The Second Chance Of The Rejected Moon (Celine and Bastian) novel Chapter 149

Chapter 149

25 un mere

We step outside the hall, and the cool air strikes my face. A true army is waiting beyond the building Endless ranks of hybrids stand in perfect formation, motionless, their weapons strapped across their backs or resting in their hands. Metal gleams in the daylight, armor clinks softly whenever someone shifts their weight, and the faint rasp of leather brushing against steel is the only sound breaking the silence. I stare at them for several long seconds. There are too many and they’re all here because of me. The seven men who volunteered first stand at the front of the formation, waiting for a single order.

“All right… now I’m going to channel my magic through you.”

A tingling sensation begins in my hand as Vladimir’s energy starts flowing into my body. It slowly travels up my arm, crosses my chest, and finally envelops me in a strange warmth. It doesn’t burn, but it makes every part of me vibrate. With his free hand, the warlock traces a massive circle in the air. The magic responds instantly. Threads of blue and green light burst from his fingertips, weaving together until they form an enormous crystalline surface rippling like water. It’s like a gigantic mirror suspended in empty space.

“Take us to the castle, little wolf. Remember what it looks like, what it smells like, what you can hear there, what’s in that place… and you’ll see it reflected before you.”

I close my eyes again, take a deep breath, and let my mind rebuild every detail. The scent of damp grass. The roses in the gardens. The wind sweeping down from the mountains. The enormous castle behind me. Birds singing among the trees. The peace that place always filled me with. The magic does the rest.

“Open your eyes.”

1 do.

The castle grounds appear before us with absolute clarity. Every tree, every stone path, every bench, every corner is there, as though a piece of Lemuria had been torn from its place to make way for us.

“Now keep it open while we all cross.”

Vladimir tightens his grip on my hand, and we’re the first to step through. The change is immediate. The air turns much colder, and the familiar scent of Lemuria fills my lungs. Damp earth. Forest. Wildflowers. My heart pounds against my chest.

I’m home.

We step aside to let the others through, and within seconds an endless column of soldiers begins crossing the portal. The discipline with which they move makes two thousand people seem like one. They cross without stopping, without breaking formation, until the last hybrid disappears through the portal and it fades away behind us. The magic leaves my body all at once. My legs grow heavy, the world spins for a moment, and a wave of dizziness forces me to take a deep breath as my stomach protests from the effort.

“Well done, little wolf.”

Vladimir releases my hand, but I don’t have time to answer. The castle’s back door flies open, and a massive gray wolf bursts into the grounds at full speed, kicking up clumps of dirt and grass behind him. He runs straight toward us. On instinct, I grab Vladimir’s hand again and pull him behind me.

“It’s me. Calm down. It’s me, Alaric.”

The enormous wolf skids to a stop a few yards away. He doesn’t seem to recognize me. His lips slowly curl back, exposing a row of razor-sharp fangs as a deep growl rumbles from his chest.

What a way to come home.

“Where’s Bastian, Alaric?”

13:22 Tue, Aug 18 F.

The Second Chance Of The Rejected Moon

Instead of calming down, the wolf takes a couple more steps forward. His attention isn’t on me It’s on Vladimur. and on the army that has just appeared behind us. I slowly raise one hand so he can catch my scent, but Alaric doesn’t come any closer. He remains perfectly still, watching us with a distrust I’ve never seen in his eyes.

Two more growls rumble from behind Alaric. The castle’s back door swings open again, and two enormous black wolves stride through the doorway at an unhurried pace. They don’t run. They don’t need to. Their mere presence is enough to make the air feel heavier. Their shoulders are as tall as Alaric’s, their broad, muscular bodies radiate brutal strength, and their eyes, fixed on us, show not the slightest flicker of recognition. They move until one stands on each side of the gray wolf, forming a barrier in front of the castle doors. The icy breeze carries their scents to me, and a smile of relief spreads across my lips as I recognize them, but it vanishes almost instantly. They’re not happy to see me. None of the three of them

are.

“Magnus?… Silas?”

Each takes a position beside Alaric, forming a solid wall in front of us. All three bare their fangs as a low, steady growl vibrates deep in their chests, sending chills across my skin.

“It’s because of the hybrids. They’re different from us… and we also brought two vampire kings with us, Celine.”

Astra’s words make perfect sense. They’re not seeing only me. They’re seeing an unknown army materialize out of nowhere in front of the castle’s back gates.

“They’re my friends. They brought me home and came to make sure everything was all right… to make sure I was safe.”

I slowly release Vladimir’s hand. I can feel the men behind me holding their breath, ready to intervene if any of the three wolves attack, but I keep walking anyway. The grass crunches beneath my boots as I close the distance between us. I set my backpack on the ground and carefully lay Helel and Erebus beside it, making it clear I have no intention of defending myself against them. Then I reach for the clasp of my coat and slowly unfasten it. Magnus growls again. He’s the most agitated of the three. His muscles tighten beneath his thick fur, and his claws dig into the ground, ready to spring at the slightest sign of a threat.

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