Eighth-Born Luna (Emily and Nathan) novel Chapter 95

Emily’s POV

The rogue’s fingers dug into my arm as they hauled me back through the maze of hallways.

I couldn’t stop thinking about Declan’s eyes. That last look before the doors chicked shut hadn’t been cold at all.

And that was the problem./

“Well, there you are.”

Cindy caught up to us, matching the guards‘ pace.

“You managed to turn this entire castle upside down,” she said. “Do you have any idea how many rogues were out

ooking for you?”

“Glad I could keep everyone busy,” I muttered.

One of the rogue guards snorted, but Cindy silenced him with a sharp look. “You’re lucky Declan found you first, Emily.”

Lucky.

We turned into a wider hallway.

The air here was different–hot, thick, and smelling of sweat and cheap liquor. Noise bled through the stone walls. heard loud, jagged laughter and the sound of bodies slamming against wood.

The massive iron doors were wide open. Naked women moved in and out, their skin flushed and slick with sweat. They carried trays of food and enough alcohol to drown a pack.

I stopped moving. My heart was thumping in my ears.

Most of the girls were completely bare, their bodies covered in bruises and red handprints. Others wore scraps of

ilk that hid nothing.

୮

Men walked past them shirtless, their muscles gleaming under the red torchlight. They laughed like predators, iragging women behind them by their hair or hips like they were nothing but trophies.

“What is that?” I whispered, my eyes wide.

Inside the hall, it was total chaos.

I saw a man lift a girl onto a table, her legs locking around his waist while he bit her neck.

Everywhere I looked, bodies were pressed together against the walls, on the floor, over the furniture.

The sound of skin hitting skin and deep, animal moans filled the air. It was filthy. It was primal.

Cindy’s face went flat. “Don’t look,” she hissed, her voice low. “Just keep moving.”

5:02 pm

The air felt heavy, tasting of musk and sin. It felt like walking through a den of monsters who had finally lost their

winds.

“What are they doing?” I managed to choke out.

“They’re being rogues,” Cindy snapped, looking straight ahead. “No rules. No mates.”

Suddenly, a body slammed into me, nearly sending me to the floor.

‘You!”

I stumbled, blinking in shock. It was Tessa. Her face was flushed, her eyes wet and glassy.

“This is all your fault!” she screamed.

‘I–what?”

“I thought you were my friend!”

The hallway seemed to shrink around us as people stopped to watch.

“A friend?” She let out a bitter, jagged laugh. “You idiot. I’m the daughter of the Rogue King.”

“I remember that,” I spat, my voice low and sharp. “In fact, that’s exactly what you told me right before a rogue

natched me.”

The girl’s eyes flared, but she didn’t back down. “You know, Emily, there’s one thing I just don’t understand.”

I stood my ground, waiting for whatever ‘news of the day she was about to throw at me.

“What is so special about you?” she demanded, stepping right into my space. “Why does every man in this place

ose his mind over you?”

Before I could breathe, she shoved me. Hard.

I stumbled back, but Cindy stepped in, putting herself between us. “Careful,” she warned.

Tessa’s eyes flashed with hate. “Don’t you even dare, Cindy! I have more power here than you’ll ever have.”

Cindy went pale, her face turning ghost–white, but she didn’t move.

My ex–friend leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a cruel whisper. “One word from me, and they’ll send you traight back to the breeding quarters. And my step–brother Declan won’t be able to help you this time.”

Cindy didn’t react. She didn’t look scared—she looked empty.

Tessa gave us one last look of pure hatred before storming off.

I looked at Cindy. Really looked at her.

I saw the way her shoulders were locked tight and the exhaustion she tried so hard to hide.

5:02 pm

The guards kept pulling me forward. Cindy walked beside me. Neither of us said a word until we reached my room and the door finally shut the world out.

I turned toward her, my heart tripping over itself. “What connects you to the Rogue King’s son?”

Cindy went still. For a heartbeat, a raw, jagged look crossed her face.

“That is a very long story.”

She walked to the window, refusing to look at me. “But trust me,” she added, “you don’t want a story like mine.”

She turned back. “You should try to rest before tonight.”

Tonight?”

Her eyes turned a murky, dark shade. “The Rogue King wants you at the Cage.”

“The Cage?”

“He’s celebrating.” Her voice went flat, empty. “He’s in a great mood now that he finally has you.”

My stomach churned.

Downstairs, the pulse of the music still throbbed through the floorboards. I looked toward the door, thinking of

he chaos I’d seen in the hall.

“You mean those orgies are normal kind of celebrating here?” I asked, the words feeling like lead in my mouth.

“Normal?” she repeated. “No. Common? Yes.”

Cindy wrapped her arms around herself, pulling them tight against her ribs.

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