Chapter 103

The next morning:

Aire woke slowly.

Her lashes fluttered before her eyes opened fully. The first thing she noticed wasn’t her ceilings, but a strange taste.

It sat faintly at the back of her tongue. The taste was metallic and barely there, but wrong enough to be noticed.

Aire frowned slightly.

Her tongue pressed lightly against the roof of her mouth, as though trying to understand it. Dizziness followed the taste.

Aire sighed lightly. Her fingers curled lightly against the sheets beneath her. The feeling didn’t last. It faded almost as quickly as it came, slipping away before she could properly grasp it.

She exhaled slowly.

Her gaze lifted to the ceiling.

For a moment, she stayed there, unmoving, and letting herself settle fully into wakefulness.

However, that moment of silence was cut short when the door opened without a knock and her permission.

Aire didn’t turn immediately. She already knew who would open her door that way.

Madam.

Her presence was carried into the room before her voice ever did.

“Good morning, Luna,” Madam said softly as she stepped inside.

Aire turned her head slightly. “Good morning,” she replied. Her voice was still thick with sleep, but the taste remained.

Madam moved toward the table near the window. A tray had already been prepared there while Aire slept.

The faint clink of glass followed as she began arranging the items.

Aire pushed herself up slowly.

Madam’s movement was careful, measured. She didn’t rush it.

Madam worked with practiced ease.

Her hands moved steadily as she began preparing a tonic. The bottles opened and closed with soft, precise sounds. She added a measured pour, and then, stirred it gently.

Aire watched her.

“You woke earlier than usual,” Madam noted, not looking at her.

Aire leaned back slightly against the headboard. “I didn’t feel like sleeping anymore,” she said, wondering what Madam was mixing.

Madam hummed faintly. “That is unlike you p>

Aire’s lips curved just slightly. “It happens sometimes p>

Madam didn’t respond to that immediately.

She lifted a small vial, studying it briefly before adding a few drops into the mixture.

“Did you rest well?” she asked.

Aire hesitated. She thought about the night before, the moon, the wolves, and then Marsali. She unintentionally felt a strange feeling she couldn’t name.

“Yes,” she said finally.

Madam glanced at her briefly. “You hesitated before responding p>

Aire met her gaze.

“I was thinking,” she replied simply.

Madam accepted that.

She continued mixing. The scent of the tonic began to rise faintly into the air. The tonic scent was clean, familiar, and almost comforting.

Aire watched her hands.

“You’ve been more quiet than usual these past few days,” Madam said.

Aire tilted her head slightly. “Have I?” she asked, feigning ignorance. Her eyes remained on the tonic Madam mixed.

“Yes p>

Aire considered that. “Maybe I’ve had more to think about.” She replied. “Given my new role p>

Madam nodded once.

Silence settled between them again. It wasn’t uncomfortable. It never was, with Madam.

Aire shifted slightly on the bed.

“Will there be anything today?” she asked.

Madam set one of the bottles aside.

“There is always something for you to do everyday. You’re Luna,” she said calmly. “But nothing urgent for you this morning p>

Aire exhaled softly. Her shoulders relaxed.

She had continued her little gifts to the villagers, and slowly, a few villagers were beginning to accept a basket.

The day before yesterday had been her best success as fifteen houses had accepted her basket of gift.

Madam stirred the mixture again.

“If you wish,” she added, “you could walk the gardens later p>

Aire’s gaze lifted slightly. “The gardens p>

“Yes p>

Madam’s tone remained even. “The weather is calm. It would do you good to step outside, and think. You have a council meeting to attend tomorrow p>

Aire thought about it.

“I might,” she said.

Madam nodded faintly. “You should p>

Aire watched her again. She smiled softly. Madam have changed a lot since the duration day they met

Madam glanced at her over her shoulder.

Aire let out a quiet breath, almost amused. “Madam, do you have children of your own p>

“No,” The faintest hint of warmth touched Madam’s voice. She reached for the final ingredient. “My mate died during the war p>

Aire nodded lightly. She nodded in sympathy, but didn’t say it out loud. Aire’s gaze followed the motion of Madam’s hands.

“You’ve been busy,” Aire said. “You barely spend a minute in my room after attending to me p>

Madam didn’t look up. “I always am p>

“That’s not what I meant p>

That made Madam movements pause. Then, she resumed almost immediately.

“I have had more responsibilities lately,” she admitted.

Aire tilted her head slightly. “Because of me p>

Madam’s lips curved faintly. “Partly p>

Aire watched her carefully. “I’m sorry.” She apologised. She had barely gotten used to people working for her and she would so much hate for them to stress themselves because of her.

Madam stopped completely this time. She looked at Aire. “For what p>

“For making things harder p>

Madam’s expression softened. “You haven’t,” she said.

Aire held her gaze.

Madam walked toward her then. The tonic was ready.

She sat at the edge of the bed, just beside Aire. “You being here has changed things,” she continued. “But not in the way you think p>

Aire didn’t respond to that.

Madam lifted the cup slightly. “Drink p>

Aire accepted it. Her fingers brushed lightly against Madam’s as she took the cup. The warmth seeped into her skin.

She brought it to her lips, then stopped. “What is this for p>

“It’s a little trick I learnt from my grandmother.” Madam replied, letting the lie roll off her lips smoothly. “It would untangle every one of your tensed muscles p>

Aire stared at her strongly for a second. Then, she brought it to her lips, and drank slowly.

Madam watched her as she drank.

Aire lowered the cup slightly.

“You didn’t have to stare at me that way to finish it.” She said, wiping her lip with the back of her palm.

Madam nodded. “True, but I wanted to be sure you don’t react to it, as it’s only for werewolves p>

Aire huffed faintly. “A wolfless girl, am I p>

Madam’s eyes softened. Then, she rubbed Aire’s arm fondly. Aire smiled again. She lifted the cup and continued drinking.

Madam’s hand lifted then.

Her fingers moved gently into Aire’s hair.

The touch was soft and careful.

Aire stilled slightly. The touch felt off, but she didn’t pull away. She felt as if she might simply be over thinking.

Madam smoothed a strand back from her face.

“You think too much,” she said quietly.

Aire swallowed the last of the tonic, wondering how Madam had read her mind. She swallowed the last gulp forcefully, and coughed lightly.

Madam’s lips curved faintly.

Aire handed the cup back to her, and Madam took it.

Aire looked at her.

Madam’s hand lingered briefly against her hair before falling away.

Aire leaned back slightly again. Her body felt… better now. Madam wasn’t lying. The faint discomfort from earlier was gone completely now.

She didn’t question it.

Madam stood.

She moved back toward the table, setting the empty cup down.

“Will you have breakfast here?” she asked.

Aire thought for a moment. “No.” She replied. “I can’t break the breakfast tradition again p>

Madam nodded.

“I’ll have it prepared in the dining hall then p>

Aire hesitated, but said it anyway. “I want to go out later p>

Madam turned slightly. “The gardens p>

Aire shook her head. “No p>

Madam waited.

Aire met her gaze. “I want to visit Beta Kole p>

Madam studied her.

“For what reason?” she asked calmly.

Aire’s fingers curled lightly against the sheets.

“I haven’t been there for a while,” she said. “And She paused, then continued. “I want to go there after my visit to the gardens, if that’s okay p>

Madam didn’t interrupt. She simply watched her thoughtfully.

Aire held her gaze.

Madam nodded once. “I will arrange it p>

Aire exhaled softly. “Thank you p>

Madam inclined her head slightly. Then she turned, moving toward the door. Her steps were as composed as always.

Her hand reached for the handle. She paused for a brief moment before she opened the door and stepped out.

The room fell quiet again.

Aire sat there, unmoving. Her fingers lifted slightly. She touched her lips, and the faint taste from earlier completely gone.

She didn’t think about it again.