Rebirth of the Broken Luna A Second Chance at Luna's Heart novel Chapter 214

Chapter 214

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The matter-of-fact way Riley defended his torturer made my chest tighten with rage and grief. This was exactly what Lynn had warned us about the psychological conditioning that made abused children protect their abusers, especially when they’d been isolated

from healthy relationships their entire lives.

Ollie looked confused and upset by his twin’s words. “But Riley, she hurt you really bad! People who love you aren’t supposed to hurt

you like that!”

“You don’t understand, Riley said, his voice getting more agitated. “Aunt Andy had to hurt me so I could learn! So I could help Mama with important work! So I wouldn’t be weak and useless like other kids!”

I could see an argument brewing between the twins, and this wasn’t the time or place for them to work through the complex psychological damage Riley had suffered. I held up a hand to stop both boys from continuing.

“Boys, we’re not going to argue about what’s good and bad right now,” I said firmly but gently. “Riley, your feelings about Aunt Andy are complicated, and that’s okay. We don’t expect you to change how you feel about her overnight.”

I turned to Ollie, who was still looking upset and confused. “And Ollie, sometimes people who have been hurt need time to understand what happened to them. We need to be patient with Riley while he figures things out.”

Both boys nodded, though I could tell they weren’t entirely satisfied with my explanation. Riley still looked defensive, while Ollie seemed frustrated that his twin couldn’t see how wrong Andy’s actions had been.

‘I’m not going to look for the bad lady,” I continued, redirecting their attention back to the immediate situation. ‘I’m going to visit a friend who needs help. Her partner is sick with the same curse that hurt Alpha Zade, and I need to bring them medicine so he can feel

better.”

‘Where does your friend live?” Riley asked, his tactical mind already working despite his young age.

‘Silver Creek City,” I replied honestly.

Riley’s expression immediately grew troubled. “Aunt Andy wouldn’t be in the city,” he said with the certainty of someone who knew his captor’s habits intimately. “She doesn’t like staying in places with lots of people. If she’s visiting Silver Creek City, she’d be in the woods somewhere, or she might travel by teleportation magic so nobody could track her movements.”

The casual way Riley discussed magical teleportation and his aunt’s strategic preferences reminded me once again that this child had been raised in an environment where survival depended on understanding the tactics and capabilities of dangerous people. He’d learned to analyze threats and predict behavior patterns because his life had literally depended on it.

“Thank you for telling me that,’ I said, filing away the information for future use. I’ll be careful and smart about how I travel.

After kissing both boys goodbye and promising Maria I’d be back before dawn, I made my way toward the front door. The weight of the antidote in my pocket felt heavier than such a small vial should, representing as it did the difference between life and death for

15:06 Wed, Jan 28 M…

Chapter 214

someone I’d never met but who mattered to Carol.

I was just reaching for the door handle when I heard running footsteps behind me and Lumina’s voice calling my name. I turned to

see her hurrying down the hallway, her face flushed with emotion and urgency.

“Xenois, wait!” she called out, not slowing down until she reached me.

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Before I could ask what was wrong, Lumina grabbed the front of my shirt and pulled me down into a hard, desperate kiss that tasted

like fear and love and unresolved anger. Her lips were fierce against mine, demanding and possessive in a way that made my wolf surge

with answering need.

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15:06 Wed, Jan 28 M..

Reborn From Regret A Second Chance at Luna’s Heart