The Rise Of The Betrayed Luna (Amorah and Holmes) novel Chapter 67

Chapter 67

AMORAH

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I stood where I had been when the message reached us, the words still clear in my mind as I read them again, slower this time, making sure nothing was missed.

The mention of another ritual, this time involving Duskveil, did not leave room for delay, and I could feel the urgency settle in without turning into panic.

Conrad did not speak immediately, but the shift in his posture told me he had already moved from reaction to planning.

He turned away from the window and walked toward the central table, where maps and markings were already laid out from earlier discussions. His hand moved across the surface, adjusting positions, marking possible routes, and his focus was clear without needing to explain every step.

I moved closer without being asked, taking my place beside him as we both looked over the territory lines and the areas beyond Silvercrest.

“She will not use the same place twice,” I said, keeping my voice even as I traced one of

outer zones with my finger.

“She will use somewhere that allows her to finish without interruption,” he replied, his tone calm as his attention shifted to a more remote section of the map.

“That limits her options, red, glancing up at him briefly before returning to the markings.

“It does,” he returned, then moved

of the markers slightly to the east. “But she is no longer limited to Silvercrest alone.”

I nodded at that, because the involvement of Duskveil changed everything we knew about her reach. It meant she had access to places outside council oversight, and that gave her more freedom than we had accounted for before.

My hand paused over one of the locations, then shifted to another as I reconsidered what she would need for a ritual of that scale.

“She needs isolation, but also structure,” I said, thinking through it carefully. “Not just distance, but a place prepared for it.”

Conrad looked at the same point I had settled on, then gave a slight nod in agreement. “A place that supports ritual work without interruption,” he added, his voice low as he marked the area clearly.

We did not need to say more than that, because the understanding between us had already settled.

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It was different from before, less explanation, more recognition, and it made the process faster without feeling rushed. I was aware of how close we were standing, but I did not step away, and neither did he.

A knock came at the door, measured and respectful, and one of his wolves stepped in after being allowed. The man moved forward and handed over a sealed report, then stepped back without speaking further.

Conrad opened it immediately, scanning the contents before his expression shifted slightly, not in surprise, but in confirmation of something deeper.

He handed it to me without delay, and I took it, reading through the lines carefully. The information was precise, coming from within Silvercrest, and it focused on restricted healer archives that were not meant to be accessed easily.

My eyes moved across the details once, then again, slower the second time as the meaning settled in.

“She is not their mother,” I said quietly, lowering the report slightly as I processed it.

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11:34 am PWW

Chapter 62M

No Cunrad replied, watching me closely. “She claimed them.”

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I exhaled slowly, not out of shock, but because the shift in understanding changed everything I thought I knew about her actions. It removed any doubt about her intentions being tied to emotion or attachment.

This had always been calculated, planned long before any of us realized it.

“Their records were altered,” I added, glancing back at the page. “Not just hidden, changed.”

“Yes” he confirmed, his tone firm. “Which means their origin matters more than their claim.”

I folded the report slightly in my hand, thinking through what that meant for the twins and for everything Bethany had been building. If they were not hers, then her control over them came from something else, something she had created or taken. That made them more vulnerable, not less.

“She does not want to prove they belong to her,” I said after a moment, lifting my eyes to him again.

“She wants to use them,” he replied without hesitation.

That settled between us with weight, not heavy in a dramatic way, but clear and direct. It shifted the situation from a dispute over claim to something more dangerous, something that could not be resolved through council alone. I adjusted my stance slightly, my arms crossing as I considered the next step.

“Then we are not dealing with a claim,” I said. “We are dealing with a plan that has been in place longer than we thought.”

“Yes,” he answered.

The room fell quiet for a brief mo not empty, but focused. I could feel the distance between us narrow again, not

through movement, but through attention, and it lingered longer than it should have. I did not step back, and neither did he, but neither of us moved closer either.

Another knock came, and this time the wolf who entered carried himself with more urgency, though he kept his posture respectful.

He stepped forward and gave a brief nod before delivering his report, his eyes moving between us only once before returning to Conrad.

“The twins are secure,” he reported. “No movement beyond assigned guards, and access remains restricted as ordered.”

clear.

I stepped forward slightly, not interrupting, but making my presence clear, “Any change in their condition?” I asked, my voice calm but direct.

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“They are stable,” he replied. “The male has been asking more questions, but no signs of distress beyond restlessness.”

I nodded once at that, then looked to Conrad briefly before returning my attention to the guard. “Maintain the current rotation and do not allow any gaps,” I added, my tone firm.

“It will be done,” he answered, then stepped back after a brief acknowledgement.

When he left, the room settled again, and I allowed myself a moment to process that the twins were still secure. That part, least, had not shifted, and it gave us space to focus on what came next.

I turned back toward the table, my attention returning to the map, but I was aware of Conrad beside me, closer than before.

“She will move soon,” I said, tracing the marked location again,

“She is already preparing,” he replied, his voice low.

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