THE MOON CHOSEN DAUGHTER

CHAPTER SIX- The Betrayal Within

Mira did not sleep.

She lay on the cold stone floor of the abandoned temple, staring at the faint silver light that slipped through the cracks in the ceiling. The others had gone quiet hours ago, but her mind refused to rest.

Beware the one you trust most.

The Moon's warning continued to echo inside her head.

She turned her eyes toward Kael.

He sat several feet away, leaning against one of the ancient pillars. His eyes were closed, but Mira knew he wasn't sleeping. Kael never seemed to sleep deeply. Even when they were surrounded by silence, he remained alert, one hand always close to the dagger at his waist.

Mira watched him carefully.

Could it really be him?

She remembered everything he had done since they left Blackthorn Village. He had protected her when the Bloodfang hunters attacked. He had carried her through the forest when she was too weak to walk. He had stood between her and danger without hesitation.

But there were also the secrets.

Kael had known her father.

He had been there the night the Alpha King died.

And he had never told her the whole story.

Mira slowly sat up.

The silver mark on her chest began to glow beneath her clothes.

She placed a hand over it.

Immediately, a sharp pain traveled through her body.

Mira gasped.

Kael's eyes opened.

"Mira?"

She quickly stood.

"I'm fine."

Kael rose to his feet.

"You don't look fine."

"I said I'm fine."

He stared at her for several seconds.

"You've been awake all night."

"So have you."

A faint expression crossed his face.

"Perhaps."

Mira looked away.

She wanted to ask him the question burning inside her.

Did you betray my father?

But the words refused to come.

Instead, she said, "How well did you know my father?"

Kael became completely still.

"Why are you asking?"

"Because I need to know."

"You already know that I served him."

"That's not what I asked."

Silence filled the temple.

Kael finally looked away.

"I knew him well."

"How well?"

"Well enough to know that he was afraid."

Mira frowned.

"My father wasn't afraid of anything."

"He was afraid of losing you."

The words struck her harder than she expected.

Kael stepped closer.

"Your father knew the council wanted you dead. He knew they would come for you eventually. He spent years preparing for the day they found you."

"Then why didn't he tell my mother?"

"He did."

Mira's eyes widened.

"My mother knew?"

"She knew enough."

"Then why did she lie to me?"

"Because sometimes people lie when the truth could destroy the person they are trying to protect."

Mira's anger rose.

"Everyone keeps saying they protected me. My mother protected me. My father protected me. You protect me. But nobody tells me anything!"

Her voice echoed through the temple.

"I am tired of being treated like a child!"

Kael remained silent.

Mira stepped closer.

"I want the truth."

"You may not like it."

"I don't care."

Kael's expression darkened.

"Your father wasn't killed by the Moon Council alone."

Mira froze.

"What do you mean?"

"There was someone inside the palace."

"Who?"

"I don't know."

"You were there!"

"I saw the attack, Mira. I didn't see who gave the final order."

"Then tell me what happened."

Kael's jaw tightened.

"Your father discovered that someone close to him was working with the council. He didn't know who it was. He suspected several people, but he couldn't prove anything."

"And you?"

"What about me?"

"Did he suspect you?"

For the first time, Kael looked genuinely hurt.

"Yes."

Mira's heart sank.

"Why?"

"Because I disappeared the night before he died."

"Where did you go?"

"I was sent away."

"By whom?"

Kael didn't answer.

Mira's mark suddenly burned brighter.

The entire temple shook.

A deep rumbling sound came from beneath the floor.

Kael immediately drew his sword.

"Stay behind me."

Mira ignored him.

A c***k appeared across the stone floor.

Silver light poured from it.

Then the ancient symbols carved into the walls began glowing one after another.

Mira's breathing became uneven.

"What is happening?"

"The temple is responding to you."

The c***k widened.

A staircase appeared beneath the floor, descending into darkness.

Kael stared at it.

"I've never seen this before."

Mira looked at him.

"You said you've been here before."

"Not this part."

The silver mark on Mira's chest pulsed.

A voice whispered through the darkness.

Come.

Mira stepped toward the staircase.

Kael grabbed her wrist.

"No."

She looked at him.

"Something is calling me."

"That's exactly why you shouldn't go."

"What if it's the answer?"

"Or a trap."

Mira pulled her hand free.

"You can't protect me from everything."

"I promised your father I would."

"And what did you promise him exactly?"

Kael said nothing.

Mira stared at him.

"That's what I thought."

She began descending the stairs.

After a moment, Kael followed.

The staircase seemed endless.

The air grew colder with every step. Strange blue flames appeared along the walls, lighting their path without producing heat.

At the bottom, they entered a massive underground chamber.

In the center stood a stone altar.

Above it floated a small crystal surrounded by silver light.

Mira felt something pulling her toward it.

She stepped closer.

The moment she touched the crystal, the world disappeared.

Mira found herself standing in a palace.

It was the Moon Wolf Kingdom.

But it was seventeen years ago.

She saw her father standing in the throne room.

He looked younger than she had imagined.

Beside him stood Elena, holding a tiny baby wrapped in white cloth.

Mira.

Her heart stopped.

Then another person entered the room.

Mira couldn't see their face.

But she recognized the voice.

"The council will come tonight."

Her father immediately reached for his sword.

"How do you know?"

"They know about the child."

Elena tightened her arms around the baby.

"We have to leave."

Mira watched helplessly.

Her father nodded.

"Take her through the northern passage."

"And you?"

"I will hold them back."

The mysterious figure stepped closer.

"You know what will happen if they find her."

"I know."

"They will kill her."

"They will have to kill me first."

The vision suddenly changed.

Mira saw her father fighting.

Wolves surrounded him.

Moon warriors.

Bloodfang warriors.

And someone else.

A shadow moved behind him.

A blade flashed.

Mira screamed.

Her father turned.

The vision ended.

Mira was thrown back into the chamber.

She fell to her knees, gasping.

Kael rushed toward her.

"Mira!"

She pushed him away.

"You knew."

Kael stopped.

"You knew someone attacked my father from behind."

"I knew he was betrayed."

"You lied to me."

"I didn't know who did it."

"But you knew!"

Her eyes filled with tears.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because I didn't want you to carry your father's death before you were ready."

Mira stood.

"And now?"

Kael looked at her.

"Now you're ready."

Before Mira could respond, a sound echoed from above.

Footsteps.

Many footsteps.

Kael immediately turned toward the staircase.

"We have company."

Mira wiped her tears.

"Bloodfang?"

Kael listened.

"No."

The footsteps grew louder.

Then a voice echoed through the chamber.

"Mira."

Her blood turned cold.

She knew that voice.

It belonged to Seraphine.

The High Priestess stepped into the chamber, followed by several Moon Council warriors.

Mira stared at her.

"How did you find us?"

Seraphine smiled.

"You opened the temple yourself."

Kael moved in front of Mira.

"Stay away from her."

Seraphine looked at him.

"You still serve the dead king."

"I serve his daughter."

"That is your mistake."

Kael tightened his grip on his sword.

Seraphine raised one hand.

The warriors behind her surrounded them.

Mira's silver mark began glowing.

"What do you want?"

Seraphine's eyes settled on her.

"The truth."

Mira almost laughed.

"Everyone keeps saying that."

"The kingdom is dying, child."

"I'm not a child."

"No," Seraphine replied softly. "You are the heir."

Mira stepped forward.

"Then tell me who killed my father."

Seraphine's expression changed.

For the first time, fear appeared in her eyes.

"The person who killed your father is not dead."

Mira's heart began pounding.

"Who is it?"

Seraphine looked past Mira.

Her eyes stopped on Kael.

Mira slowly turned.

Kael's face had gone pale.

"No," he whispered.

Seraphine smiled.

"You see? Even now, he cannot tell you."

Mira looked between them.

"What aren't you telling me?"

Kael lowered his sword.

"Mira..."

"Tell me."

He said nothing.

Her voice broke.

"Tell me!"

Suddenly, a roar shook the chamber.

The walls trembled.

The crystal above the altar shattered.

Darkness exploded through the room.

The Moon Council warriors were thrown backward.

Mira felt an unfamiliar power surge through her body.

Her eyes filled with silver light.

And somewhere deep beneath the temple, something ancient awakened.

A voice whispered inside her mind.

The betrayer has returned.

Mira stared at Kael.

For the first time, she was truly afraid of him.

But then Kael stepped in front of her again.

Not to attack.

To protect her.

And behind him, hidden in the darkness, a pair of glowing red eyes opened.

Someone else was watching them.

Someone who had been waiting seventeen years for Mira to return.

And that person smiled.

The hunt had finally begun.