Chapter 47
LUNA AQUAMARINE’S POV
29%
“Let’s go back,” Alexander said, his voice low. He lifted the gem in one hand while holding onto me with the other. His grip
was firm. Too firm.
He pulled me along, not giving me a second to ask more questions. I didn’t even notice the moment we left that dark, suffocating room.
One moment, I was surrounded by shadows and flickers of unnatural fire. And then the next… we were back in the open corridors of the castle. I don’t know how he did it or where we passed.
But it wasn’t the same hallway he had dragged me into earlier…… it wasn’t the one I remembered.
Everything looked different. It smelled different. It felt different.
This one was warmer, familiar.
I followed him quietly, my heart thudding. I didn’t know what to do or say, my mind was swirling with questions.. What was that place? Why did it smell like dried blood and ashes? Why did it smell like death? Like the gem he was carrying.
Why did he act like that? Why did his eyes change? Why was it distant? Why couldn’t I breathe when I was near him there?
And more importantly… why wasn’t he looking at me now?
He walked beside me. But it felt like I wasn’t even there. His golden eyes were focused ahead, his lips tight, like something was pulling his thoughts somewhere far away from me.
And I knew he could feel me staring. I knew he could. He always does.
But he just… plainly ignored me. Like he was deliberately ignoring me.
Like I’d walked in on something I shouldn’t have.
When we reached the familiar corridor leading to our chambers, I paused.
“I left your workshop open,” I said, suddenly remembering.
1 turned to head back but his hand caught my wrist.
U take care of it,” he said flatly. “I need to drop the gem off anyway.”
I nodded, not arguing
Truth was, I didn’t want to follow him back into our room. Not yet. Not when everything inside me still felt off balance from whatever that place was. I didn’t want to stay close to him…. for now, till he’s normal again. Till I stop having the feeling of my skin crawling out.
I needed air. Space.
1/5
12:16 Sat, 30 Aug
Chapter 47
He left in silence and I turned toward our chambers.
I was barely halfway down the corridor when a voice echoed softly from behind.
“Hello, Luna.”
My body froze.
I turned slowly.
Esmeralda stood at the end of the corridor, a tiny smile on her lips. Looking every inch of cunning she truly is.
“You still owe me something,” she said sweetly. “Remember?”
swallowed hard. A rush of cold settled in my stomach.
The blood pact? How could I forget?
It was the day I was pushed off the balcony… later that morning, Alexander took me to breakfast. That’s when I saw Esmeralda–holding my scroll.
I asked her to meet me.
She did. Like she was waiting for that moment for a long time.
**FLASHBACK
“Before I give the conditions, let us make a blood pact to seal the deal. This way there will be no backing out,” she said. “And whoever doesn’t do her part, will face the consequences.”
I swallowed hard but agreed.
She cut my palm, then hers. We proceeded with a handshake and she muttered some words, which she also made me say.
Then she handed me the scroll,
“3 things,” she whispered. “When the time comes… don’t forget.”
Then Levi came over,
I told the guards to excuse us before I turned to her.
“I didn’t forget,” I said, my voice tight. “I/already gave you one of the items.”
She waved her hand. “No need to explain. I’m not here to argue. Just to remind you.” She tilted her head, “You’re doing
quite well for yourself, aren’t you? You took Gaia out of the picture and painted yourself innocent.” Her voice dipped. “But I wonder… does your mate know what you promised me?”
I swallowed. “This isn’t the time-
2/5
12:16 Sat, 30 Aug
Chapter 47
29%
“Oh, but it is,” she cut in sharply, her smile still there. “Because I’ve waited long enough. And you’ve had two days. Two whole days to come find me.”
My heart hammered louder.
“I didn’t think it would be this soon-
She stepped closer. “It’s always soon, Luna. That’s the nature of a pact. Especially one sealed in blood.”
I held her gaze, forcing my voice to stay steady. “What do you want from me, Esmeralda?”
Her smile deepened, crueler this time. Then she reached into her sleeve and pulled out a small folded note. “Two things,” she said, pressing it into my hand. “These are my terms. You have two days. I came to remind you. Because soon, you’ll
wish you hadn’t forgotten.”
I hesitated then opened the paper right there in front of her.
The second my eyes landed on the writing, I felt it.
I didn’t understand a thing.
Not even a word.
The letters twisted into a blur of symbols I couldn’t read. I didn’t even know what language it’s written it but it didn’t look
like what my old pack used
The blood drained from my face, but I hid it.
Esmeralda didn’t seem to notice.
1 folded the paper slowly and tucked it into the waistband of my dress.
I gave her a tight nod. “Fine.”
She stared at me for a long moment. Her smile was gentle–but empty. A little too knowing. Like she was waiting to catch a slip.
“You’ve already given me one,” Esmeralda said, tone too light. “What’s left is… the heart of him. The power he was never
meant to share.”
She leaned closer. “You’ll know it when you see it.”
Then she turned, and just like before, she walked away without a sound. No scent. No aura. Just gone.
I stood there, heart racing.
Two days.
For something I couldn’t even read,
What the hell am I supposed to do?
3/5
< 29%
Chapter 47
I walked back to our chambers, my thoughts louder than my footsteps. The halls were quiet, but my head was filled with noise.
I slipped into the room, shutting the door behind me. Empty. Still.
I leaned against it, exhaling slowly, pressing a palm to my chest like that might slow my heart down.
I didn’t want to ask for help.
Not yet.
I mean, I should meet Katherine and Juliet about the issue but I didn’t want them to suspect anything. Not until I figured out what Esmeralda wanted… or what I was willing to give.
I pulled the note from my waistband and stared at it again, hoping that maybe, just maybe, the words would rearrange themselves into something I could understand.
But they didn’t.
They just sat there. Cold. Unreadable. Heavy.
Everything was spinning too fast. Just when I thought I had finally found peace, Esmeralda struck.
Doesn’t she give up?
Alexander’s strange behavior in that secret room. The way he looked at me, touched me like he wasn’t touching me at all.
Something was off with him.
It wasn’t just heat, and it wasn’t just lust.
He had flinched when I touched his back, like he was hiding something under those black wraps. And the way the flames
lit that hidden chamber–only flickers, only enough for me to see what he wanted me to see.
No more. No less.
What was that place?
Where were we?
I sat slowly on the bed, my legs suddenly heavy.
The gem… He had taken it with him to the workshop. He said I’d use it to make something for us. Something worthy.
It was already waiting for me there.
I stared at my hands, fingers still slightly trembling from the way that stone zapped me earlier. Not painful–just… strange. Like it knew me. Like it had a mind of its own.
I leaned back, arms folded over my chest, note still tucked under my dress.
I didn’t want to see Esmeralda again,
4/5
12:16 Sat, 30 Aug
Chapter 47
I didn’t want to think about what I might have promised.
And right now, I didn’t want to see Alexander either.
Not until he was himself again.
Or whatever version of himself I could still trust.
