The Luna Queen's Rebirth (Ellie and Dominic) novel Chapter 329

Chapter 329

Ellie’s POV

I plucked the Ghost’s Whisper carefully from the base of the tree and tucked it into the waistband of my pants, hidden beneath the tunic. My bodyguard hadn’t seen it. He was too busy kicking at a log, bored out of

his mind.

“Got what you need?” he asked as I stood, walking over to him.

“Almost,” I said. I grabbed a few random plants nearby, enough to make it believable, and held them up for him to see. “These will help too.”

He grunted and gestured for me to move. We headed back toward the camp in silence. I hoped he couldn’t hear my heart pounding the entire way.

By the time we returned, the sun was already dipping below its zenith. The camp was buzzing with activity; people were stringing up torches, hauling out drums, setting up what looked like an altar in the center of the clearing.

Gareth was waiting for me at the entrance to the longhouse. He looked pleased to see that I had returned

without a fuss.

“Did you find what you needed?” he asked.

“I did,” I said, holding up the decoy plants.

“Good.” He gestured toward the longhouse. “Go inside. The women will prepare you for the ceremony.”

I walked past him and into the building. The moment I was inside, three women surrounded me. Mira was

one of them.

“Come,” she said, taking my arm. “We don’t have much time.”

They led me to a smaller room off to the side where a basin of water and various jars of paint had been set out. One of the women started undressing me while another began mixing the paints. I pulled the Ghost’s Whisper out and set it on the vanity.

Mira glanced at the flowers. “What is that?” she asked, reaching for them. “They’re beautiful.”

I slapped her hand away. “It’s a ceremonial flower for fertility,” I said. “Not to be touched by anyone but the Queen.”

Mira nodded, not bothering to ask more questions.

I stood there as they stripped me down to nothing, then began applying the paint to my skin. It was cold and thick, and it smelled like herbs and ash. They painted patterns across my chest, down my arms, along my stomach. Spirals and lines and symbols that all curved into one another. It was honestly beautiful. I might have spent more time appreciating it had my mind not been racing with escape plans.

By the time they were finished, my skin was covered in white and red paint, and my hair had been braided with flowers and beads woven throughout. They dressed me in a thin white dress that seemed to be made of the same sheer fabric that the first dress had been made of.

+30 Bonus

Lastly, I slipped the Ghost’s Whisper petals into my hair. Amongst the other flowers, they looked perfectly normal.

“Beautiful,” Mira said, stepping back. “Are you ready?”

I wasn’t. But I nodded anyway.

They led me out of the longhouse and toward the center of the camp. The sun had set completely by now, and the torches cast everything in flickering orange light. The drums had started to play a low, steady beat that seemed to vibrate through my chest.

My throat bobbed as we approached the altar, where the entire tribe had gathered to watch. A priestess with feathers in her hair and a mask that looked like the face of an owl was standing there, prayitig quietly. Gareth was waiting for me as well. He was shirtless, his chest painted similarly to mine. He smiled when he saw me and extended his hand.

“My Queen,” he said.

I took his hand. His palm was rough and calloused, and his grip was too tight.

He led me to the center of the circle. The drums grew louder as the priestess began to chant in a language I didn’t understand. The crowd joined in, their voices rising and falling in time with the drums.

Gareth turned to face me. His one good eye was gleaming in the torchlight.

“Tonight,” he said, loud enough for everyone to hear, “we begin a new era. Tonight, the bloodline of the Lycans returns to our people. Tonight, we will take the first step toward glory.”

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