Rebirth of the Broken Luna A Second Chance at Luna's Heart novel Chapter 408

Chapter 408

“Besides,” she added, “your threats would be much more effective if you weren’t so handsome. Has anyone ever told you that you have lovely bone structure? Very aristocratic. Samuel, don’t get jealous. I’m just appreciating aesthetic qualities.”

“Silvia,” my father said, finally catching his breath, “you’re going to give the man an aneurysm.”

“Good,” she replied. “He kidnapped us. He deserves an aneurysm.”

Jerome looked like he was seriously reconsidering his life choices. “This is not how hostage situations are supposed to=”

“Oh honey,” my mother interrupted again, “if you wanted a traditional postage situation, you should have kidnapped traditional hostages. We’re seventy and sixty-eight respectively. We’ve lived full lives, raised wonderful children, and made our peace with mortality. You have no

leverage here.”

She turned to look directly at the camera, and suddenly her expression shifted from mockingly cheerful to deadly serious.

“Xenois,” she said, her voice clear and strong, “check on Shawn. The werewitch boy who was traveling with us. They left him behind, and

he’s probably terrified and shooting plasma blasts at anything that moves. Bring him home safely.”

“Plasma blasts?” I heard Zade mutter. That explains the craters in the road.”

My mother’s expression softened further. “And make sure he understands this isn’t his fault. He’s just a child who’s been through trauma.

He needs support, not blame.”

“We found him,” I called out, hoping she could hear me. He’s safe. He here with us.”

Relief flashed across her face, genuine and unguarded. “Good. That’s good.”

Ollie had pushed forward, his face pressed close to the laptop screen. Grandma? Grandpa? When are you coming home?”

My mother’s smile was radiant despite the circumstances. “Oh sweetheart. We might be delayed a bit. You should probably go ahead and

buy some caskets.”

Ollie’s face crumpled, tears already forming. “Grandma, no-”

“Not for us,” she clarified quickly. “For our captors. Apparently burning nightwalkers alive is considered cruel and unusual punishment

these days. Who knew genocide had etiquette rules?”

Samuel burst out laughing again-deep, uncontrollable laughter that made his chains rattle. My mother glanced at him with fond

exasperation.

“Let him die from a heart attack first,” she muttered. “He’s pushing seventy and he thinks he’s nineteen. The delusion is real.”

Jerome had clearly had enough. He moved back into frame, his expression thunderous.

“Enough of this mockery. You will not walk out of here alive. You will uffer for your crimes. You will-’

“Oh please,” my mother interrupted. “If I had a dollar for every time someone threatened to kill me, I’d be able to retire somewhere tropical. Your threats are derivative and uninspired. At least the last people who tried to murder me had the decency to be creative about it.”

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She paused, then added thoughtfully, “Though I suppose I could peg you as the type who-

“Silvia!” Samuel cut her off sharply. “There are children listening to this call. Our grandchildren. And other youngsters. Please maintain

some semblance of propriety.”

“Xenois has heard worse,” my mother protested.

“Not from his own mother,” my father countered. “And not when his innocent children are present. Let’s at least try to be good role

models.”

“Fine,” she conceded. “Though in my defense, I was simply going to observe that Jerome seems like the type who enjoys dramatic

monologues about justice and revenge. Perfectly appropriate.”

“That is not what you were going to say,” Samuel said dryly.

“Prove it,” she challenged.

I watched this exchange with a mixture of horror, amusement; and profound relief. Because my parents weren’t broken. Weren’t defeated.

Weren’t showing any signs of being ready to give up or cooperate with their captors’ demands.

They were being themselves-annoying, irreverent, utterly unflappable in the face of danger.

It was possibly the most reassuring and terrifying thing I’d ever witnessed.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

Jerome looked ready to commit murder right there on camera. This is your final warning-

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