Rebirth of the Broken Luna A Second Chance at Luna's Heart novel Chapter 273

Chapter 273

XENOIS

“How long do we have?” Riley asked, his voice once again carefully controlled. “Before Marcus and Zade… before the curse kills

them?”

“Less than twenty-four hours,” Lumina replied gently.

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Riley closed his eyes, and I could see him weighing the cost of different choices. Save two men he barely knew, or protect himself from whatever psychological warfare Andy had planned. The fact that he was even considering it spoke to the fundamental goodness that Andy and Sophia had never managed to destroy.

“If I do this,” he said finally, “if I talk to her… will you promise me something?”

“Anything,” I said immediately.

“Promise me that no matter what she says, no matter what she tells you about me or Lake, you won’t separate us. Not until he’s

healed enough to make his own choice about whether he wants to stay.”

The request was reasonable on the surface, but I could hear the deeper fear underneath it. Riley was terrified that Andy would reveal

something that would make us see him as irredeemable, something that would justify taking Lake away from him.

“We promise,” Lumina said without hesitation. “Whatever she says, we won’t separate you.”

Riley nodded slowly, then leaned down to whisper something in Lake’s ear. The unconscious boy’s face seemed to relax slightly at the

sound of Riley’s voice, confirming what we’d all suspected – even in his current state, Lake was aware of Riley’s presence.

“Okay,” Riley said, straightening up. “I’ll talk to her. But I want someone to stay here with Lake. I want someone to make sure he’s

safe while I’m gone.”

“I’ll stay,” Carol offered from the doorway, where she’d been waiting quietly. “My magic should be able to detect if his condition

changes.”

Riley studied her for a moment, then nodded his acceptance. Carol had been one of the few adults who’d never lied to him, never

betrayed his trust. If anyone could keep Lake safe, it was her.

The walk to the dungeons was tense and silent. Riley stayed close to Lumina and me, but I could feel him withdrawing emotionally with every step. By the time we reached the stone stairs leading down to Andy’s cell, he’d rebuilt his walls so thoroughly that his

expression was completely blank.

The others were already waiting when we arrived – Lynn with her medical bag, Zade looking pale and drawn from the curse’s effects, Marcus leaning heavily against the wall as his body fought the magical compulsion. Samuel and Silvia stood guard near the entrance, their faces grim with the knowledge that they might be watching their grandson walk into another psychological trap.

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Chapter 273

Andy looked up as we approached, and her face lit up with genuine pleasure at the sight of Riley. It was a grotesque parody of familial affection, made all the more disturbing by the fact that I could see traces of real fondness in her expression.

“There’s my boy,” she said warmly, rising from her position on the cell’s narrow bench. “Look how you’ve grown. Look how strong

you’ve become.”

Riley stood frozen just outside the cell, his breathing shallow and quick. I could see him fighting the urge to run, fighting the complex tangle of emotions that Andy’s presence had awakened.

“Hello, Auntie Andy,” he said finally, his voice barely above a whisper.

The title made my stomach clench. Even after everything she’d done, even knowing what she was, Riley still saw her as family. The bonds forged in childhood were the hardest to break, even when they were built on lies and manipulation.

“Come closer, sweetheart,” Andy coaxed, moving to the cell bars. “I’ve missed you so much. There’s so much I need to tell you, so

much you need to understand.”

Riley took a hesitant step forward, then stopped. “The antidote,” he said, some of his old strength returning to his voice. “Give them

the antidote first, then we’ll talk.”

Andy’s smile widened. “Oh, my clever boy. Still trying to protect everyone, aren’t you? But I’m afraid it doesn’t work that way. The Eritual requires trust, requires connection between the caster and the subject. I need to know that you still care about me, that you still

see me as family, before I can perform the magic properly.”

It was manipulation, pure and simple, but it was wrapped in just enough truth to be believable. Riley’s shoulders sagged as he

recognized the trap she was laying.

“Open the cell,” Andy said, looking directly at me. “I want to hold him while we talk. I want to look into his eyes and remember what it felt like when he was small and trusted me completely.”

“Absolutely not,” I said immediately.

“Then Marcus and Zade die,” Andy replied with a shrug. “Their blood pressure is already elevated from the curse. In a few hours, their hearts will start to fail. By tomorrow morning, they’ll be dead, and there won’t be anything anyone can do to save them.”

Riley looked back at Zade and Marcus, taking in their deteriorating condition, then turned to me with eyes full of resignation.

“Open the cell,” he said quietly.

‘Riley, no-”

“Open it,” he repeated, his voice stronger now. “She’s not going to hurt me. She needs me too much for that.”

Against every protective instinct I possessed, I reached for the keys to Andy’s cell. As the door swung open, Riley stepped inside, and

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Chapter 273

I watched my son walk willingly into the arms of the woman who had destroyed our family.

ନୂ ବୃ

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Andy immediately pulled him close, her embrace possessive and desperate. Riley stood stiffly in her arms, but he didn’t pull away.

“Close the door,” Andy said, her voice muffled against Riley’s hair. “Give us privacy for our conversation.”

The request made every adult in the room tense with alarm, but Riley nodded his agreement before any of us could protest.

“It’s okay,” he said, though I could hear the tremor in his voice. “Close it. But stay close enough to hear if I call for help.

With deep reluctance, I sealed the cell door, trapping my son inside with the woman who had stolen his childhood. All we could do

now was wait and pray that whatever poison Andy planned to pour into his ears, Riley was strong enough to survive it.

Through the bars, I watched Andy guide Riley to the bench, settling beside him with the familiarity of someone who had once held

the right to comfort him. The sight made me want to tear the cell apart with my bare hands.

out.

But Marcus gasped behind me, his body convulsing as the curse tightened its grip, and I knew we had no choice but to let this play

Whatever the cost to our family, we couldn’t let innocent people die.

Even if it meant sacrificing our son’s heart all over again.

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Reborn From Regret A Second Chance at Luna’s Heart