All Chapters of The Moon's Mercy: Throne of Ashes: Chapter 1 - Chapter 7

The infirmary smelled of eucalyptus and sharp magic. It was a scent Elara usually found calming. It reminded her of order and healing.. Tonight, as she stood in the shadows of the stone corridor, the smell felt overpowering.She hadn't entered the room. She couldn't. Through the cracked door, the light spilled out in a golden beam. Within that sliver of light she saw them. Damon was seated on the edge of the cot, his broad shoulders hunched, his head bowed. Jasmine lay propped against the pillows, her dark hair fanned out like silk against the linens. She looked fragile. Her eyes were fixed on Damon with an intensity that made Elara's skin crawl."I didn't think I'd see you again " Damon's voice was low and rough. "When the news came that Joshua's outpost was overrun... I thought the world had ended twice in one day."Jasmine reached out her pale fingers trembling as she covered Damon's hand. The hand that wore a heavy silver signet ring Elara had given him. "I hid in the cellar, Damo

The twenty-one days before the Full Moon Festival felt like a walk into a bad dream. The guest wing was like Elara’s little world, a quiet place with old papers and dust.. The rest of the Blackwood Pack was like a big show and Jasmine was the star.She played the part of the pregnant woman so well that even the old leaders of the pack felt sorry for her. They used to like Elara. Now they looked at her like she was something old and useless. Elara was like winter and Jasmine was like spring.Elara stayed out of the way, only coming out when she had to. She moved like a ghost. Nobody really noticed her. Damon was always busy either in meetings or with Jasmine. He was getting a baby bed made for her, one that had been in the Blackwood family for a long time.Then one day, things started to get bad. Elara was in the hall putting up a map, when Jasmine came in with some other women. Jasmine was wearing a dress the same color as the Blackwood family symbol. It was like she was saying, "I'm

The square was a mess of violence and light. The golden fire Elara had started was burning everything. It was like a wind that was cleaning up all the bad things. The Rogues, who were like creatures were not just dying. They were turning into ash that was being blown away by the heat.Damon was fighting like a man who was very angry. He was moving fast, it was hard to see him. He was wearing leather and had silver claws and he was roaring so loud that Elara could feel it in her bones. Every time a Rogue got close to Elara, Damon was there fighting them off with all his might.Elara did not need Damon to protect her.She was standing in the middle of all the chaos and her feet were not even touching the ground. She was wearing a gold dress that was blowing around her like it was in a big wind. Her hair was like a river of copper. Every time she moved her hand, she was sending out bolts of energy that were lighting up the dark places.The three Aurelian brothers were fighting together l