The Substitute Luna Who Knew Too Much

nt-shaped mark that had appeared on the inside of her wrist, Every elder present wore the same expression, Disbelief, Then fear, "The Mark of the True Luna..." an elder whisp

sleeve, She didn't understand what the mark meant, only that everyone seemed terrified by it, Kael's sharp gaze never l

claws, Growls drowned out screams, Elara crawled behind a marble pillar, her pulse hammering in her ears, She wasn't a fighter, She wasn't even supposed to be here, A masked assassin spotted her, "There she is!" He broke away from the battle and sprinted toward her, His sword flashed, Elara dodged just in time, The blade carved deep into the pillar instead, She grabbed a fallen candlestick and swung with all her strength, The heavy metal struck his wrist, H

The western wall has been breached." "Casualties?" "Eight warriors injured. Two dead." A shadow crossed Kael's face, "Any prisoners?" Selene shook her he

flared again, The old woman's fingers trembled, "I know this power." "You do?" "I prayed I would never see it return." Murmurs swept through the hall, Victor Ashcroft stepped forward quickly, "My daughter is exhausted. Surely this can wait." Mira slowly turned toward him, "Your daughter?" Her blind eyes seemed to look straight through him, "You speak as though you've always cherished her." Vic

the air, Kael finally spoke, "That's enough." Every voice stopped, He walked toward Elara until only a single step separated them, His expression remained unreadable, "Were you forced into this marriage?" The question caught her off guard, She looked toward her parents, Her mother's warning stare told her everything, Lie, Or suffer the consequences, But after everything that had happened... She couldn't, "Yes." The single wo

verlooking the moonlit forest, Someone approached, Selene, "You've made a decision?" Kael didn't answer immediately, "The council wants the marriage annulled." "And you

eneath Elara's dress, As her fingertips brushed the frame- The world disappeared, A vision slammed into her mind, Flames, Screams, A child crying, A man wearing a raven-shaped crest drove a dagger into the chest of a silver-haired woman, "No..." The dying woman looked directly toward Elara, No

e of the assassins alive." Hope flickered across every face, "But..." The guard swallowed, "Before he died..." "He left a message." Kael stepped forward, "What message?" The guard looked dire