Eighth-Born Luna (Emily and Nathan) novel Chapter 159

Chapter 159

Emily’s POV

“Meredyth? No! Never”

“It is the only way to fully wake your powers, Emily,” another relative said, her voice hard. “If you don’t take her life, you cannot have the gifts that belong to you.”

“What kind of choice is this?” Anger burned inside me, hot and sharp. “I won’t take anyone’s life! I am a healer. I am not a rogue!”

My mother stepped in front of me, looking serious. “Are you sure, Emily? Think carefully. If you refuse, you will go back to your body. Declan will force the blood ritual, and slowly, he will drink your power until you die.”

I looked at Meredyth, then thought of Nathan and how he would hate me. Living forever meant nothing if it cost

the life of someone I loved.

I looked down at the water, staring at Meredyth’s broken, bloody form.

She wasn’t just Nathan’s mother anymore. She was my family.

Flashbacks rushed through my mind, one after another.

I remembered how Meredyth stood by me and believed me when everyone else thought Stella was innocent.

I remembered the warmth in her eyes when she handed me the old photo of my parents, giving me a piece of my past.

I remembered how she panicked over my burn hand, immediately calling the doctor to save me.

She was the one who took care of me every single day after I was discharged from hospital, making sure I felt safe

I could almost smell the sweet scent of the kitchen, remembering the quiet mornings we spent together, Laughing and baking pancakes.

She had given me a mother’s love when I had nothing.

I looked back at the Lunas, my decision hardening in my chest. I would rather die than become the reason Nathan

ost his mother.

“I’m sure,” I said. I raised my chin, making my voice steady and clear. “I don’t want a life that costs Meredyth hers. If someone has to die, take me instead. Let her live.”

The Lunas looked at each other with deep, unreadable expressions. The silver leaves above us shook wildly as a

sudden wind blew through the branches.

My mother looked at me, a soft, proud smile finally appearing on her lips. “As you wish,” she whispered.

The white tree glowed with a blinding silver light, and the forest began to disappear.

The roaring crowd slammed into my ears a second later, thousands of rogues screaming beneath the Blood Moon white cold wind whipped through the courtyard.

Meredyth was lying right next to me on the black carpet. I crawled over to her and pressed my hands flat against her chest, pouring every bit of my healing magic into her broken body.

My hands trembled violently against her wound. So much blood.

Goddess, there was so much blood.

Every pulse of healing magic felt like ripping pieces out of my own veins and shoving them into her body.

He pulled me tight against his chest, and the forced mark on my neck burned.

My body betrayed me instantly, My pulse raced. My skin heated beneath his touch.

Somewhere deep inside the forced bond, my instincts screamed to kneel for him.

I hated it.

Hated the way the magic twisted my own body against me.

“That’s it, Emily,” Declan laughed, his voice vibrating against my back. “Give it all to me.”

I felt him draining me. My remaining energy and my life force started flowing out of my veins and straight into him.

The dark magic pulsed through his arms. I watched as Declan’s glowing red eyes slowly started shifting into a bright, stolen silver. I grew weaker, my knees buckling.

Then, a sudden flash of light hit the eastern balconies.

The crowd of rogues went into total panic. Rogues started staggering, holding their heads and screaming in confusion.

“Where are we?” “What are we doing here?” The mind control was breaking. A massive fight broke out in the crowd.

Through the chaos of clashing wolves, I saw him. Bloody. Furious. Alive.

Nathan cut through the crowd like a storm, Marcus right at his side, both of them fighting to get to me.

“Kill him!” Declan shouted, pointing his free hand toward Nathan. “Tear him to pieces!”

“No!” I choked out.