A Luna in Disguise

Chapter 13

I swung my sword before I even knew what I was defending. The scout’s blade flicked out of the darkness, aimed at Elias’s back, and I blocked with a cry, metal screeching against metal. Heart pounding, I spun, feet braced, blade raised.

“Get back!” I snapped at the other refugees, pressing them deeper into the hollow’s shadows.

Riven swept forward, knocking the scout’s arm aside with a brutal punch. Kael stepped in behind him, shoulder low, and the three of us pinned our attacker against the oak’s gnarled trunk.

He struggled, face half-hidden by a tattered hood, silver eyes wild. “Please,” he muttered. “I only—”

“Shut up,” Kael growled, pressing the tip of his sword against the scout’s ribs. The man hissed.

I knelt to catch our captive’s gaze. I could see sweat in his hair, panic in his eyes. “Who sent you?” I demanded. “Council or… someone else?”

He swallowed, jaw clenching. “Council. You have to leave—safehouse is compromised.”

A chill slid down my spine. “Safehouse?” I said.

Riven’s eyes snapped to mine. “Which one?”

“The one… beneath the oaks,” I gasped, recalling. “They attacked it before we left.”

He swore under his breath. “They must have known. Someone tipped them.”

My mind reeled. Betrayal. The resistance’s first stronghold—burned. Rhea’s leadership base—gone.

Behind me, Kael tightened his grip. “Why not kill me?” the scout whimpered.

“Because you know too much,” I said. “Now talk.”

He swallowed, staring at the blade. “They sent wolves—you know who. They want you delivered alive. And… they followed your trail through the ravine wards.”

I exchanged a look with Riven. He gave a curt nod. “So the ravine ward was broken from within.”

My heart thundered. “A spy.”

The scout spat blood. “The resistance has a traitor. Someone fed your plans to the Council.”

Traders. Betrayal. My stomach twisted. My eyes burned with anger and fear.

“Who?” Kael demanded.

The scout’s head lolled back. He closed his eyes, shook. “I don’t know the name. But they wear your uniform sometimes… Riven’s uniform.”

Riven stiffened, face pale. “Impossible.”

“Riven?” I echoed. “You betrayed us?”

He shook his head, voice tight. “No. Someone forged my sigil. A saboteur within the ranks.”

Before I could respond, Rhea’s whistle cut through the air. She appeared at the hollow entrance, cloak swirling, sword drawn. Behind her, six of our fighters—Elias among them—stood ready.

Rhea’s eyes flicked from the scout to Riven. “We move. Now.”

She gestured along a faint deer path. “There’s an old smuggler’s tunnel just ahead. It leads to our secondary camp beneath Stonefall Ridge.”

Kael released the scout, pushing him toward Riven. “You keep watch,” he said. “If he tries anything—”

Rhea interrupted with a nod. “Go.”

We retreated in single file, the captured scout slumped against a tree as a warning. The night air felt colder, the forest more menacing. Every rustle had me flinching.

The tunnel entrance was nearly hidden by vines and moss. Rhea tugged them aside and slipped in, gesturing for us to follow. The horseshoe‐shaped tunnel sloped downward, damp earth pressing at our shoulders. Our footsteps echoed.

“Why here?” I whispered to Kael, who stayed close.

“Less likely to be watched,” he answered. “And the Council won’t suspect we’d double back after the ravine.”

I swallowed. “Still, someone knew.”

He squeezed my hand. “We’ll find them.”

Riven led the way, the torchlight dancing across the walls. After twenty paces, we emerged into a cavern lit by lanterns hanging from iron hooks. Dozens of fighters—men and women of all ages—stirred around wooden tables piled with maps, weapons, and provisions.

A buzz went through the crowd as rumors of our arrival spread: “The Luna fugitives…” “Kael Blackthorn’s back…” “Aria Valen is here…”

Rhea tapped her blade against the stone floor. “Listen up. We’ve lost the oak cabin—the Council hit it before we could warn them. We can’t go back. There’s another bunker hidden under the cliffs east of here. That’s our final fallback.”

She turned to me. “Aria, you’ll lead a reconnaissance. We need to know if the Council scouts have infiltrated that area too.”

I looked at the captive scout slumped at Riven’s side. “Do we trust anything from him?”

Riven’s jaw clenched. “He’s a piece of evidence—enough to get us started. But we’ll need to move fast.”

Rhea nodded. “Groups of four. Aria, you take Elias, Jax, and Miri. You’re scouting with stealth—no confrontation. If you see troops, signal and retreat. Understood?”

We all nodded.

I swallowed. “Understood.”

She pointed at the cavern mouth. “You leave in ten minutes. Rest now if you can.”

As the others dispersed to gather gear, I let my shoulders slump. Kael stood beside me, silent. I didn’t want to leave him, but I nodded when he placed a hand on my shoulder.

“I’ll be back,” I said.

“Come back safe,” he replied. His voice cracked ever so slightly. “I need you.”

I blinked back a rush of emotion. “I need you too.”

Rhea strode over. “Time’s up.”

We formed a line: Aria, Elias, Jax, Miri. We slipped out, leaving the cavern’s glow behind.

The tunnel opened onto a narrow ledge overlooking the cliffs. Far below, waves crashed against jagged rocks. A smaller tunnel entrance was set into the cliff’s base—our target.

I peered down. The path was steep and treacherous by moonlight. I swallowed.

“Ready?” Miri whispered.

I squared my shoulders. “Ready.”

We descended, feet carefully placing on slick stones, hearts hammering with each slip. The wind whipped salt spray around us.

At the base, we crouched beside the tunnel entrance. I pressed my ear to the stone—silence.

Good.

I slipped inside, Elias behind me, then Jax and Miri. The tunnel was narrower here, choked with sand. Torchlight flickered at the far end—someone was already in the bunker.

My pulse raced. We crept forward, breaths shallow. I glimpsed crates stamped with Rhea’s emblem.

A guard’s voice echoed.

I froze.

Then:

“One more hour and we move out. Orders from Rhea.”

I let out a quiet breath.

Rhea’s army was here.

But the Council wolves could be too.

I raised my hand.

“Someone’s here,” I whispered.

Jax nodded. “Get ready.”

And as the flickering torch came into view—