The Luna Queen's Rebirth (Ellie and Dominic) novel Chapter 152

Chapter 152

Ellie POV

I wake slowly.

First thing I know is I’ve been asleep too long.

Again. Dry mouth, body achey.

But second, is the warmth.

My fingers twitch, and instead of empty air, they brush against skin. It’s callused, warm, and unmistakably Dominic’s. Our hands are still tangled together, his thumb resting loosely against my knuckles like it belongs there. Like it’s always belonged there.

He’s asleep, on the chair pulled up next to my bed.

But, like, really asleep. Head tilted awkwardly against the side, dark hair falling into his eyes, jaw slack in a way I’ve never seen when he’s awake. For once, there’s no tension carved into him, no sharp edges. Just exhaustion.

I squeeze his fingers gently.

Not to wake him. Just to remind myself that he’s real. That last night wasn’t some cruel hallucination my body cooked up while it was dying.

My chest tightens.

A soft movement near the door makes me glance up. One of the senior healers stands there, older than the rest, expression calm in the way that never means good news. Not Mr. Armstrong, but she has a badge. She approaches quietly, checks the monitors, then looks at our joined hands.

She doesn’t comment on them.

“Ellie,” she says gently. “I need to explain what’s happening.

I nod once, throat already tight.

J

She keeps her voice low, professional. “Dominic’s presence is stabilizing you. Temporarily. Like before.”

I swallow.

“The mate bond, his claim on you, but our guesses, soothed your sickness through proximity and contact,” she continues. “Even though you’re still rejecting it. You’re case is… unusual, but not unheard of.”

Her gaze moves back to our hands.

“I don’t see why you fate this claim so much. It’s killing you. And clearly, you two care about eachother.”

My gaze drifts back to Dominic. To the rise and fall of his chest. To the way my head doesn’t feel like it’s splitting open right now.

I guess…we do.

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“BUL, without the acceptance of his claim, this it isn’t a solution,” the healer says. “Every time the bond is soothed and then pulled away again, the backlash worsens. Your body is already showing signs of degradation.”

My fingers tighten reflexively around Dominic’s.

“If this continues,” she says plainly, “you will suffer permanent damage. You will die.”

The words land quietly. No drama. No hesitation.

I breathe in. Out.

“You won’t survive another backlash,” she adds. “Not one like the last. Even if Dominic claims you again, your body won’t return. You got…lucky. Very lucky.”

My eyes burn, but I don’t cry. I just stare at the ceiling, at the cracks in the paint I hadn’t noticed before, my thoughts spiraling uselessly.

“So that’s it,” I murmur. “No alternatives.”

She doesn’t answer right away.

“The only way to stop it,” she says finally, “is to fully accept the fated bond.’

Surrender.

That’s what it feels like. A wordless closing of doors. A narrowing hallway with no turns left.

I nod again because I don’t know what else to do. Because arguing with a healer about biology feels pointless when my heart is barely keeping up.

Before I can speak, before I can ask the questions clawing up my throat, the door slams open so hard it

rattles the wall.

“Ellie!”

Lucas.

He storms in, breathless, eyes wild with panic, and the healer steps back instinctively. Lffcas takes one look at me, at the pale of my skin, the dark circles under my eyes, the way I can’t even sit up properly, and something in his face breaks.

“What did they do to you?” Lucas demands.

“Lucas-“I start, my voice weak.

Dominic stirs beside me, lifting his head slowly.

Lucas’s focus snaps to him, fury igniting instantly. “This has gone on long enough!” he snarls. “You should’ve ended this already. Mark her!”

Dominic blinks once, then turns his head like he’s spotted something unpleasant. “Wow. Morning to you too,” he growls. “Now get the fuck out of my face.”

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