Chapter 81
Chapter 81
LUNA AQUAMARINE’S POV
“Luna did that to her own stepsister?”
I stopped, one foot mid–step.
“I heard she threw her out in front of everyone,” another voice whispered.
I stayed hidden around the corner, the wall pressing cold against my arm.
“That’s not even the worst,” the first voice lowered. “She made Elder Marcus and some other
members leave the meeting before it even started. Who does that?”
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“I guess her visit to Naturellia changed her,” someone else said. “The Luna used to be sweet and nice.
Now she acts like this.”
I didn’t have to wonder who planted those words. Fiona’s voice wasn’t here, but her fingerprints were
all over them.
“Poor Fiona,” one of them added. “She just wanted to check on her sister after seeing her for the first
time in months. She’s too kind for her own good.”
Kind?
I nearly laughed. Fiona could grow white wings, wear white robes with a golden halo on her head while twisting a dagger into my heart.
They kept going.
“But do you think the Luna has always been like this? What if she has been pretending all this while?”
Something tightened in my chest.
I stepped back before they could see me. My nails dug into my palms as I walked away.
By the time I reached the stairs, I could already feel it spreading–sideways glances from passing
servants, the subtle hesitation in their greetings.
I wonder what Fiona had told them.
How much she had told them. But I didn’t have any secrets in my old pack. Except for the rubbish they make up every passing day.
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Chapter 81
Fiona isn’t stupid. She’s a green snake under the green grass. A wolf in sheep’s clothing.
A thorn that’s still in my flesh.
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Only the heavens know what she had been doing while I was unconscious. But that didn’t matter.
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Her stay here isn’t permanent but I wouldn’t let her destroy the little relationship I have made in this.
pack.
When I entered the west corridor, I caught sight of one of the maids hurrying past with a basket of
folded linen.
“Luna,” she bowed.
“Where’s Juliet? And Katherine?” I asked.
“Oh… they are not in the pack anymore,” the maid replied, shifting the basket in her arms.
I blinked. “What? I don’t understand.”
“I… I don’t know the details,” she stammered. “Primus Alexander gave orders. They won’t be back for
a while.”
And just like that, the air seemed heavier.
No Katherine. No Juliet.
I was still standing there, trying to process it, when I felt a hot hand on my shoulder.
I turned sharply.
He looked like he’d just returned from one of his early, secret morning routines. His hair was wild with
a few loose braids, the smell of ashes still lingering on him and his body was still hot.
Where exactly does he go to shift? Because I knew if he changed in this kingdom, a lot of things would change,
“You’re up early,” he said.
“Where are Katherine and Juligt?” I asked immediately.
He didn’t answer. Instead, he tilted his head toward the other end of the corridor. “Come on.”
“No-”
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Chapter 81
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“Breakfast.” He said. His hand moved from my shoulder to my waist, pushing me forward. It wasn’t forceful, but it showed that I didn’t have a choice.
By the time we reached the dining room, my legs were already aching from trying to keep up with him. He pulled out a chair for me, and I sat.
“Now will you tell me?” I tried again.
Instead of answering, he reached into the small pouch hanging from his belt and pulled out a small glass vial filled with thick, dark liquid. He set it in front of me.
I frowned. “What is this?”
“Drink it.”
Suspicion prickled. “Why?”
He didn’t blink. “Just drink it, Aquamarine. It’s sweet, you’ll love it.”
Sweet?
It’s been a long time since he gave me something ‘sweet‘. I’ve been craving for that dark–brown drink thingy he gave me weeks back.
Choco? Cocolate?
I lifted the vial to my lips and emptied the contents in my mouth before he decided to share.
But the moment the liquid hit my tongue, I regretted it.
It tasted like bitter leaves soaked in alcohol and raw meat.
It tasted like… shit or dirt.
I felt his hand over my mouth, as if he read my mind. As if he knew I was about to spit it out.
My eyes burned in anger as I swallowed and coughed, shooting him a sharp look. “What the hell was that?”
“Your new fertility drink,” he said smoothly, as if that explained everything. “Made by me.”
“Made by you?” I stared at him in disbelief. “You made something worse than what Esmeralda used to give me? You said it was sweet!”
One corner of his mouth tugged upward. “I’m flattered by the comparison.”
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Chapter 81
“I thought I was done with those horrible things. Or at least Juliet would be the one making them
now.”
He leaned back in his chair, completely unfazed. “Juliet’s not here. And you should be thanking me.
This one is… stronger.”
“Stronger?!” I whispered harshly, nearly slamming the empty vial down. “It feels like it burned a hole in my throat. Are you trying to kill me before your enemies?”
“That means it’s working,” he said, eyes gleaming with amusement. “The hotter, the better. At least, you didn’t throw up.”
I narrowed my eyes on him. “You’re enjoying this.”
“Maybe,” he admitted, that faint, teasing smirk still playing on his lips. “Maybe not. Or maybe, this is what you get for going against me yesterday. I have more ways of punishing you Aquamarine.”
Punishing me?
Only the Goddess knew how much I felt like choking him at this point.
I screamed before I could stop myself.
Something hot spread on my shoulder and arm.
The burn was brutal, biting, crawling up my skin like fire trying to eat me alive. The hot pot crashed to the ground, splashing across the floor.
The maids gasped, one of them covering her mouth in horror.
My hand shook violently as I tried to pull it close, but Alexander was faster. He caught my wrist, holding it up and pouring cool water on the burn. The skin was red, already angry, and the pain made my eyes blur.
“Luna! Forgive me, l–ahh!”
That voice.
I looked down to see Fiona, on the floor, clenching her hand as if she had been burnt from head to toe, her voice high and trembling. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean-‘
I wanted to claw her face. She knelt down and raised her hands to me as if she wanted to see how
much I was burned. As if she cared.
“Don’t touch me!” I snapped, wincing in pain and pushing her off me.
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Chapter 81
Her eyes went wide and her voice quivered like a frightened child. “It–it slipped, I didn’t mean-”
His voice cut through the silence, calm but dangerous. “Enough.”
Fiona whimpered, bowing her head lower. “Primus, it was an accident-”
I knew that tone–pitiful, soft, like she was the one wronged. But the one on her wasn’t enough to do more than sting.
Mine was worse. Much worse.
“You liar-”
“Aquamarine.” Alexander’s growl rumbled low, warning, his hand tightening around my wrist. “Stop.”
AD
