When The Luna Broke Her Chains novel Chapter 70

Chapter 70 Decency

[XENA]

Finished

“You’re angry,” Knox says, and the surprise in his voice makes it worse somehow. He leans forward, elbows braced on his thighs, studying me like he’s trying to understand a language he almost knows. “You’re angry at me? Because I was there?”

I breathe in slowly and look away, feeling too embarrassed, and stare at the wall instead of his face. “I’m sorry.” I whisper meekly. “That’s no way to speak to a prince.”

From the corner of my eye, I see him shake his head. “I’m your friend, Xena,” he says smoothly. “Did you forget?”

I glance back at him then, and the calm on his face sparks something sharp and unreasonable inside me. I want to snap at him. I want to tell him he doesn’t get to decide what we are. I don’t even know why.

Vera shifts in my lap, warm and solid, distracting me.

When I don’t answer, Knox exhales and straightens a little. “There’s something you should know.”

The tone of his voice stills me. I focus on his face, swallowing everything else. “What?”

“It looks like,” he says carefully, “that Vera has imprinted on you.”

Something drops inside my chest, heavy and disorienting. “Imprinted?” I repeat, the word strange on my tongue.

Before I can ask anything else, there’s a knock.

Knox sighs and sits back. “Come in.”

Seraphel enters briskly, hands clasped in front of her, her expression taut. She looks irritated in a way I haven’t seen before, especially when her gaze lands on Knox. I remember, belatedly, that she disapproved of his choices last night.

1 lower my eyes.

“I have the reports, Your Highness,” Seraphel says, not looking at me at all. “May we step outside to speak?”

Reports.

My stomach tightens. I glance at my wrist and see the small puncture wound. Astrid drew my blood. Seraphel didn’t like that.

Knox doesn’t hesitate. “Whatever you have to say, say it here. This concerns Xena. She deserves to hear it.”

Seraphel pauses, clearly displeased, then turns slightly so she’s facing me. “Her lunar energy is stable,” she says. “Which is… unexpected. Her blood is saturated with knotgrass.”

Knox rises to his feet in a sharp movement. “Knotgrass?”

1/3

12:43 pm

M

Chapter 70 Decency

Finished

My skin prickles. My thoughts spiral too fast. Astrid. The brews. The way my strength faded was slow and quiet.

And now I live under the same roof with that woman like we’re friends. I forgive easily. Maybe that’s the reason I still haven’t told Knox about what Davina did–that she sent that shadow last night.

And now, if Knox realizes that Astrid poisoned me–if he understands…

He would punish her… because poisoning is a crime. Because she’s a healer. Not because he cares about

1. me.

I breathe out, carefully.

“Are you certain?” Knox asks.

Seraphel nods. “I don’t believe the shadow caused this. I expected the wound to disrupt her lunar balance, but it didn’t. It’s only a scar.” She pauses, then drops her conclusion. “Your healing was… less precise this time.”

Knox hums, dark and displeased. “Alright. Leave us.”

Seraphel blinks. “Your Highness?”

“Leave us.”

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