Reclaimed By My Alpha (Natalia and Andrei) novel Chapter 475

Natalia’s POV

The next morning came too quickly. I woke to the sound of voices outside and the clatter of supplies being loaded onto wagons. Bloodmoon was splitting in half, and everyone who had decided to leave was already preparing for the journey.

I dressed slowly–a good night’s sleep in a real bed had somehow made the soreness in my body even worse, so every movement was an effort. Andrei was already up and helping with the preparations. Hope and the twins were with Grace, who had volunteered to watch them while I said my goodbyes.

I found Celeste in her chambers. She was sitting by the window, staring out at the courtyard below where people were gathering. She didn’t turn when I entered.

“Celeste.”

She didn’t respond. Just kept staring out that window.

I crossed the room and sat in the chair beside her. Up close, I could see how much worse she looked. The aging had progressed even further since I had last been in Bloodmoon.

“I’m sorry,” I said quietly. “I’m sorry I couldn’t find a way to reverse it.”

Celeste finally turned to look at me. Her eyes were the only thing that hadn’t changed. They were still sharp and alert and full of anger. Still hers. “It’s not your fault.”

“It feels like it is.”

“Well, it’s not.” She turned back to the window. “Helena did this. Not you.”

I swallowed hard. I wanted to say something comforting, but I knew there was nothing to say.

In the silence that followed, I reached into my pocket and pulled out the ruby ring. I’d been carrying it with me since we left the mountain, turning it over in my hands whenever I had a quiet moment. It was such a small thing. Harmless–looking. But I knew what it could do.

“I found this,” I said, holding it out to her. “In the King’s palace. It’s enchanted. It can change your appearance. Swap it with another, or maybe more. I didn’t have much time to practice with it, but I think you should have it.”

Celeste looked at the ring, then at me. “Why are you giving me that?”

“You could use it. If you wanted to. You could look young again.” I set it on the table between us, since she didn’t seem keen on taking it. “I know it wouldn’t change what happened, but maybe it would help. Maybe you wouldn’t have to hide anymore.”

For a long moment, Celeste just stared at the ring. Then she reached out and picked it up, holding it up to the light. The ruby gleamed, catching the sun’s rays.

I thought she might slip it on. Instead, she dropped it on the floor, then crushed it under her cane.

The sound of the ruby shattering was surprisingly loud in the quiet room. Celeste flicked the end of her cane, sending tiny shards of red stone scattering across the floor.

“No,” she said.

I stared at the broken fragments, not sure what to say.

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Chapter 475

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“Too many people suffered because of those things.” Her voice was flat. “Your father. Me. Goddess knows how many others. I won’t use them. Not even for this.”

“But-”

“No, Natalia. I’m done with rubies. I’m done with magic that comes at a cost. This is who I am now, and I’ll live with it until my time comes, just as it came for her father.”

I stared at her, expecting tears or anger or bitterness. Surprisingly, I saw a strange sense of resolve in her eyes that hadn’t been there before. Resolve and… acceptance. Peace.

Maybe she had come to accept her condition after all. Hell, maybe this was what she wanted. At least it would be her decision for once and no one else’s.

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