Rejected, Then Crowned Queen

Chapter two

For an agonizing moment, no one moved.

Then the entire valley erupted in chaos.

With a deafening crack, another piece of the Moon Stone broke off, sending glowing shards flying across the stone platform.

People screamed.

Parents shielded their children while warriors formed a barrier around the royal family.

"The Moon Stone is breaking!"

"Get everyone out of here!"

"Protect His Majesty!"

The sacred ceremony had turned into absolute bedlam.

Elder Orion staggered backward, staring at the broken stone in horror.

"No ..." He paled. "This can't be happening."

The Moon Stone had seen every mating ceremony throughout the kingdom's long history.

It had survived countless battles and plagues.

It had watched the rise and fall of kings and queens

...

but

...

it had never

never

ever broken before.

(For centuries, the Moon Stone had been a silent witness to every mating ceremony in the kingdom.

It had weathered wars and peace, famine and plenty, but this was the first time it had ever broken.

The stone stood proudly at the center of the valley, a testament to the kingdom's long and storied past.)

Lyra paid little attention to the commotion around her.

She was still kneeling on the ground where Kael had just rejected her.

The dull ache in her chest reminded her of the pain, but a strange warmth had taken its place.

It started as something small, almost insignificant, burning deep within her.

It surged through her veins like a foreign fire.

Lyra pressed her hand to her heart, eyes widening in shock.

What is happening to me?!

Another tremor rocked the valley floor.

Gasps of alarm rippled through the crowd as they all stared up at the sky.

The pale blue moon was shifting, changing ...

becoming blood red.

A hushed murmur spread through the crowd.

"The Blood Moon ..." murmured Elder Orion.

Several elders exchanged horrified looks.

"I thought it was just a legend," muttered someone.

"It was never meant to come," said another.

"There's no way for it to ..."

They trailed off as everyone took in the sight before them. This was no ordinary eclipse.

Lyra narrowed her eyes.

Prophecy?

What prophecy?

Elder Orion was talking again, but his words seemed to blur together until a firm grip around her wrist made her snap back to reality.

Emma.

"We need to go."

Lyra blinked up at her companion's worried face.

"I can't even—"now"

There was no room for argument.

Emma practically dragged Lyra through the panicked crowd.

As they ran, hushed voices swirled around them, some whispering dark curses.

At first, they kept their voices low, but soon the murmurs grew louder until people openly spat at Lyra's feet.

She continued running, her heart pounding.

There was nothing she could do about the hatred, but somehow seeing Kael's angry face was worse.

He hadn't moved from his place on the dais where the Moon Stone stood.

Even with the guards surrounding him, his piercing gaze was locked onto Lyra.

She could almost see the regret in his posture, but it was gone the moment soldiers blocked his view of her.

Lyra blinked rapidly, willing the tears away.

Down in the depths of the valley, hidden from view by dense foliage and twisting tunnels, an ancient chamber stretched out in darkness.

Massive pillars framed a small pool of silver water.

At the end of it, something as dark as the void floated.

It pulsed twice, then shattered, sending a ripple of gold across the chamber floor.

"Wake now, my servant," said a voice that was as old as the mountain itself.

The golden eyes snapped open, regarding the broken Moon Stone with an unreadable expression.

"So ..." Gold met gold across the cavern. "...she lives."

Several thick chains binding the mysterious figure snapped apart before tumbling onto the ground in useless pieces.

The Last Guardian was finally free for the first time in a millennium.

...

...

...

Back in the forest, Emma didn't slow down until the sounds of the chaotic mating ceremony had been swallowed by the trees.

She released Lyra's hand, letting the girl pause to take in deep, shuddering breaths.

"What ..." Emma exhaled sharply, trying to steady her own nerves.

"What happened back there?"

"I wish I knew," replied Lyra honestly.

She looked down at her hands, a faint glimmer of silver light flashing beneath her skin.

Ghosts of light danced across her palms before vanishing away.

"Emma ..."

"What is it?" The other girl straightened, peering at Lyra's hands.

"I think ... I think they were glowing."

Emma frowned as she inspected her friend's hands.

"I don't see anything."

"They were glowing!"

Lyra sounded frustrated, but there was something else there too.

A trace of fear.

She shook her head.

No.

It couldn't be.

She had only just rejected Kael and maybe her mind was playing tricks on her.

"Were you sure?"

Lyra asked, almost hopefully. "Surely you aren't imagining things?"

The forest around them seemed to tense.

A sharp snapping sound echoed from somewhere nearby.

Another crack answered it a moment later.

Emma stiffened.

"Did you hear that?"

Lyra nodded, her own skin prickling with unease.

The thick silence in the trees made it sound like the entire world had stopped.

No birds sang, no animals rustled.

Only the sound of footsteps approaching grew louder and louder with every passing second.

Dark green bushes suddenly fell away to reveal a pack of large black wolves.

Lyra gasped as the massive creatures emerged from the foliage.

She had never seen anything like them in her life.

Even the biggest wolf she had ever seen couldn't compare to these terrifying beasts.

Their eyes glowed like molten gold coins and bore right into Lyra's soul.

Emma stepped in front of her, blocking the pack's line of sight.

More wolves filed out of the trees, surrounding the two girls in a loose circle.

"How many are there?" whispered Emma.

There was no answer.

There didn't need to be one.

The sheer sight of the pack was overwhelming.

At least fifty wolves stood in front of them, their golden eyes gleaming with an uncanny intelligence.

"Lyra ..."

The wolves didn't attack, not immediately.

One by one, they dropped to all fours, their long bodies coiling and undulating like living shadows.

They bowed their heads in unison, a strange pack formation.

The largest black wolf took another step forward, lowering its head even further.

Then, a voice echoed in Lyra's mind, bypassing her ears completely.

"We have searched for you for centuries, little one."

Lyra's heart raced.

The huge wolf's head was almost touching the ground, but it continued speaking.

"We have waited patiently for our Queen to awaken, but we must ask ... will you join us?"