Author's Note: A couple weeks after Lucy's Party
"I know you have questions." Astraea said as Samuel served them both tea.
"Honestly, I don't know where to start." Samuel sighed, "I'm guessing your name isn't really Lucy, oh and why do you look human?"
"I am Princess Astraea of the Daughters of the Stars and my human guise is an illusion."
Astraea waved a hand over her necklace and, with a shimmer of light, her human illusion faded away and the alien woman who had saved Samuel's family yesterday sat before Samuel wearing Lucy's clothing. She sat there sipping her tea calmly as he stared at her.
"I...sorry," Samuel shook his head, "I guess my biggest question is why are you here?"
Astraea sighed, "I was looking for the lost Unicorn Keeper's daughter and my divination led me here. I saw you once and felt something weird so I got Amy to get me that job as your assistant. I wasn't expecting to find my star chosen here."
"I... have developed feelings for you," Samuel frowned, "Would that be why?"
'He has feelings for me?' Astraea sat there for a second before shaking her head, "I... no. That comes from your blood. Moonrunner's have fated mates and the way we are feeling is much more aligned with that than the way it usually works for my people."
"Interesting," Samuel paused and blinked, "Wait, what's a Moonrunner?"
Astraea's eyes widened as she almost yelled, "What do you mean what's a Moonrunner? You are, silly."
Noticing his furrowed brows, she asked carefully. "Wait are you telling me you've never shifted before?" Astraea's eyes then fell to his necklace, the silver wolf with that slight shine of magic to her senses, "Samuel... Where did you get that necklace?"
Samuel fiddled with it, "I've had it since I can remember. My mom gave it to me after the big fire that destroyed our home."
Astraea sighed, "Its magic keeps you in this shape, at least for now. You're a well... I guess werewolf would be the closest thing but human depictions are not exact. I can get you books that discuss your people. You're going to want to read them soon. I suspect you only have a couple more full moons before the spell fails completely. You'll shift then and we're going to want to have a plan. Moonrunners don't usually lose control during a shift, but there's a lot of factors here, and I don't know how you'll react."
"I see," Samuel hesitated, "I... probably shouldn't ask this question but do you feel the same way as I do?"
"Oh Stars yes," Astraea blushed, "And yes, I know you think I'm young for that but I've fallen completely in love with you."
"Sorry for that," Samuel started to stand when Astraea got up suddenly.
She swiftly moved towards him and grabbed his hands. Samuel froze in confusion. Astraea opened her mouth but wasn't sure what to say. Samuels eyes darkened then, without thinking, leaned over and brushed his lips to hers. Astraea whimpered and threw her arms around his neck. Taking advantage of her open mouth, Samuel slid his tongue into her mouth, grabbed at her waist, and pulled her into his lap.
After some time Astraea pulled back, gasping for breath. Samuel sighed and rested his forehead against her shoulder. After catching her breath, Astraea nuzzled into his hair and relaxed into his arms.
"We really need to stop here," Samuel sighed and squeezed her gently, "I don't want to, mind, but I'm getting the feeling your people aren't the type for one night stands."
Feeling his hardness under her butt, Astraea pulled away but, before she could stand up, Samuel grabbed her. Blushing and smiling shyly, Astraea sat back down but a bit further way from his groin.
Once she was comfortable, Astraea chuckled, "My father's people are big fans of casual sex, but I take more after my mother's people in that way so yeah one night stands are a no. And honestly, even if I were fully mer, I care for you to much for that. Besides, for a Moonrunner, laying with their Fated Mate is the same as marriage."
Samuel frowned, "So both our people have such bonds? Then how can you be sure ours works like my people? And you are a mermaid?"
Astraea laughed, "Yes, but for my mother's people the bond isn't this passionate, and yes I'm half Mer."
"Explains your love for the ocean," Samuel gave her a bemused look, "Do you have a tail or gills?"
"Yes to both, although unlike most half Mer I can control my shift when I'm in water, thankfully" Astraea laughed, "Would you like to see?"
Remembering what she wore when they went to the beach over summer vacation Samuel asked carefully, "That depends, what exactly do you wear as a Mer?"
Astraea tilted her head, then noticed he was blushing, and grinned in response, "Since you're not a Mer, I'd be nice and wear the top piece of my bikini."
"Hmmm on second thought not the best idea," Samual snorted, "Actually this explains why you're normally modestly dressed but wear that thing. You tend to act more like your mother's people on land and like your fathers when in or near water."
Astraea nodded, "When it comes to clothing, yes. Otherwise, I tend to be more like my mother's people. Ok maybe a bit sillier, well you've met my aunt after all."
Thinking of the formal and elegant woman he'd met a few times, Samuel nodded, "I figured your lack of formality was due to your age though."
"A bit of that to but yeah, as a kid I met other half-Mer half-Star Daughters and they tend to be a bit sillier," Astraea shrugged, "Usually Star Daughter Chosen are human mages and they only stay together until a child is born. Then they either separate or if the father wants to be involved with the kid, stay friends. My parents are still together but that's because Mer are poly in nature so Mom and Dad didn't feel any need to separate so they could find other mates."
"Wait, do your mothers people not have any men?"
"Nope, we don't even give birth to men, always women and always more like our mother's people than our fathers."
"Is taking a lover among your own people ok?"
"Yes, Star Daughters are polyamorous, just less open about it than Mer, of course when we find our Chosen we are expected to have a child or two with them if possible, but we can take lovers or even a consort among our own kind if we wish," Astraea smiled reassuringly, "I won't, of course, but that's neither here nor there."
Samuel felt a strong surge of joy at knowing his mate wouldn't have another love followed by shame at wanting her all to himself, "Is this because of how mates work with my people?"
"Of course! Moonrunners do have casual sex before they find their mates but once they do, they are monogamous. And, yes, I am fine with that."
Samuel nodded and kissed her on the forehead in thanks, "I wouldn't have asked that of you but I'm glad you feel that way. Although now I must ask have our people's ever mated together?"
"I asked Serendipity and she says, no, your people only ever mated with your own kind until now." Astraea added at the confused look Samuel gave her, "Serendipity is the head Librarian at the Hall of Wisdom, biggest store of knowledge in Brighthaven and a family friend."
Reaching his hand out, Samuel slowly traced the contours of her face. Astraea nuzzled into his hand and waited for him to speak first.
"I hope you don't take this the wrong way," Samuel murmured, "But your features look just lightly off to me, for all that you are also the most beautiful woman I've ever seen."
Astraea chuckled, "Well damned with faint praise, I guess. It's ok though, I always preferred Mer or Star Daughters when it comes to looks anyway. Doesn't stop you from being stupid hot to me."
"Fair enough." Samuel laughed with her.
Samuel pulled his hand away but Astraea reached out and grabbed it. They sat there for some time just looking at each other with their hands clasped.
*ring* *ring*
"I should answer that," Astraea sighed and walked over to the couch.
Grabbing her phone, she groaned before accepting the call, "Hello Aunt, what's up?"
"Where are you this late?" Her aunt demanded, "You didn't tell me you were going out."
"On my way home now," Astraea looked at Samuel, "Can this wait until then, please"
Her aunt paused for a second then sighed, "Long story?"
"Yes," Astraea said looking up a Samuel, "Short version I found my Star Chosen and he's a Moonrunner. Amy and he also know about me. Look I'll be home in just a second, meet me in the living room."
After saying goodbye, Astraea hung up and groaned, "She's going to have a fit over all this."
"Do you need me to come with you?"
"Yes, thanks to listening to my mom blather for decades now, she knows much more about other people's magic than I do and I'd like to ask her about that necklace," Astraea sided eyed him with a wry grin, "You good with teleporting?"
"Never done it but first time for everything I guess."
"Cool," Astraea scooped up her purse and coat. "Give me your hand and try to relax."
Samuel took her hand and with a stamp of her right foot and a flash of light they found themselves in Astraea's living room.
"What's this about a Chosen?" Lyra smiled, "Oh hello Samuel, well that explains the magic I thought I sensed around you. Amy's magic had nearly hidden yours and I do believe this is the first time we've met without her around. Congratulations and may the Moon and Stars give you a long and happy life together."
Samuel blinked, "Umm shouldn't you be more worried about well everything I guess?"
Lyra chuckled, "You have never treated my niece with anything other than care and honor, plus I know enough about Moonrunners to know you'd sooner die than harm or scare her. And anyway Astraea reached her majority among my people two years ago and her father's people a year before that so she is perfectly capable of walking her own path."
Astraea smiled at her aunt's support, "Aunt Lyra, the reason I brought him here was because of his necklace. Have you ever seen anything like it?"
Lyra frowned and gestured for Samuel to sit down. Selecting a a large clear gem from her belt bag, she used it to study the pendant carefully. After a good ten minuets she let go and left the room quickly. Astraea shrugged at Samuel and was about to offer to get them drinks when Lyra returned with a book and hand mirror.
Setting the mirror on the side table, Lyra sat on the couch across from the pair and flipped through the book, muttering to herself. Astraea sighed and sat by Samuel. Suddenly she swore and grabbed the mirror, shifting so that everyone could see it's reflection. Breathing on it, she sang a brief passage. The mirror turned black before showing Serendipity working in her study.
Samuel's eyes widened but before he could say anything Serendipity looked over at her mirror and waved at the group. Her hand moved in an odd gesture then a voice like a soft growl came through.
"Lyra, an honor to see you again and hello to you Astraea. Is this Samuel? I'm guessing you haven't told him much about me."
"Hey, Serendipity," Astrea waved, "This is him and I've mentioned your name but that's it."
"Hello Samuel, I am Serendipity of the Hall of Wisdom and I am a vesla but lets set that aside for now." Serendipity then turned her attention to Lyra, "I'm guessing you're calling because of the magic chains our Moonrunner friend is currently bound in?"
"Indeed, I know it's a binding spell and I found this passage talking about how, during the War, Mages bound Moonrunners and other shifters to prevent them from shifting but those spells come with a massive cost to both shifter and mage. A cost that Samuel hasn't paid, seeing as how he's still sane and all."
Serendipity sighed, "Those spells were outlawed after the war, if I remember correctly, so we have a group of rouge mages on our hands again. Or it's the same group Andie and I fought when we were little more than kids. I was never sure we got all of them."
Samuel spoke up, "What makes you think it was a group and not, say, just my mom?"
Serendipity shook her head, "To remove most of the cost, or even to change it, took time, lifetimes!, and a hell of a lot of power. More than I could carry alone, that's for sure... Which, as your Mate could tell you, is saying something. That's even assuming your Mom was a Luna, they are the only ones who can do magic outside of shifting and regeneration. Do we even know if she was?"
Astraea spoke up quietly, "Serendipity is the single most powerful mage living, and one of the most powerful in our history. If she couldn't do something like this, it'd require a coven at least... maybe even a group as large as the one who ended the Great War."
"And we have no clue about his mom," Astraea said louder, "I haven't heard anything about a missing Luna. But then if she was Wild, there's a good chance we wouldn't."
Serendipity nodded, "If she was Wild we'd be shit out of luck getting anything about her. A few packs are friendly but most are never seen by anyone other than other Wild packs."
Samuel hissed, "So what shall we do."
Astraea frowned, "I still need to talk to Annie and her father, but I'm hoping to bring everyone over to Haven as soon as possible. Serendipity any idea of a safe place to meet?"
Serendipity scowled, "Can you get everyone to your father's coastal palace? I'd like to bring you here but, well, we host too many people from too many groups for me to be comfortable. Especially since it sounds like the Unicorn Keeper is ready to join us."
"I'm not so sure about that. Also Serendipity, did you know her mother was a shifter?"
Serendipity stiffened, "I did not. What's the shapes?"
"Her dad says her mom's primary was a merlin and it looks like hers is a horse," Astraea frowned, "Then again, she had more trouble with it than I expected, even for a first shift, and I'm guessing it's a secondary."
Serendipity looked at her for a long time before she stared swearing in 6 languages. Astraea's brows pinched as the other two looked on in confusion. Finally Serendipity shook her head then looked at the group soberly.
"Get everyone together and get here as soon as possible. The stakes have just been raised and if anything happens to your friend we are so fucked."
With that the mirror went black and Lyra lowered it slowly. Astraea grabbed her phone to call Annie as Samuel turned to Lyra.
Catching his look, Lyra sighed, "Serendipity isn't one to exaggerate so whatever is going on it's bad. To be honest, while I was aware of my niece's mission, I don't know everything. I'm guessing, however, that Serendipity does. I do hope that we will not be in the dark for much longer though."
Suddenly the mirror flashed and Andromeda's voice rang out, "Lyra, please tell me you're there?"
Lyra picked up the mirror and, with the same gesture Serendipity had used earlier, answered it, "What's wrong, beloved?"
"Get my daughter, her mate, the Keeper, and her father to the costal palace now! Serendipity, Thanatos, and I'll meet everyone there"
"Yes, Majesty!"
"Annie, I need you and your dad to come with me now. No, I'm not arguing until we are safe," Astraea paused, "No, I'll come get you both. My aunt and Samuel can meet us there."
Astraea set down her phone, "I don't have anything spelled besides my jewels, which I'm wearing. Do you have anything besides your jewels and that mirror?"
"No, thank the stars. And I've been wearing all of my jewels since we got here." Lyra said as she tucked her mirror into her purse.
Astraea kissed Samuel on the cheek and, with a flash of light, vanished. Lyra and Samuel following with another flash.