Luna No More

Chapter 14

The Beast Beneath the Mountain



The mountain roared again.

The sound wasn't heard with ears.

It was felt.

Through stone.

Through bone.

Through blood.

The entire palace trembled violently.

Servants screamed.

Guards rushed into the corridors.

Several chandeliers swayed overhead.

Outside, bells rang throughout the kingdom.

Not as a warning.

As a response.

As though the kingdom itself had recognized the ancient call.

Isabella grabbed the wall to steady herself.

"What was that?"

Lucian was already moving.

Fast.

Focused.

Dangerously alert.

His expression had transformed completely.

Whatever had awakened beneath the mountain...

It concerned him.

A lot.

"Lucian."

He stopped.

Only because she said his name.

"What was that?"

For several seconds he didn't answer.

Then he made a decision.

A difficult one.

She could see it.

Finally, he spoke.

"The kingdom's greatest secret."

Before Isabella could ask another question, another tremor shook the palace.

Dust drifted from the ceiling.

Somewhere below them, something growled.

A deep.

Ancient.

Terrifying sound.

Not hostile.

Not friendly.

Just powerful.

The kind of power that existed long before kingdoms.

Long before Lycans.

Long before history.

A chill ran down her spine.

Lucian extended his hand.

"Come with me."

This time she didn't hesitate.

She took it.

The palace was in chaos.

Guards raced through the halls.

Nobles gathered in frightened groups.

Questions spread faster than answers.

The moment people saw Lucian, however, they stepped aside.

The king walked with purpose.

No hesitation.

No uncertainty.

As though he had known this day would come.

As though he had been preparing for it.

The realization unsettled Isabella.

"You knew this could happen."

It wasn't a question.

Lucian's jaw tightened.

"Yes."

Another tremor.

Stronger.

The floor cracked beneath their feet.

A few servants cried out in alarm.

Still, Lucian never slowed.

"Then why didn't you tell me?"

His golden eyes met hers briefly.

"Because it wasn't supposed to awaken yet."

Not supposed to awaken.

Wonderful.

Everything seemed to be awakening lately.

Ancient powers.

Ancient enemies.

Ancient prophecies.

Apparently her entire life had become one giant historical event.

They reached a heavily guarded section of the mountain.

More guards stood here than anywhere else in the kingdom.

Dozens of them.

Every warrior looked nervous.

Even General Lyra.

That alone told Isabella how serious this was.

The moment Lucian approached, the guards bowed.

"My King."

Lucian nodded.

"Open it."

No one moved.

The warriors exchanged uncertain looks.

Interesting.

Apparently even direct orders made them uncomfortable.

Finally General Lyra stepped forward.

"Are you sure?"

Lucian's expression became ice.

"Open it."

The massive stone gates slowly began to move.

Ancient mechanisms groaned.

Dust filled the air.

And from somewhere deep within the darkness...

A pair of silver eyes opened.

The entire chamber froze.

Including Isabella.

Because those eyes were enormous.

Far too enormous.

The creature hidden within the mountain was massive.

Bigger than any wolf.

Bigger than any Lycan.

Bigger than anything she had ever imagined.

The darkness shifted.

A colossal shape emerged.

Silver fur.

Golden markings.

Eyes like moonlight.

Ancient power rolled from the creature in waves.

Several guards immediately dropped to one knee.

Others couldn't even breathe.

The beast's gaze settled directly on Isabella.

And then—

To everyone's shock—

It lowered its head.

In submission.

Silence exploded throughout the chamber.

Nobody moved.

Nobody spoke.

The impossible had just happened.

The beast had bowed.

To her.

"What is it?"

Isabella's voice sounded small.

The creature's eyes never left her.

Lucian stood beside her.

For the first time since she met him...

The king looked genuinely emotional.

Not angry.

Not guarded.

Emotional.

"His name is Aetherion."

The name echoed through the chamber.

Several guards lowered their heads further.

As though speaking it aloud carried significance.

"Aetherion was created by the Moon Goddess."

Isabella stared.

"The actual Moon Goddess?"

"Yes."

The answer came from an elderly voice.

Lady Seraphina stepped from the shadows.

Alive.

Safe.

Isabella's heart nearly stopped.

"Seraphina!"

The older woman smiled tiredly.

Though bruises covered her face.

"They didn't keep me long."

Before Isabella could rush forward, Seraphina raised a hand.

"We have more important matters."

The archivist turned toward the beast.

Toward Aetherion.

"Aetherion was guardian to the first royal family."

The enormous creature slowly approached.

Each step caused the ground to vibrate.

The closer he came, the stronger Isabella's connection became.

Almost as though she recognized him.

Almost as though part of her already knew him.

Then Aetherion spoke.

Not aloud.

Inside her mind.

"Little Queen."

Isabella nearly stumbled.

The voice was deep.

Warm.

Ancient.

"You've finally returned."

Her breath caught.

Returned.

The same word everyone seemed determined to use.

As though she were someone who had lived before.

As though she were more than Isabella Blackwood.

"Can he read my thoughts?"

The question escaped before she realized it.

Aetherion's eyes brightened.

"Most of them."

Wonderful.

Just wonderful.

The giant mythical beast could hear her.

At least her embarrassment seemed to amuse him.

Aetherion's massive head lowered further.

"You are much louder than the first queen."

The chamber fell silent.

Every single person stared.

Including Lucian.

Including Seraphina.

Including General Lyra.

Apparently nobody had expected that.

"The first queen?"

Isabella whispered.

The beast's gaze softened.

"Elara."

The name struck something inside her.

A strange ache.

A strange familiarity.

Fragments flashed through her mind.

Silver hair.

Laughter.

Moonlight.

A palace engulfed in flames.

Pain exploded behind her eyes.

She cried out.

Immediately, Lucian was beside her.

Strong hands caught her shoulders.

"Isabella."

The vision vanished.

Her breathing became uneven.

The memory gone.

Yet the emotions remained.

Love.

Loss.

Heartbreak.

And grief so overwhelming it nearly crushed her.

Lucian's face had gone pale.

"What did you see?"

Before she could answer, Aetherion spoke again.

"The memories are awakening."

The entire room went still.

Memories.

Not visions.

Memories.

The difference was terrifying.

Later that night, Isabella sat alone in a private chamber.

Or at least she tried to sit alone.

Lucian stood by the window.

As usual.

The man appeared incapable of relaxing.

Moonlight illuminated half his face.

The silence between them wasn't uncomfortable anymore.

That realization surprised her.

A few weeks ago, Lucian had been a stranger.

Now his presence felt familiar.

Reliable.

Safe.

Dangerous thoughts.

Very dangerous thoughts.

"You knew her."

Lucian didn't pretend to misunderstand.

He knew exactly who she meant.

"Yes."

His voice was quiet.

"The first queen."

Silence.

Long silence.

Then Isabella asked the question haunting her.

"Who was she to you?"

The room became very still.

Even the wind outside seemed to pause.

Lucian looked toward the moon.

And for the first time since she met him...

She looked truly vulnerable.

"I loved her."

The confession landed like a blade.

Not because it shocked her.

Because she already suspected.

Yet hearing it aloud hurt more than expected.

A strange feeling twisted inside her chest.

One she didn't want to examine.

Didn't want to name.

Jealousy.

Ridiculous.

Completely ridiculous.

The woman had died seven hundred years ago.

Still...

The feeling remained.

Lucian continued.

"We were young."

A faint smile appeared.

Sad.

Broken.

Beautiful.

"She believed everyone deserved a second chance."

The smile faded.

"The world proved her wrong."

The grief in his voice was devastating.

Seven centuries.

Seven hundred years.

And he still carried it.

Still mourned her.

Still remembered.

No wonder loneliness followed him everywhere.

No wonder his eyes looked haunted when he thought no one was watching.

"Did she love you?"

The question slipped out before Isabella could stop it.

Lucian froze.

The silence that followed was answer enough.

No.

Or perhaps...

Not the way he wanted.

The realization made her heart ache for him.

Before either could say another word, the chamber doors burst open.

General Lyra entered.

Breathing hard.

Covered in dirt.

And blood.

Everyone stood immediately.

"What happened?"

Lyra's face was pale.

"The scouts returned."

Her voice shook.

Something Isabella had never seen before.

Fear.

Genuine fear.

"We found the Blood Hunters."

Lucian's expression darkened.

"Where?"

Lyra swallowed.

Then spoke the words that changed everything.

"They've already entered the sacred valley."

The room fell silent.

Because everyone knew what waited inside the sacred valley.

The final resting place of Queen Elara.

And if the hunters reached her tomb first...

They might uncover a secret buried for seven hundred years.

A secret powerful enough to destroy kingdoms.

Or start a war.