THE LUNA THEY REJECTED CAME BACK RUTHLESS

He Wants You Ready

The silence after the Sovereign’s voice faded felt heavier than before.

Not because of fear.

Because of understanding.

I exhaled slowly, my arms lowering as the energy inside me settled again—controlled, quiet… but alert.

“He’s not trying to take me,” I said.

Kael didn’t respond immediately.

Because he knew—

I had figured it out.

“He’s waiting,” I added.

This time, Kael nodded.

“Yes.”

The confirmation tightened something in my chest.

“That doesn’t make sense,” I said. “If he’s been searching for me for years… why wait now?”

Kael stepped forward slightly, his expression more serious than before.

“Because you’re not what he needs yet.”

The words hit.

Hard.

“What does that mean?”

“It means,” he said, “you’re still growing.”

The warmth inside me stirred at that.

Not reacting.

Listening.

“And he wants that?” I asked.

“Yes.”

The answer came without hesitation.

A chill ran through me.

“Why would he want me stronger? That makes it harder for him.”

“No,” Kael said.

“It makes it worth it.”

Silence followed.

Because that—

That changed everything.

“He’s not just hunting power,” Kael continued. “He’s collecting it.”

My chest tightened.

“And you’re saying I’m part of that collection?”

“I’m saying,” he said carefully, “you’re the one piece he hasn’t been able to take.”

The weight of that settled deep.

“And he’s waiting until I’m strong enough to be worth taking,” I finished.

“Yes.”

The word felt final.

Cold.

“So every time I get better…” I said slowly, “every time I learn control…”

“You get closer to what he wants,” Kael replied.

The realization hit fully now.

Clear.

Sharp.

“And if I stop growing?”

Kael’s gaze didn’t shift.

“He won’t wait anymore.”

Silence.

Heavy.

Because now—

There was no safe option.

Grow—and become a bigger target.

Stay weak—and get taken anyway.

I let out a slow breath, my mind racing through everything.

“That means we’ve been playing this wrong,” I said.

Kael’s expression sharpened slightly.

“How?”

“We’ve been reacting,” I said. “Defending. Surviving.”

“That’s what’s kept you alive.”

“Not anymore.”

The words came out steadier than I expected.

Because something had shifted.

Not just in my power.

In my thinking.

“If he’s waiting,” I continued, “then we stop giving him what he expects.”

Kael studied me carefully.

“And what does he expect?”

“That I’ll keep growing blindly,” I said. “That I’ll keep reacting to his moves.”

A pause.

Then—

“So we don’t.”

Silence.

Because now—

This wasn’t just about control.

This was strategy.

“And what are you suggesting?” Kael asked.

I met his gaze.

Fully.

“We choose how I grow,” I said.

“Not him.”

The warmth inside me responded again.

Stronger.

Steadier.

Like it agreed.

Because for the first time—

This didn’t feel like something happening to me.

It felt like something I could direct.

Something I could shape.

And if the Sovereign thought he was waiting for the right moment—

Then maybe…

So was I.

Because the next time he reached for me—

I wouldn’t just be ready.

I’d be dangerous. 😈🔥