The Alpha's Borrowed Luna (Abigail Hayes) novel Chapter 257

Elowen

The smell of silver and blood hung heavy in the air. My fingers trented as I stared at the dagger on the metal table, its glint harsh under the fluorescent lights. The skin on my arm still tingled where the silver had made brief contact–a ghostly reminder of what would have happened if Lysandra hadn’t intervened.

When the door swung open, I stiffened, expecting Lysandra’s return instead, Thalia swept in, her eyes instantly drawn to the dagger on the table.

“It’s girls time, Kieran; you should leave,” she commanded over her shoulder to where Kieran lurked in the doorway.

He hesitated, his hungry gaze lingering on me before he reluctantly backed away. The door closed with a heavy thud, leaving me alone with the ancient being who had orchestrated my nightmare.

Thalia approached slowly, picking up the dagger and examining it. I didn’t remember telling you to stop with the dagger,‘ she said, her voice deceptively light.

“It fell. The lie came easily, though my throat felt dry as sand.

She studied me, her ageless face unreadable. Then, to my surprise, she set the dagger down and perched on the edge of the metal

table

“I’m going to tell you a story, one I had never told anyone before. Well, you would die in the end, so it makes no difference.” Her voice took on an almost wistful quality, so at odds with her usual cruelty that I found myself unsettled.

I stared at her, incredulous that she thought I’d want to hear her life story while standing in my own blood. “Thalia.” I shook my head slightly. “I really don’t give a fuck.”

Her smile was cold, expected. “You might, if you knew how similar our paths have been.”

She launched into a tale of her own past–becoming Luna to a cruel Alpha, her secret affair with another, her eventual betrayal. The story washed over me without sticking; I was too focused on the door, wondering when Lysandra would return, if there was still a chance to escape this hellhole and find Kaius.

“…which brings us to now,” Thalia was saying, her eyes focused on something distant. “Ironic, isn’t it? How history repeats–`

The door burst open, cutting her off mid–sentence. Two guards dragged in a bloodied figure, throwing her to the floor at Thalia’s

feet.

Lysandra.

My heart lurched painfully at the sight of her. Her face was nearly unrecognizable beneath the bruises and blood, one eye swollen completely shut. Her blue hair was matted with dried blood, and her breathing came in short, painful gasps.

“We found her trying to leave the compound; one of the guards reported. “She had these. He tossed a set of keys onto the table- keys that would have unlocked my restraints.

Thalia’s expression hardened as she stared down at the broken woman. “What exactly did you say stopped you from using the dagger on yourself as I harcompelled you to?” she asked, turning back to me.

“It fell. I kept my voice steady, though terror clawed up my throat.

“You lie.” She stepped closer, her eyes boring into mine. “She had been here, hadn’t she?”

1/3

The Alpha’s Borrowed Luna

Chapter 257

Elowen

The smell of silver and blood hung heavy in the air. My fingers trembled as I stared at the dagger on the metal table, its glint harsh under the fluorescent lights. The skin on my arm still tingled where he silver had made brief contact–a ghostly reminder of what would have happened if Lysandra hadn’t intervened.

When the door swung open, I stiffened, expecting Lysandra’s return. Instead, Thalia swept in, her eyes instantly drawn to the dagger on the table.

“It’s girls time, Kieran; you should leave,” she commanded over her shoulder to where Kieran lurked in the doorway.

He hesitated, his hungry gaze lingering on me before he reluctantly backed away. The door closed with a heavy thud, leaving me alone with the ancient being who had orchestrated my nightmare.

Thalia approached slowly, picking up the dagger and examining it. I didn’t remember telling you to stop with the dagger,” she said, her voice deceptively light.

“It fell. The lie came easily, though my throat felt dry as sand.

She studied me, her ageless face unreadable. Then, to my surprise, she set the dagger down and perched on the edge of the metal table

“I’m going to tell you a story, one I had never told anyone before. Well, you would die in the end, so it makes no difference.” Her voice took on an almost wistful quality, so at odds with her usual cruelty that I found myself unsettled.

I stared at her, incredulous that she thought I’d want to hear her life story while standing in my own blood. “Thalia.” I shook my head slightly. “I really don’t give a fuck.”

Her smile was cold, expected. “You might, if you knew how similar our paths have been.”

She launched into a tale of her own past–becoming Luna to a cruel Alpha, her secret affair with another, her eventual betrayal. The story washed over me without sticking; I was too focused on the door, wondering when Lysandra would return, if there was still a chance to escape this hellhole and find Kaius.

“…which brings us to now,” Thalia was saying, her eyes focused on something distant. “Ironic, isn’t it? How history repeats-”

The door burst open, cutting her off mid–sentence. Two guards dragged in a bloodied figure, throwing her to the floor at Thalia’s feet.

Lysandra.

My heart lurched painfully at the sight of her. Her face was nearly unrecognizable beneath the bruises and blood, one eye swollen completely shut. Her blue hair was matted with dried blood, and her breathing came in short, painful gasps.

“We found her trying to leave the compound one of the guards reported. “She had these.” He tossed a set of keys onto the table- keys that would have unlocked my restraints.

Thalia’s expression hardened as she stared down at the, broken woman. “What exactly did you say stopped you from using the dagger on yourself as I har compelled you to?” she asked, turning back to me.

“It fell. I kept my voice steady, though terror clawed up my throat.

“You lie.” She stepped closer, her eyes boring into mine. “She had been here, hadn’t she?”

1/3

Chapter 257

“No, she hadn’t. I forced myself to meet her gaze, praying my face revealed nothing of the truth.

Thalia smiled–a terrible, knowing smile that made my blood run cold. Without warning, she drove the silver dagger into Lysandra’s back, twisting it with vicious precision.

‘Stop! Punish me instead, I cried out, lunging forward only to be caught by the guards.

Lysandra’s body jerked, a strangled sound escaping her throat. She turned her head with obvious effort, a single eye finding mine. Her lips moved, forming words I couldn’t hear, but I could read them clearly: “Frost… coming.”

With a final, brutal twist, Thalia withdrew the blade. Lysandra’s body slumped, the light in her eye fading. Another person dead because of me. Another ally lost before we’d ever had a chance

“Now,” Thalia said, wiping the dagger clean on Lysandra’s body with casual indifference, “where were we?”