“Now that it’s physically here, I can see what you mean by 'it’s so life like it’s off-putting',” Persephone commented.

She, the boys, Hayden and Lydia were all crowded around the box in the backroom to give it an inspection before Seb and Ed had to go to school.

“Are you quite sure it’s not cursed?” Edmund asked.

Lydia shrugged. “There’s no negativity from it. Then again, there doesn’t seem to be any positivity. It seems that it’s apathetic.”

Sebastian frowned. “So, it can have feelings?”

“Well, it is an artefact.”

“What is that?”

“Artefacts,” Persephone explained, “are objects which hold a sort of magical sentience. They lend power to those they favour and misfortune to those who displease them. It’s almost like they’re haunted, which is why Lydia would be able to sense its mood.”

“Oh... So, what do we do with it?” Edmund questioned.

Hayden shrugged. “De-enchanting is always an option.”

Lydia shook their head. “It doesn’t like that suggestion.”

“Hmm? Then does it have a certain purpose?” Persephone inquired.

“It... it responded with positive energy, so, yes?”

Sebastian frowned. “Are we just going to have to ask yes or no questions until we figure out what it wants?”

Persephone grimaced. “Looks like it. Okay, think, what purpose would this artefact be serving?”

Hayden sighed. “This could take a while. Perhaps you boys should head to school in the meantime.”

“Alright then let’s put a pin in that. There’s something else we wanted to talk to you guys about,” Edmund said.

“Were Sebastian’s dreams different again last night? You already told us something happened Saturday night, so was this time different again or did it go back to normal?”

Seb sighed. “Yeah, it went back to normal. As in non-existent.”

Lydia frowned. “Are you saying you dreamt of nothing?”

“Exactly. And somehow, that has me more on edge than the dreams ever did.” Sebastian huffed. “For weeks now I’ve wished it to stop and now- ugh.”

Edmund rubbed Seb’s back comfortingly while the ladies and Lydia exchanged a worried glance.

“Did you... do something?” Persephone asked.

Sebastian shook his head no. “Or if I did, then I don’t know.”

“It couldn’t be the artefact?” Hayden inquired.

“Negative,” Lydia answered.

Persephone sighed. “We’re still six days away from the full moon. If I could only contact Onyx now, then our problems would be solved.”

Edmund looked up in surprise. “Onyx is your dream expert?”

“Hmm, yes, but I can’t contact them until they wake from hibernation on the night of the full moon,” Persephone explained. “Wait, have you met Onyx.”

“Onyx was still standing in as a nurse for me when I first met the boys,” Hayden recalled.

“So, they are a supernatural too? Was their hair actually on fire?” Sebastian questioned.

Persephone laughed. “No, they dyed it to look like that. They’re a dragon so they find the look hilariously ironic.”

“Unfortunately, that leaves us in the same predicament we were before,” Lydia remarked. “There’s nothing we can do to wake a dragon from hibernation early. Unless we’re okay with risking an impromptu barbeque.”

“Onyx isn’t that sensitive about being woken up. But I suppose they would be miffed,” Persephone sighed.

“We’re just going to have to figure things out ourselves until then,” Hayden said. “We’ve concluded the dream was a warning. If it’s stopped, the danger is either already upon us or no longer a threat.”

“So, we should just be on alert just in case then,” Edmund summarised.

“But we have no idea for what,” Sebastian groaned.

“Well, at least you’ll be able to get some proper sleep now,” Lydia pointed out.

Seb gave them a weak smile. “Guess so. I’d sleep easier knowing what everything meant though.”

“Knowledge can be a burden sometimes. What we do know is you can sleep now and we’ll keep our guard up just in case,” Persephone declared. “Perhaps we should talk to Misha.”

Hayden sighed. “What would we tell her?”

“We can simply say Sebastian had a worrying dream. We don’t have to give details about his situation, or Edmund’s for that matter. She can make sure the territory is secure for us.”

“You don’t think Lance will question her?”

“I know it’s a risk, but she would take it. You know she would.”

“We can’t ask that of her, Seph. She’s already done so much for our sakes.”

“Which is why she ought to be warned too. She’ll want to protect herself and those kids of hers.”

“Excuse me,” Sebastian interrupted. “But who the heck is this Misha-person?”

Hayden grimaced. “She’s the mate of the Wiker Pack Alpha.”