Ava woke to the taste of copper.
She sat up, hand flying to her mouth, and stared at the blood on her fingers. Alexander was already awake, his arm wrapped around her waist, his brow furrowed.
"Hey. What's wrong?"
"Nothing." She wiped her mouth, but the metallic tang lingered. "Just… a nosebleed."
But it wasn't. The blood was coming from her gums, her ears, even the corners of her eyes—thin red streaks like cracks in glass.
Alexander sat up, his face hardening. "Show me."
Ava lifted her hand, and he sucked in a breath. "Moon-blood. It's burning you out."
"Dramatic much?" She tried to laugh, but it came out as a cough, spattering more blood on the sheets. "It's just a side effect. Victoria said—"
"Victoria didn't see you bleed from your eyes." He grabbed his phone, dialing. "Elias. Now."
Elias arrived 20 minutes later, a leather satchel in hand, his face grim. He examined Ava, pressing a cold hand to her forehead, muttering to himself.
"Your light's getting stronger," he said, finally. "Too strong. Moon-blood wasn't meant to be used this way—rewriting curses, taking down Covens. It's draining you. Like a battery."
Ava rolled her eyes. "So I need to… what? Charge?"
"Rest." Elias pulled a vial from his satchel, its contents glowing silver. "Drink this. It's wolfsbane, diluted with my blood. Should stabilize you."
Ava eyed it suspiciously. "Your blood? Isn't that… weird? We're cousins, remember?"
"Desperate times, desperate measures." Elias held out the vial. "Drink it, or you'll be dead by next moon."
Ava drank, the liquid burning like fire down her throat. She coughed, wiping her mouth, and felt the bleeding slow, then stop.
"Better?" Alexander asked, his voice tight.
"Less like I'm dying. Thanks." She glared at Elias. "Next time, warn me it tastes like ass."
Elias smiled faintly. "Noted."
He pulled a map from his satchel, spreading it on the bed. "Found this in the Coven's archives. A temple, hidden in the mountains. Built by the witch who cast the moon-blood curse. There's a chamber there—'The Well of Echoes.'It is said to be able to balance moon-blood. Fix what's broken."
Alexander traced the map with his finger. "Or it's a trap. Another Coven trick."
"Or it's our only chance." Ava sat up, wincing. "We're going."
Elias nodded. "Thought you'd say that. But be careful. The temple's guarded by something. The archives called it 'The Keeper.'"
Ava raised an eyebrow. "Ominous. Love it."
They left at dawn, Alexander driving, Ava dozing in the passenger seat, her head resting on his shoulder. Elias followed in his own car, humming off-key to an old rock song.
The mountains loomed ahead, their peaks covered in snow, the air thin and cold. They parked at the trailhead, grabbing backpacks, and started hiking.
"So," Ava said, breaking the silence. "What do you think The Keeper is? A giant wolf? A dragon? Please say it's not a dragon."
Alexander laughed. "Scared of dragons, moon-blood?"
"Fuck dragons. They're just flying lizards with attitude."
Elias snorted. "She's not wrong."
They reached the temple at midday, its stone walls half-buried in snow, its entrance carved with a wolf's head, its eyes glowing red.
"Creepy," Ava said.
"Let's go." Alexander pulled out his knife, silver etched into the blade.
The temple was dark, dusty, the air thick with the smell of age. Torches flared to life as they walked, casting shadows that danced on the walls.
The Well of Echoes was in the center chamber—a pool of water, its surface perfectly still, surrounded by statues of wolves.
Ava stepped closer, leaning over the pool. Her reflection stared back, but something was wrong—its eyes were black, its mouth twisted into a smile.
"Alexander," she said, her voice tight.
He was already moving, pulling her back, as the reflection climbed out of the pool, water dripping from its form, its claws extending.
"The Keeper," Elias whispered.
It lunged, its mouth opening to reveal rows of sharp teeth, and Ava screamed, silver light exploding from her.
The Keeper froze, then laughed—a sound like breaking glass. "Foolish moon-blood. You think your light can stop me? I am your light. Your anger. Your fear. Your death."
It lunged again, faster this time, and Alexander tackled it, his wolf form bursting forth. They rolled on the ground, growling, snapping, until The Keeper sank its claws into Alexander's throat.
"NO!" Ava screamed.
Silver light erupted from her, brighter than ever, but this time, it didn't just calm—it burned. The Keeper howled, its form dissolving into smoke, as the light seared through it.
Alexander collapsed, his throat bleeding, his wolf form fading.
Ava ran to him, her light pulsing, healing his wound. "Stay with me. Please."
He opened his eyes, smiling faintly. "Told you… dragons were… overrated."
Ava laughed, tears streaming down her face.
Elias walked to the pool, staring into its depths. "It's working. The well. Your light's stabilizing. See?"
Ava looked down, surprised to find her hands steady, no blood in sight.
"The Keeper wasn't guarding the well," Elias said. "It was testing you. Proving you're strong enough to control your light. To live with it."
Ava helped Alexander stand, his arm around her shoulders. "Let's go home."
They left the temple, the sun setting behind them, painting the mountains in shades of orange and pink.
Elias paused at the entrance, looking back. "You know, she'd be proud of you. Eleanor. For fighting. For living."
Ava smiled. "I know."
On the drive back, Alexander fell asleep, his head in Ava's lap. She stroked his hair, watching the mountains fade into the distance, and thought of Eleanor, of Thomas, of all the ancestors who'd fought to survive.