The Second Chance Of The Rejected Moon (Celine and Bastian) novel Chapter 87

The Second Chance Of The Rejected Moon

Chapter 87

if I thought walking through the mist was terrifying, I had been completely wrong. My fears needed to be rearranged immediately, because climbing back into that damned helicopter, this time with more weight, stronger winds and rain pounding against the fuselage for most of the flight, was an experience I never intend to repeat.

I’m never getting on that thing again.” I mutter more to myself than to anyone else.

The nearly six-hour flight back felt endless. Every jolt made my stomach tighten, and my hands ended up gripping the seat so hard that my fingers still ached. By the time we finally landed behind the castle, night had already fallen over Lemuria

The strangest part of it all was that, for us, only a single day had passed since we had left the kingdom.

Here, an entire week had gone by.

I still struggled to understand how something like that could even be possible.

“You’ll get used to it.” Bastian wraps an arm around my waist and pulls me closer against his body, smiling when he notices the look of absolute relief on my face as my feet touch solid ground again.

“I doubt it.”

He chuckles softly and places a kiss against my temple before we make our way toward the castle.

Silas and Magnus are the first to walk through the enormous wooden doors. We enter behind them alongside Thomas, Jack, and the rest of our men while the servants hurry to collect the luggage.

The warmth inside immediately wraps around me. The crackling of several fireplaces breaks the silence, the lamps illuminate the long stone corridors with a golden glow, and the familiar scent of wood, wax, and freshly baked bread makes me feel, for the first time since we returned, truly at home.

And yet…

Something doesn’t fit.

I can’t explain what it is.

I only have the uncomfortable feeling that something changed while we were away.

“Are you hungry?” Bastian asks as we pass the corridor leading toward the kitchens.

I open my mouth to answer, but stop.

Because the scent filling the air isn’t coming from the food.

It’s something else.

Sweeter.

Stronger.

Far too overpowering.

Perfume.

Women’s perfume.

My nose wrinkles almost instinctively.

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13.13

Tue, Aug 18

The Second Chance Of The Rejected Moon

“Is someone in the castle?”

Bastian looks at me with confusion.

“If we had visitors, they would have informed us the moment we arrived, sweetheart.”

I inhale discreetly once more.

No.

I’m not imagining it.

That perfume is everywhere.

It’s strong, cloying, and so excessive that it practically overwhelms every other scent in the castle.

“I smell perfume… a woman’s perfume.”

Without waiting for an answer, I begin following the scent down the corridor, leaving Bastian a few steps behind.

The last thing I need after spending a week away is to run into one of those vipers from the court wandering around the castle as though they owned the place.

A young maid appears around the corner carrying a silver tray in her hands. Resting on it are a porcelain coffee pot, several cups, and a small bowl of sugar. The moment she sees us, she quickly steps aside and lowers her head in such a hurried curtsy that the coffee trembles inside the cups.

‘Luna… welcome home.”

Her voice sounds nervous.

Far too nervous.

“Thank you.” I offer her a small smile before catching that overwhelming perfume once again. “Tell me… is someone staying at the castle?

The young woman swallows hard and nods with obvious discomfort.

“Yes, Luna. Miss Nadia has come to visit Prince Bastian.”

I frown slightly when I hear that name.

Nadia.

I don’t remember Bastian ever mentioning her even once. Behind me, I hear his footsteps approaching with the calmness of someone who still has absolutely no idea where my thoughts have gone.

“I don’t like her.

Astra’s growl echoes inside my head.

“You don’t even know her.”

“I don’t need to see her.” My wolf snorts with obvious displeasure. “No she-wolf would wear such an excessive perfume unless she wanted attention. That scent is all over the castle. She wants people to find her before they even see her.”

“Maybe she simply likes that perfume.”

“No.” Her answer comes with absolute certainty. “She’s marking territory.”

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13:13 Tue, Aug 18 F.

The Second Chance Of The Rejected Moon

A shiver runs down my spine.

i turn back toward the maid and give her a small smile.

“Thank you.”

She lowers her head once again, although she still looks uncomfortable.

I don’t wait for Bastian.

I continue down the corridor while I hear him calling my name behind me. I’m not angry.

I just…

Want to meet this Nadia.

The murmur of several female voices reaches me before I even arrive at the great hall. Then I hear laughter.

Elegant.

Refined.

Far too confident.

I cross the threshold.

Four women occupy the center of the hall as though that gathering had existed long before our return.

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