The Other Queen
1181 Words
Chapter 3:The Other Queen
next morning, Blood moonlight woke to rumors.
The former Luna had left her chambers.
The former Luna had disappeared.
The former Luna was supposedly hiding somewhere, crying.
Austin believed it.
Chelsea believed it.
The council believed it.
They were right, but not for long.
The journey back to North whre I was born took Three days.
Luke was with me all the way.
We reached Starfall Castle in the middle of the night.
I went to my doom and it was still the same as I've left it five-years ago.
"The maid's cleaned and changed your bedsheets every month like your father requested after you were goe." said Luke standing at the door step of my chamber.
"Thank you Luke for taking care of my father's kingdom, I've heard good news about you over the years, mostly in gatherings."
"Well I love Starfall people and your father was like a father to me too."
"Well still thank you."
"Well get some rest, I will see you in the morning." He said as he left the my chamber.
At dawn, I rode into the training grounds.
Luke followed.
The warriors stopped what they were doing.
Whispers spread.
“Is that her?”
“The Silver Wolf?”
“She can't be…”
I removed my cloak.
The silver wolf emblem on my armor became visible.
One of the older warriors dropped his sword.
“Queen Lyra?”
I smiled.
“Not anymore.”
A young warrior stepped forward.
“Then who are you?”
I drew my sword.
“The woman you should have remembered.”
He attacked.
I moved.
One step.
A turn.
A strike.
His sword flew from his hand.
The entire courtyard went silent.
Another warrior came.
Then another.
Within minutes, six of Starfalls best warriors were on the ground.
I stood untouched.
Luke leaned against a stone pillar, watching.
His eyes were filled with something I hadn't seen in years.
Pride.
Not pity.
Not sympathy.
Pride.
“You're still fast,” he said.
“I've gotten better.”
“I noticed.”
We both laughed. I took s deep breath and headed to forest, Luke followed me quietly.
Then he said.
“I should have killed him.”
I turned.
“No.”
“He humiliated you in front of the entire kingdom.”
“He made his choice.”
“He betrayed you.”
“I know.”
“He replaced you.”
“I know.”
“And you are still defending him.”
“I am not defending him.”
My voice cracked.
“I am trying to let him go.”
Luke fell silent.
Then he walked toward me.
“You don't have to be strong tonight.”
I looked at him.
“I am not strong.”
“Yes, you are.”
“No.”
I shook my head.
“I gave everything to a man who never deserved it. I stopped being myself for him. I abandoned my wolf. I abandoned my family. I abandoned you.”
His eyes softened.
“You didn't abandon me.”
“I chose Austin.”
“You chose love.”
“I chose wrong.
Luke reached for my hand.
“You chose with the heart you had at the time.”
His thumb brushed across my knuckles.
“You can't punish yourself forever for it.”
I looked at our hands.
His warmth felt strangely familiar.
Dangerously familiar.
I pulled away.
“We can't do this.”
“Do what?”
“This.”
I gestured between us.
“Whatever this is.”
His gaze held mine.
“Why?”
“Because I'm still married.”
“You won't be by sunrise.”
“You don't know that.”
“I do.”
“How?”
“Because I brought the documents.”
He reached inside his coat and pulled out a sealed parchment.
I stared at it.
“What is that?”
“Your marriage dissolution.”
My heart jumped.
“You already prepared it?”
“I knew Austin would eventually do something like this.”
I took the parchment.
The royal seal was attached.
My fingers trembled.
“You knew?”
“I knew he wasn't worthy of you.”
I looked up.
“You could have told me.”
“I did.”
“No, you didn't.”
“I told you I loved you.”
My breath stopped.
Luke took another step toward me.
“You remember?”
I did.
Of course I remembered.
Five years ago, beneath the old oak tree in the northern territory, Luke had confessed his feelings.
He had asked me to choose him.
And I had chosen Austin.
But how could I believe him?
This was a day after I saw him and Chelsea at the woods.
I believed that he said only those words because he wanted me to stay.
Or maybe my father begged him to convince me to stay.
But now standing here looking at his eyes I can see he means it.
And maybe he meant it even five years ago.
“I remember,” I whispered.
Luke's eyes searched mine.
“I never stopped.”
The words were barely audible.
But they struck me harder than Austin's betrayal.
"Luke…”
“I don't expect anything from you.”
He took a step back.
“You don't owe me your heart because Austin broke it.”
I stared at him.
“I don't want to be someone's replacement.”
“You wouldn't be.”
“I don't want you to love me because you feel sorry for me.”
“I don't.”
“I don't want you to see me as a wounded woman who needs saving.”
“I don't.”
“Then what do you see?”
His answer came immediately.
“The woman who used to make me afraid to spar with her.”
Despite myself, I smiled.
“You were never afraid.”
“I was terrified.”
“You're lying.”
“I've always been a terrible liar.”
I laughed softly.
It was the first genuine laugh that had escaped me that night.
Luke smiled.
“There.”
“What?”
“That.”
“What?”
“You.”
I looked at him.
“You're smiling again.”
My smile faded.
Then I looked at the sword.
“I don't know if I can become her again.”
“You don't have to.”
He reached for my sword.
I allowed him to touch the hilt.
“She never left.”
His eyes met mine.
“She was waiting for you to stop pretending.”
Suddenly, footsteps sounded outside.
Luke immediately released the sword.
Someone was approaching.
I reached for my dagger.
The footsteps come from behind us.
A voice followed.
“Luna?”
I recognized it.
Mara.
My personal maid from Blood moonlight kingdom.
she appeared quickly.
"Mara what are you doing here?"
"I ran from the castle after hearing something terrifying. "
"What?" I asked.
Her face pale.
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