Reclaiming My Broken Luna (Astrid and Killian) novel Chapter 381

Nova’s POV

The weight of betrayal still pressed heavily on my chest as I left the council chamber.

My hands trembled at my sides, the urge to destroy something coursing through me.

Liora’s face haunted my mind—her laughter, her kindness, the way she had brought light to every room she entered.

Now, that light was gone, extinguished by Rowena’s greed and fear.

I couldn’t even look at Killian. His silence, his complicity, felt like another dagger in the back.

Drystan hadn’t spoken since we left. His rage was simmering, barely contained, but I knew it would erupt soon.

We had to keep moving. If we stopped now, the weight of our anger and grief would bury us.

“Where to now?” I asked quietly as Drystan and I stepped into the night.

He didn’t answer at first, his jaw tight, his gaze fixed on the dark forest ahead.

Finally, he said, “We need answers. If Rowena’s betrayal is the beginning of this, the Rogue King is the end. And I know someone who might know how to end him.”

“The marked man,” I said, understanding instantly.

Drystan nodded. “Liora mentioned him in her journal. He’s the only lead we have.”

The journey back to where Liora and I used to live was long and tense. We moved quickly, our senses sharp, knowing that rogue patrols could appear at any moment.

The forest was quiet, the kind of quiet that made your wolf restless.

Drystan led the way, his movements precise and deliberate. I stayed close, my fingers brushing against the hilt of my blade.

The memory of the ambush at Emberwood ruins was still fresh in my mind, and I wouldn’t let my guard down again.

After hours of travel, we reached a small clearing. In the center stood a modest hut, its wooden walls weathered and covered in moss.

Smoke curled from the chimney, the only sign of life in the otherwise desolate area.

“This is it,” Drystan said, his voice low.

“You’re sure he’s still here?” I asked, scanning the area for any signs of a trap.

Drystan nodded. “He’s too stubborn to leave. If anyone knows about the Rogue King’s plans, it’s him.”

He stepped forward, knocking sharply on the door. The sound echoed in the quiet clearing, and for a moment, there was no response.

Then, the door creaked open, revealing a man with a scar running down the left side of his face.

His eyes were sharp, his gaze assessing as he looked us over.

“You’ve got some nerve showing up here,” the man said, his voice rough.

“We need your help, Gavril,” Drystan said evenly.

Gavril leaned against the doorframe, crossing his arms. “And why should I help you?”

“Because the Rogue King is coming,” I said, stepping forward. “And if he gets what he wants, none of us will survive.”

My stomach sank. “And who is that?”

Gavril’s expression darkened. “The Rogue King himself.”

The room fell silent, the weight of his words settling over us.

“So we have to kill him,” Drystan said grimly.

“You’d have to kill him anyway,” Gavril said with a shrug. “But yes, if you want to destroy the Amulet, you’ll need his blood.”

I exchanged a glance with Drystan. This was bigger than either of us had anticipated. Not only did we have to face the Rogue King, but we had to get close enough to him to use his blood against the very weapon he sought to wield.

“Thank you,” I said quietly, standing.

Gavril gave a short nod. “Don’t thank me yet. If you fail, it’s all over—for all of us.”

As we left the hut and stepped back into the clearing, the night felt darker than before. Drystan’s silence was heavy, his anger simmering just beneath the surface.

“What now?” I asked softly.

“We prepare,” he said, his voice hard. “We gather every warrior, every ally, and we take the fight to him.”

“And Rowena?”

His jaw tightened, his gaze fixed on the horizon. “She’ll get what she deserves. But first, we end this.”

I nodded, the memory of Liora’s laughter echoing in my mind. For her, for the Packs, for everything we’d lost—we would finish this.