☽◐⬤◑☾

Lupin

Banshee. 

The word rocked through me. Rearranging everything. My whole future and present, for she was now a part of it. And she was a banshee. I knew little of the banshees. They were a larger species and far more involved with the supernatural politics than werewolves. They were governed even, as a whole. Whereas wolves governed individually, in Packs.

Myth stated that banshees sensed death, but then myth also stated that werewolves were cursed by the moon. And the moon possessed no magic, it was simply a honk of rock in the sky.

I looked back at my sleeping mate. The girl still full of mystery. Fable, what a suitable name for her. My wolf preened at her name, muttering it over and over again, as if finding new ways to say it would make it better. I still remember the feeling that rushed through me when she said my name. It had been a surprise, yes, but also something deeper, something that twitched along the string that tied us. Body and soul, she was mine.

A knock on the door had me twisting in my seat, watching as Rayen and Tristan walked in. They both took seats at the edge of Fables bed, staring at my sleeping mate.

“Where are the others?” I whispered to them, not wanting to wake her.

“Out,” Was Rayens' only response. “They’ll be back soon.” I nodded my understanding.

“Did she wake up?” Tristan questioned, eyes still on Fable.

“Yes.” Their eyes flicked to mine.

“What did she say?” Tristan muttered. I turned my eyes back to my mate.

“The vampire venom will not hurt her, it simply has to work its way through her system.” It had been one of our major concerns. There was no cure for vampirism save death, none of us particularly cared for that option. It was a relief to know she was clear of infection. Both of my friends relaxed visibly. Rayens eyes slid back to my mate. Tristan made sure not to look too long, very aware of the edge my wolf was still standing on. 

“What is she?” My cousin asked, perplexed, because immunity from the Undead's diseases was very rare, almost unheard of. And my mate looked human. She was, decidedly, not.

“She’s a banshee.” I answered. They both stared at me. After a few moments Tristan blinked.

“A banshee?” He asked and I shrugged. Rayen scoffed.

“Of course your mate is a banshee, you can never do anything halfway.” I smiled at my cousin's teasing.

“What? Did you expect me to find some nice little werewolf and settle down?” She sneered at me and I chuckled.

“Speaking of peculiar attributes,” Tristan started. Were we speaking of peculiar attributes? 

“Is anyone aware of if banshees are devil tamers?” He pointed towards my mate, indicating the cat curled up on her chest. At our gazes Rane woke up and glanced over at me. She then glared at my companions and arched her back hissing at them before skittering away. I tried to suppress a smile at Tristans shutter. There had been a time when Tristan believed that Rane simply needed time to warm up to my friends, to learn to like them. When that experiment had ended in him almost losing his eyes he had made sure to give the cat a wide berth, all of my friends had, much to Ranes' delight.

“My cat simply has good taste.”

“That’s not true.” Tristan said. “She doesn’t like me.”

“Exactly,” I smiled. “She has good taste.” My friend gasped in mock offense, turning to my cousin, his mate.

“Your cousin has wounded me, my love.” Rayen patted his shoulder lovingly.

“You’ll get over it.” He gasped again.

“No support from my very own mate? What is a man to do?”

“I have never supported your lunacy.” Rayen corrected him. “I told you not to mess with that cat and you know where that landed you.” He smiled at her.

“One and a half weeks of you nursing me back to health.”

“Overkill, if you ask me.” She grumbled.

“It was glorious.” She gave him a dry look and I chuckled.

“Tristan?” I questioned and the smile blazing across his face lessened at the slight command in my voice. “Her brother is in town, staying with her, I would like you to bring him here.” He nodded.

“I’ll dispatch a small group to bring him in.” I glanced over at Fable remembering her warning. “She stated that apprehending him would prove difficult, I’ll leave that decision to you.” He nodded again and left the room, immediately going to work. I was left in the silent room with my cousin, watching my mate sleep.

“She’s very pretty.” Rayen whispered. She was beautiful, my mate. Almost fae-like, high cheek bones and a dainty nose, blushed lips and round eyes. She was utterly beautiful. It almost hurt.

“Why such pain in your eyes, cousin?” She asked me gently.

“I don’t deserve it. She is too… much.” I could feel the hurt radiating off of her at my words.

“Too much of what?” She asked quietly.

“Everything.” I whispered. “She is… everything.” My cousin squeezed my hand at the crack in my voice.

“You deserve it all.”