FIA
"Yes."
"That’s..." He trailed off. Shook his head. "That’s a massive accusation."
"I know."
"It could destroy the pack if it came out."
"I know."
"And you have what? A blood test that could be explained a dozen different ways? A theory that hinges on you secretly curing magical poison with no explanation for how?"
My hands were shaking again. I pressed them harder into my pockets. "I know how weak it sounds."
"It’s not weak," he said. "It’s insane. For lack of better word and forgive me if I sound rude."
The word hit like a slap. I flinched before I could stop myself.
"You’re forgiven. Just sit with it."
Ronan sighed. He rubbed his face with one hand. When he dropped it he looked tired. "I believe Aldric is a schemer. I believe he wants to be indispensable to Cian and this pack. I believe he’s manipulative and self-serving." He paused. "But wanting to kill the Grand Luna? That’s too far. It wouldn’t even make sense."
"Why not?"
"Because she’s already incapacitated. Already out of the way. Killing her would just raise questions. Draw attention. Why take that risk?"
"Because she was waking up."
"You keep saying that," he said. His voice was sharper now. "But you’re forgetting something. She’s poisoned and being kept under by literal magic. Even if she did wake up temporarily, the poison would still be there. The magic would still be there. She’d just slip back under."
"About that..." I started.
His eyes narrowed. "What?"
"Did you not hear me? The cure worked. She was actually waking up. Getting better."
"In a few hours?" He stared at me. "You’re telling me that you cured poison that’s had her unconscious for days and she just started recovering immediately? With no magic involved? Just herbs and vibes?"
Oh, I hated him so much. But he was right to question me so hard.
"I know it sounds impossible."
"Because it is impossible."
"But it happened."
Ronan took a step back. Put some distance between us. When he spoke again his voice was careful. Too careful. "Luna Fia. I want to help you. I do. But you’re asking me to believe something that defies logic. That contradicts everything we know about how magic and poison work."
"I’m not asking you to understand it," I said desperately. "I’m just asking you to trust me."
"Trust you." He said it like he was tasting the words. Testing them. "Based on what exactly? Your track record? Your proven reliability?"
The sarcasm stung. But he wasn’t wrong. My track record was shit. Thanks to Hazel. Every reason he had to doubt me was valid.
Still. I couldn’t just walk away. Not when I was this close to having someone on my side.
I moved forward and grabbed him by both shoulders before I could think better of it. He stiffened under my hands but didn’t pull away.
"You really really have to believe me here," I said. My voice came out raw. Desperate. "I know how it sounds. I know my word means nothing to most people. But I’m telling you the truth."
He looked down at my hands on his shoulders. Then back up at my face. Something shifted in his expression. Not belief exactly. But maybe the possibility of it.
"Let’s say everything you’re telling me is true," he said slowly. "Let’s say Aldric poisoned her again. That he’s actively trying to keep her under. What do you want me to do about it? I need something concrete to take him down. Do you have that?"
"No. But that is why I am here. Watch him moving forward. He’ll be less suspicious of you. Watch the witch he’s bringing. Don’t let them anywhere near Luna Morrigan without supervision."
"And if you and I see something suspicious?"
"We stop it. Whatever it is. We don’t let him hurt her again."
Ronan was quiet. His eyes searched my face. Looking for something. I didn’t know what. Didn’t know if he found it.
"You have to know that I want to believe you," he said finally. "But this is hard."
"I know."
"You’re asking me to trust you over someone Cian sees as family. Someone who’s been part of this pack longer than either of us."
"I’m asking you to protect your Grand Luna."
"By accusing someone of attempted murder based on circumstantial evidence and a story that sounds like a fever dream."
I dropped my hands from his shoulders and stepped back. The defeat must have shown on my face because his expression softened slightly.
"I’m not saying no," he said. "I’m just saying this is a lot. And I need to think about it."
"We don’t have time for thinking. The wedding is tomorrow."
"I know." He ran a hand through his hair. "Look. I’ll watch them. I’ll be careful. If I see anything that backs up what you’re saying, I’ll act."
It wasn’t enough. But it was more than I had before.
"Thank you."
He nodded. Then his expression shifted again and I watched it become thoughtful. "He was right about you."
I froze. "What?"
"Cian." A small smile tugged at his mouth. "He said there was more to you than people thought. That you were sharper and softer around the edges than you seemed."
Heat crept up my neck. "He said that?"
"Something like it." His smile faded. "But you have a valid point. I’ll take everything you say with a grain of salt. And I’ll protect my Grand Luna. Do my sworn duty like I swore to do."
Relief flooded through me. It wasn’t complete trust. But it was something. A foothold.
"Thank you," I said again.
"And whenever you want," he added, "you can come spar. Prove the haughty and narcissistic Beta wrong."
I couldn’t help it. I smiled. "Oh, I will."
He grinned back. Then his expression turned serious again. "You should be careful, Luna Fia. If you’re right about Aldric, then you’re in more danger than you know."
"I know."
"Good."
I turned to leave. My legs felt shaky. My hands were still trembling. But something in my chest had loosened. I wasn’t alone anymore. Not completely. We had someone with stronger political power and someone that Cian trusted on our side now.
"Luna Fia?"
I looked back.
Ronan was watching me with that same calculating expression. "If you’re wrong about this... If it turns out you’re seeing threats that aren’t there..."
"Then I’m wrong," I said. "But I’d rather be paranoid and wrong than right and too late."
He nodded slowly. "Fair enough."
I left him standing there and walked back across the training ground with my head high. My heart was still racing. My thoughts were still scattered. But for the first time since I knew what sort of monster Aldric was, I felt like maybe I had a chance.
Maybe I could actually protect Morrigan.
Maybe I could stop whatever Aldric had planned.
Maybe.