The Second Chance Of The Rejected Moon (Celine and Bastian) novel Chapter 36

Chapter 36

Bastian is waiting for me a few meters away, leaning against a wall with his arms crossed and a satisfied smile on his lips.

“Do you want me to go scare them a little?”

The glint of mischief in his eyes makes me shake my head while trying to hold back a small laugh

“No, that’s not necessary.”

He nods and starts walking with me toward the dining room.

When the doors open, I discover that King Magnus is not there. Alaric remains standing beside his sister and I frown for a moment. I thought I would not see Aymara until the afternoon. Jared is nowhere to be seen either.

“Good morning,” I greet the Victorius siblings. “Where are Magnus and Jared?”

“Good morning, Luna Celine,” they reply in unison.

“They left early for the forest to train,” Bastian answers while pulling out a chair for me at the same time Alaric does the same for his sister. “I decided that if I want someone truly prepared for your safety, then his instructor should be my father.

“Poor kid,” Alaric says with a smile as he takes a seat. “Although if the warriors find out that King Magnus Thorn himself is training him, he will probably become the envy of the kingdom.”

I blink in confusion.

The king does not seem as brutal as Bastian. Well… maybe a little, but not in the same way. Surely he only took him to teach him discipline, combat, and a few things related to protocol.

Jared only came with me because he wanted to help his family and accompany me,

I hope he is okay.

“They will return in two months, just in time for the mating ceremony and the prince’s ascension,” Alaric answers before 1 can even ask. “So don’t worry about him.”

Two months.

My chest tightens a little when I hear how long he will be gone.

“That is quite a long time to prepare both of them,” Aymara comments with a small smile while arranging a napkin over her lap. “Are you ready for all the preparations?”

I nod by reflex even though the reality is completely different.

I am not ready for anything.

Just a few days ago I was a servant and now everyone is talking about preparing me to become queen, luna, and the official mate of the future king of the Moon Shadow Continent as if it were something completely normal.

I still feel like at any moment someone is going to tell me that all of this was a mistake.

“Aymara… do you have anything to do today? Can you miss work at the shop?”

Alaric and his sister laugh softly at the same time and I look at them without understanding absolutely anything. They are probably having one of those sibling mental conversations that still seem strange to me.

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The Second Chance Of The Rejected Moon

“We own most of the shops in the kingdom,” Aymara replies, amused “Not only can we miss work, we could stop going for months if we wanted to.”

Oh

That explains many things.

Like why that night she appeared surrounded by absurdly expensive dresses without needing to consult absolutely anyone”

1 look at Bastian and discover that he is still watching me from his seat with that satisfied expression that is starting to worry me a little. His black eyes shine differently this morning, more relaxed.

“Relax,” he says, leaning back against his chair. “I only surround myself with people I trust completely. If you think I would allow just anyone to get close to you, you’re mistaken. You are my priority now, Celine. Starting today, Agmara will be with you every day.”

Aymara’s warm smile makes part of the tension disappear from my chest.

And for the first time since I arrived at the castle, the idea of not facing all of this completely alone feels a little less terrifying.

“Great, because I don’t want to travel south with only those venomous snakes. Do you want to come with me?”

Aymara smiles immediately.

“I assume by ‘venomous snakes’ you’re referring to the group of court ladies waiting for you in the main hall, right?”

I nod in frustration while taking a sip of coffee.

“Yes, those ones.”

Aymara lets out a small laugh and rests her chin on her hand as she watches me with amusement.

“If my mother were here, she would probably hug you. There hasn’t been a Luna Queen in a hundred years, and she would be happy that I’m the one accompanying you through all of this.”

A hundred years.

My gaze automatically shifts toward Bastian because he never spoke to me about his mother.

He notices my expression immediately and sets his cup down on the table.

“My mother and Alaric and Aymara’s mother were best friends. Their father is my father’s Royal Beta,” he explains calmly. “Do you understand that this isn’t just friendship? We are practically family.”

Alaric tightens his grip on the cup in his hands and Aymara’s smile loses some of its brightness. The atmosphere changes so quickly that my chest begins to feel heavy.

Now I understand.

“Our mothers died on the same day,” Aymara says softly. “An opposition group attacked the caravan they were traveling in, but a long time has passed and we know their spirits run free and at peace beside the Goddess.”

The knot that forms in my stomach takes away part of my appetite.

Everyone at this table lost their mothers.

The difference is that I never had the chance to know mine and they did, so I understand perfectly that the pain they carry is different from mine.

The Second Chance Of The Rejected Moon

“I am very sorry that you lost your mothers. Truly”

The siblings nod, appreciating my words, but Bastian says nothing. He doesn’t even seem comfortable with the conversation. His expression hardens again and the tension slowly returns to his shoulders.

Alaric is the one who breaks the silence before everything becomes too uncomfortable

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