The Sickened Luna's Last Chance novel Chapter 354

Chapter 354

Ella’s POV

I scrambled to my feet, clutching the empty thetal box to my chest.

It was empty Someone had stolen the artifacts while we were sleeping.

And I had a feeling who it might have been.

“Margaret,” I said, whirling toward Lilith. Alexander was helping her to her feet, her frame swaying from the lingering effects of whatever had been done to us to make us sleep. “She must have followed us here. She must have known we would lead her to

the artifacts”

The implications swept over the three of us like a cold wave of rolling thunder, devastating everything in its wake. The artifacts were gone and I had just told Alexander everything about the curse.

Tears instantly filled my eyes, blurring my vision, as images of Alexander laying in a hospital bed just like Liam flickered through my mind. Would his fate be the same as my friend’s, I wondered? Or would it be more brutal? More swift?

A drunk driver, perhaps? A sudden heart attack, the kind that killed him before the medics could arrive? Or perhaps a bolt of lightning sent straight down from the heavens?

Fate had been cruel to me my entire life, both the old one and the new. I couldn’t risk it doing any of those things to the person I loved the most, because I knew they were all possible–and more. But the artifacts were gone.

“Well, let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” Lilith said, pulling away from Alexander. “Let’s look around first. Maybe there’s another explanation. Maybe they’re still here!”

Lilith’s words did little to ease the agony in my chest, but I had to hope that she was right. We spent the next half hour digging

around the bunker, tearing everything apart in search of the artifacts.

We knocked over shelves, tore the rotting bedding off the small cot, even pulled loose stones out of the walls as if the artifacts might have sprouted legs and run off somewhere to hide.

But no matter how hard we looked, the artifacts didn’t turn up. When we finally emerged from the bunker, tired and covered in dirt and cobwebs, we were empty–handed. And after scouring the forest until the first rays of pale dawn began to crest over the

horizon, there was still nothing.

By the time we left the burnt estate, we’d practically overturned every moss–covered rock, every fallen beam, every dead tree.

Nothing.

The artifacts were gone.

But we knew that it must have been Margaret. There was no one else we could think of who might be in search of the artifacts, nor who might have known how to make us sleep on a command like that.

It felt insane to say this, seeing as how I had never believed in these sorts of things up until a few months ago, but it had to be

witchcraft.

Despite our exhaustion, Alexander drove straight to my father and Margaret’s new house. He kept one hand on mine the entire time, the other so tight around the steering wheel that his knuckles were white.

Goddess, how I wanted nothing more than to simply be with him that night. How badly I wished this could all be over, that we could curl up in bed together like we were meant to be and reunite in the most intimate way possible–in body, in spint, in sout,

But this damn curse had other plans. Until those artifacts were destroyed, I could not rest. I could not revel in the feeling of my mate’s arms around me until I knew he was safe.

As he drove, every bump and curve in the road made me jump. I kept fearing that a truck might swerve around a corner and collide with us head–on, or perhaps a deer would jump out and send us careening over the shoulder.

Thankfully, nothing happened.

Yet.

When we arrived at the luxurious mansion overlooking Stormhollow territory–purchased using the insurance money from the fire, no doubt–the house was dark. But it was still very early in the morning, so I hoped that they were just inside, sleeping.

Alexander didn’t knock. I gasped as he strode directly up to the front window next to the door and slammed his fist right through it. Glass shattered everywhere, immediately bringing with it the sound of my father’s home alarm system.

“Alexander!” I gasped, watching as he reached through the broken window and unlocked the door from the other side. “Since when did you become the type to break into houses?”

“Since now,” he grunted, meeting my eyes with a mischievous sparkle in his own. The sight made my breath catch; despite everything, the version of him I’d grown to love had returned. The one who smiled and laughed and who would burn down the

world with me if we had to.

If only we could enjoy that feeling. But hopefully, we wouldn’t have to wait for long.

As we stepped into the house, I grimaced at the sight of the luxurious furnishings. To think that Stormhollow was falling into ruin while my father was lavishing his witch of a wife with everything she could ever want…

But perhaps if we broke the curse, my mother could take back her rightful place. My father and Margaret would get their

comeuppance soon; I was sure of it.

However, to my surprise, no one came running despite the alarm blaring throughout the house. I heard no footsteps, no voices, nothing. Just the alarm echoing through the space.

“They’re not here,” I said. The tiny fire of hope that had begun to form in my chest quickly guttered out as if extinguished by a

chill wind.

Indeed, the house was well and truly empty. All of their belongings remained, except for, it seemed, the necessities. Even the staff was gone. The house was completely abandoned, as if they’d fled in the night.

Just like the bunker, we searched the entire house from high to low. No artifacts. No mysterious boxes filled with the symbols of witchcraft that Lilith had found before.

It seemed that Margaret, my father, and Brian had taken the artifacts and made a run for it.

A small cry escaped my throat as the direness of the situation washed over me. I would have crumpled had it not been for Alexander standing beside me, warm arm wrapped around my waist to keep me upright.

“You can’t die,” I said, clutching at his shirt. “Alexander, you have to get somewhere safe–somewhere that no accidents can happen–and keep the doctor on standby, and-”

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“Hey.” Alexander cupped my face in his hands. His palms were warm and smooth and so fucking familiar that it hurt. “We’re together again. Which means we can handle this. Do you understand me? Ella?”

I couldn’t respond. I could only let out another whimper of fear and pain and horror.

Alexander pulled me close, cradling my head against his chest “We’ll be alright, my love,” he whispered. “I’m not going anywhere. Not as long as the moon hangs in the sky and the ocean is pulled toward its light. I promise.”

His words might have comforted me. Might have soothed me, even if only for a minute.

But as the sounds of shouts approached the house, I knew that this was only the beginning of the end.