The Luna and her Quadruplet Pups by Jane Above Story

Jane

Ethan walks into our hotel room, frowning deeply.

If he notices that I’m brushing my teeth for the second time in as many hours, he gives no indication. I’ve been sick again, even though I initially felt better after we stopped. We booked two rooms after we arrived, and we’ve been taking turns using the hotel’s landline to try and call the theater troupe. I’m beginning to worry that they’ve also stopped somewhere in this area, and therefore don’t have any cell service themselves – because so far we haven’t had any luck.

I can tell by Ethan’s face that nothing has changed.

He must have come upstairs because Linda took over calling the theater. “No luck?” l guess. I’m beginning to think I must have done something truly horrible in a past life, for us to be punished this way. While l fret about karma and lament our dreadful near misses, I can tell Ethan is trying to keep up a strong front. Even now he looks up at me and wipes the somber expression from his face, trying to look hopeful.

“No” He reports. “I have a feeling they’ve stopped in an area with no service. But the good news is that they probably have stopped for the night. The later it gets without success, the less likely it is they continued to the capital.”

I nod. “I hope you’re right. And at least if the performance isn’t for three days, we know that we can probably get in touch with them before the King gets wind of anything, or before the pups try to run.” Even as I say it, I’m reminded of my fears that the trunks won’t be opened until the troupe reaches their destination, but the pups can make it 24 hours without food and water – as long as they don’t overheat. And they ‘re in a shaded caravan, I remind myself, they won ‘t overheat.

It will be okay. It has to be okay.

Ethan nods. “We’l reach them first. I’ll make sure of it.” He grimaces. “However we may have other worries. Linda is concerned that we haven’t heard from Eric for so long. She thinks something must be wrong.”

As conflicted as I feel about my one-time friend and confidante, I also don’t feel comfortable with the radio silence he’s been keeping lately. “And what do you think?”

Ethan sighs, “Well it was always going to be difficult. He promised to check in whenever he could, so it’s not as if he’s missed meetings.”

“But?” I prompt him, sensing the oncoming contingency.

“But I don’t like it either. Anita was headed to the king and haven’t heard from Eric since we learned that detail. I think there’s a good chance Anita outed him.”

Ethan confessed. “Which means Aimon could have done any number of things.”

he’d have

think it’s more likely he’d take him

an heir, unless he wants to leave the kingdom to his daughter, and I doubt he’d do that. He can’t be

my own children captive, let alone kill them. Then again, l’d never ask them to become spies or exile them either. Suddenly I have a great deal of sympathy for Eric. What must it have been like to be raised by such a person? How much strength did it take

now.” Ethan frowns. “We have to get the pups back first. Once they’re safe, we can try to find out what happened to Eric. If it

I gape. “Are you

it’s true he owed us, but I don’t want him to die. For Linda’s

needs you – and King Aimon will

know that.” He says, “But l don’t

know it’s the right thing to do, but the idea of him being in danger makes me want to throw up all over again. “There must be another way. You have spies and soldiers, can’t they break

help,

you insisting on

that risk?” l

striding forward and reaching for my waist.

endangering yourself just when we get the pups back. I need this ordeal to be over, not for it to be dragged

He insists, pulling me closer. We don’t even know if that’s necessary yet, it’s just a possibility I’m

arms before he can cuddle me into complacency. “1 know being a parent is one crisis after another – but does it always have to be life and death! I’m so sick of the constant emergencies. Why is this happening?” l ask, for whát feels like the thousandth time. “I know the Goddess does everything for a reason but I swear Ethan, I can’t find

wrong sweetheart.” Ethan insists, coming

a way to forget all the horrible possibilities ahead of us, trying to put all these cynical thoughts out of my head. However no matter what I try, I can’t get myself out of this grim thought spiral. There is only doom and gloom

distract me.” I finally say, turning to Ethan, who’s been watching me with the same worried expression

how?” He asks, eager to

just need to turn my mind off somehow. If we’re not going to find the pups tonight… l just – I

and this time when he reaches for me, I don’t pull away. He takes my face in his powerful hands, catching a stray tear with the pad of his thumb. “l’m so sorry you’re hurting, angel. I am too, and I’m so sorry that I