Blue Moon Eclipse

Chapter 10

Antonio POV~~

"He has been all these years in hiding. Raising his daughter to be an assassin." Thompson's voice over the phone makes my skin crawl, and Kai growl. My siblings gasp, looking to me the moment the sack is ripped from the heads of my mate and her father. My mother runs toward the council members holding out her phone. Guards stop her, take the phone, and pass it to one of them. I look as closely as I can at Lotus. Her lip is busted, and she's covered in bruises. Blood is matted into her hair as though it's been drying there for a day or so. Rage boils in my blood.

"Hours ago, they attempted to take my life. The penalty for this is death. However, this is my brother and niece. So I will give them the chance to earn their freedom. A trial by combat will take place. Ordovic, will you fight or choose a champion?" When the Old King speaks, his voice sounds like he hasn't had a drop of water in weeks. I glance around and see everyone enthralled by the fact that he is alive.

"I'll fight." He sounds like he's already lost, defeated.

"Lotus, will you fight or name a champion?" I can see the muscles on Thompson's neck twitching, like he's excited.

"My mate, Antonio Willows." My mother's head snaps to look at me. Kai growls at the sound of Lotus' voice. I feel a cold chill run down my spine, and Thompson looks shocked that she named me.

"Fine. Your champion has until nightfall to get to the palace. If he doesn't show, you will have to fight for yourself. Do you understand these terms?" His back faces the camera, and she looks past him, directly into it and at me.

"He'll be here."

"By the Moon Goddess it will be." Guards grab Lotus and Ordovic, taking them out of view of the cameras. The feed cuts off, and Kai's rage erupts, throwing my phone full force at the wall. It shatters, but I don't care. Turning toward the door, I storm out. I have to get to the castle.

"Tony! Wait," Sebastian calls after me, but I keep going. I have four hours until nightfall.

"If you're coming with me, keep up." I pick up my pace, and by the time I get to the doors, I'm running.

"How are we supposed to fight a Lycan Alpha? He'll be bigger, faster, and stronger than us. We need a plan." Kai is pacing in my mind, making my own thoughts race.

"I don't care. Lotus needs us. She may have fire in her, but she hasn't been trained to fight. She'd be going in blind." Kai sighs, we both know I'm right.

"Got any plan on how you're going to go about this?" Seb is by my side, and yet he knows not to speak.

"Not a clue. But wouldn't you do the same if it was Leah?" I glance at him and c**k an eyebrow at him. He looks away, throwing his hands in defeat. Walking toward the trees, my vision begins to blur.

"What the -" and before I can say another word, I collapse.

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"Antonio Willows. Your goddess calls to you." I hear a powerful and peaceful voice in my mind.

"Moon Goddess?" As I think it, a vision enters my mind. It's late into the night, and the full moon shines brightly into the clearing I now find myself standing in. The moonlight brightens, causing me to turn my head and lift my hand. Moments later, the light dims, and a gentle hand pulls mine away from my face.

"Hello, my child." A woman stands before me, with pale silver eyes and hair. The Moon Goddess has chosen to speak with me? This can't be good. I kneel immediately. As I do, I hear her laugh in my mind.

"Milady." I think, after realizing I can not speak in this place.

"No need for that, child. I am simply here to give you a message from Lotus." My head snaps to look at her when she says it.

"Lotus? Is she alright? Will I get to her in time?" She chuckles again.

"Calm thyself child, and listen." Placing her cool hand on my cheek, I see a new sight. It's a dank, dimly lit room, where Lotus is tied to a cot.

"Antonio. Please, if you can hear me, my father is alive. I think Thompson is going to execute him publicly. Please hurry." Her voice fills my mind, soothing Kai and I almost instantly. The fear in her voice makes my stomach sink, and my teeth clench.

"That was six hours before the broadcast." The vision changes. It's the same room, but this time Lotus looks exactly as she did when the broadcast ended.

"Oh, Antonio. What have I done? Please be okay. Please win." Lotus begins sobbing as the vision fades. I reach out, trying to touch her. Trying to wipe the tears away and comfort her, but then she's gone. I'm standing in the clearing again.

"That was immediately after the broadcast. Your mate needs you to be strong. I understand that Thompson is a Lycan, but you can win. He's stubborn, conceited, and arrogant. Use that against him." And with that, she's gone, leaving me falling back to my body.

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My eyes fly open to see my mother and Seb standing over me. My mother has tears in her eyes that flow over the moment she registers my eyes open.

"What happened, man?" Sebastian reaches out a hand to help me up. Taking it, I sit up and look around.

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you." My moms arms fly around my neck, and she sobs for a moment before pulling back. She begins slapping my arms.

"Don't you ever scare me like that again!" She says each word with a smack, landing the final one on the back of my head.

"The Goddess spoke to me. Shared with me some of Lotus' thoughts, and I think she gave me an idea." I look up to Seb. standing, I continue. "He's going to think he's already won. I'll use that to my advantage."

"Well, at least you're not trying to go at this gun blazing and no thought. Tell me about it on the way?" Seb motions toward the trees. I nod and remove my shirt.

"I love you, mom. See you soon." Giving her a peck on the cheek, I turn and take off toward the trees, Sebastian right on my heels. This was going to be a long run.