birthday last week,” Brody said, as Lita giggled.