When The Luna Broke Her Chains novel Chapter 64

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Seraphel frowns, looking like she’s about to argue–demand an explanation from me for acting like this, before she seems to read something on my face, and her lips curl into a frown. Her gaze briefly flicks to Davina behind her.

Before she can speak, the door opens again.

Astrid is dragged inside by a gamma guard, soaked from head to toe, hair plastered to her face, eyes wide and frantic. “Your Highness,” the guard bows, already drawing breath to explain.

“Let her go,” I say.

The guard hesitates, forcing me to glare at him.

Then he releases Astrid at once.

“Leave,” I command.

He bows again and backs out quickly.

I turn to the room. “All of you.” My gaze sweeps over Seraphel, Davina, and Iver. “Out.”

I pause only to add, “Iver, I want two guards posted outside this chamber at all times. I want to know who visits her. Who she speaks to.”

Iver nods. I don’t miss the way he swallows or the subtle creasing of his forehead.

Seraphel sighs.

“I will stay until she wakes,” I say to no one in particular. “I need to know what happened in that forest.” Turning to Astrid, who still looks panicked and concerned, I tell her, “She’ll be fine. Change her clothes. I’ll turn away.”

“Knox-” Seraphel starts, then corrects herself sharply. “Your Highness. That is inappropriate.”

I hold her gaze. “Do you doubt me, Sera? You think I’d take advantage of this situation? Do you think I’m that kind of man?”

She stiffens. “No.”

“Are you questioning my morals?”

Her jaw tightens. She shakes her head once.

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Davina hasn’t said a word. She’s watching me like she’s trying to prise something open with her

eyes.

“I want everyone out,” I repeat, using my authoritative power.

Everyone flinches as the very air bends with it.

Seraphel leaves first, strides clipped and purposeful. Davina hesitates, then follows, her expression unreadable. Iver bows low before stepping out and closing the door behind him.

For a brief moment, the room is eerily quiet.

I exhale before turning to Astrid. “Are you alright?” I ask.

She nods quickly, though her hands still tremble. “Yes. Yes, Your Highness.”

“Change her out of her wet clothes,” I say. “I’ll be just outside.”

Astrid frowns, confusion flickering across her face. Probably wondering why I said what I said earlier.

I don’t know the answer myself.

‘Get a grip,‘ Teo mutters inside my head. ‘You won’t piece anything together if you’re falling apart yourself.‘

I grimace, whispering under my breath. “I know.”

As I’m about to step out, my gaze drifts to the table near the doors where several parchments lie scattered. I pick them up, more to keep my hands and mind busy than out of real curiosity. If I don’t, the image of that shadow will crawl back into my thoughts, start making demands, and lead me to arrive at conclusions that are nowhere close to the truth.

The handwriting is neat. Every word seems carefully written, although I know these are just

notes.

In the corners are diagrams sketched in charcoal. Annotations in the margins. Something about the way it’s arranged pulls at my memory.

These feel… familiar.

Iver returns with two guards, posting them at either end of the wide double door of the chamber. I nod at him, then lift the papers slightly.

“Do you know about these?”

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“Yes,” he says after a brief, thoughtful pause. “I found them in Luna Xena’s old chamber. On the small table.”

“There were books with them?”

He nods. “Two.”

“What books?”

He shrugs, looking a little guilty for prying. “One was titled something Severance. The other… I didn’t understand the name.”

“Severance,” I repeat quietly. There will only be a few who don’t know that word or its meaning. “They’re here in the chamber now?” I ask.

“They should be,” he answers just as the doors open.

“Prince Knox.”

Astrid stands there, changed into dry clothes, a cloth tied around her damp hair.

eping,” she says softly.

n and step back inside.

the bed, color slowly returning to her face. Peaceful, if not for the faint crease

Drows.

ag a chair close and sit. “Bring my dinner up here,” I tell Iver. “And tell Seraphel I want her port as soon as she has it.”

She could be infected with something deadly. That black blood…

I look at Astrid. “You’re a healer.”

“Yes.”

“You can draw her blood. Take it to Seraphel.”

Astrid pales, but she nods. “I can, Your Highness.”

“Good. Do it.”

She moves carefully, methodical despite her nerves.

I try not to think of how Seraphel will react when she finds out I didn’t trust one of her healers. I’m just doing what feels right to me. Besides, I’m still thinking of the look on Davina’s face,

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and how Teo warned me against letting her help Xena. He didn’t want Davina anywhere near

her.

I know the sisters don’t like each other. I think it’s fair if your mate decides to ditch you and marry your sister, but… there’s something more going on there than meets the eye. I’m going to find out.

Iver sets one of the books on the table beside me and retreats without comment.

I open it with the thread marking a page.

I turn to it–and feel something cold settle behind my ribs as I begin to read.

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