Bound To The Luna Queen

Chapter 5

Kael’s POV

“Is everyone ready?” I asked as we gathered near the sanctuary gate. I thought only the three of us, Randell, James, and I would be going.

But apparently, there were four others joining us. Three men from the spy division and Rita, who was now smiling brightly. It seems she insisted on tagging along.

“Yes, Kael,” James replied.

“Alright then,” I nodded. “In that case, let’s begin our journey.”

We boarded the carriage one by one. Once everyone was inside, I glanced at Randell. Surprisingly, she was unusually quiet today.

She wasn’t even looking at me. That’s fine with me, but it feels a little strange. It’s as if she’s scheming something, though I can’t quite figure out what.

I decided not to dwell on it. Taking a deep breath, I turned my attention to Rita. She was sitting beside me, chatting about princess Thorne.

I froze for a moment, caught off guard. She rarely talks about the royals, so why now?

“Do you know that Princess Thorne is at the age where she should be searching for her mate?” she said, smiling.

I stared at her, unsure how to respond. She was right. She was definitely of marrying age. My heart skipped a beat.

I shouldn’t feel this way, but bitterness crept into my chest. She was my mate, but I knew we could never be together. She might have been like me once, but not anymore.

She probably doesn’t even remember me. I shook the thought out of my head.

“From what I’ve heard, she’s been searching for her mate for a long time,” she added, and my body tensed.

That couldn’t be true. If she was searching for me, it was likely because she suspected I had something to do with her father’s death.

“Where did you get that information?” James asked her.

Rita smiled smugly and glanced at him.

“What do you think of a spy like me, James?” she replied meaningfully.

“That doesn’t answer my question,” James retorted dryly.

I couldn’t help but feel a little sorry for Rita. James was usually kind, but for some reason, he had a grudge against her.

Dear Rita, I wish Laurence had been your crush instead. I noticed the smile fade from her lips.

“I overheard it in the city. People there are always talking about her mate, the one they haven’t seen yet,” she finally answered.

Oh, so Rita had been outside the sanctuary. Or maybe she heard it during her mission last year.

James glanced at her, nodded, and said nothing more.

“Rude,” Rita muttered under her breath before turning back to me.

“I thought she was your icon?” I whispered to her.

Her eyes widened as she quickly covered my mouth with her hand. She glanced at James to make sure he hadn’t heard me.

“She might hear you, Kael,” she whispered back. I gently removed her hand from my lips and laughed softly.

“I won’t mention it again,” I said with a chuckle.

She pouted, about to respond, when the carriage suddenly came to a stop.

“What happened?” We saw Randell stand up.

“What are you doing?” I asked her.

She smiled. “I forgot something at the pack house. I’ll just grab it. You go ahead. I’ll catch up, she said.

I couldn’t help but glare at her. I had asked earlier if everyone was ready, and she didn’t respond. Now she was saying she forgot something?

I nodded reluctantly. He nodded back and began stepping out of the carriage. But just before she fully disembarked, I noticed a hidden smirk on her lips.

A bad feeling crept into my chest at that smirk.

“It’s fine if she doesn’t catch up,” Rita muttered, drawing my attention to her.

“Did you and Randell fight again, Kael?” James asked as the carriage started moving again. I looked at him, confused.

“What do you mean?” I asked.

He sighed. “I mean, the last time she caused trouble for you. Did you two fight? She’s been acting strange since last week,” he said.

Last week? All I did was repeat what I’ve always told her, that she has no chance with me because I don’t feel anything for her.

Usually, she’d still pursue me after that, but this time she hadn’t.

“No, we didn’t fight,” I replied.

James pressed his lips together. “I think she’s planning something against you,” he said, though he didn’t sound entirely certain.

I nodded because I thought the same. I needed to be ready for whatever Randell was scheming. No one spoke after that. Rita fell asleep on my shoulder while I stared out the window.

We were nearing the boundary. I took a deep breath, but I couldn’t stop thinking about her. How is she now? Ever since we left the palace, I’ve tried not to think about her, but I fail every single time. She was once the woman I had a crush on. But I know very well how absurd my feelings are. She’s Princess Thorne now. She deserves someone better. It’s a good thing I left. If I hadn’t, I would’ve only brought her shame. I can’t bear the thought of people saying her mate and king is nothing more than a servant.

I let out another deep sigh, closing my eyes as I tried to calm myself. But my peace was short-lived when the carriage suddenly stopped again.

Before I could ask what was happening, a scream pierced the air, waking everyone in the carriage.

“What’s going on?” Rita asked, startled.

My expression turned serious. This was bad. We were being ambushed.

I peeked outside and felt my heart drop. Damn it. The Royal Knights. They’re here.

What the hell is happening?

“Come out, all of you, or we’ll force you out!” a woman shouted from outside. We exchanged uneasy glances.

“We could fight back, but I think we’re outnumbered,” James said, his voice grim. I clenched my fists in frustration.

This wouldn’t be happening unless someone tipped them off about the mission. And then it hit me, Randell. She’s the one missing. She must have known this would happen, that’s why she left. That traitor. If I survive this, I’ll make sure she pays.

“I’m counting to three. If no one comes out, we’ll drag you out!” the voice outside boomed.

I shut my eyes tightly, trying to decide what to do. They didn’t seem like they were here to kill us. If that were the case, they wouldn’t bother giving us warnings.

“What do we do? You’re the leader, Kael. We’ll follow your orders. We trust you,” Rita said, gripping my hand tightly.

I swallowed hard, guilt gnawing at me. I didn’t deserve their trust.

“I’m sorry. We have no choice but to surrender,” I said firmly. They nodded in agreement.

“This isn’t your fault, Kael,” James reassured me as he stood.

One by one, we exited the carriage. The moment my feet touched the ground, two knights seized me, gripping my arms tightly.

Now all of us were kneeling on the ground. What are they doing? Aren’t they here to arrest us?

Footsteps approached, faint at first, but steadily growing louder. I ignored them until a familiar scent reached me, and suddenly, my chest tightened.

That scent… I gritted my teeth in frustration. Damn it. Was I hallucinating? It was impossible for her to be here.

“It’s been a long time, Kael.” My body froze. I… I couldn’t believe what I just heard. That voice…

Slowly, I lifted my gaze. And there she was the first thing I noticed was her cold expression, though a smirk played on her lips. She’s really here.

She walked toward me with a measured pace, stopping right in front of me. Then she bent slightly, lowering herself to my level. Her fingers brushed against my face, and I instinctively turned away. Why is she here?

“You haven’t changed,” she said softly, stepping back.

“Do you know her?” Rita asked, startled.

I squeezed my eyes shut. Damn it. This wasn’t how things were supposed to go.

“Why wouldn’t he?” she said coldly. “I’m hurt, mate. You didn’t even bother to mention me to your friends.”

I looked up at her sharply. Did she really have to say that?

“Mate?” James asked, disbelief clear in his voice.

I… I lied to everyone. No one knew about this—about us. Not even Mira or Elda.

“I…” I faltered, unable to find the right words. I took a deep breath and said firmly, “If you’re looking for me, then take me. Punish me instead. Just let them go.”

I swallowed my pride, knowing this was the only way. She stared at me, her gaze heavy and sharp, making me feel like an insignificant ant beneath her boots. She could crush me if she wanted to, and the thought sent a chill down my spine.

“You want to save them?” she asked, disbelief evident in her tone.

I nodded without hesitation. “Yes.”

A sly smirk spread across her lips, and she raised her hand.

“Knights,” she called, her voice commanding. Two knights stepped forward, dragging someone between them, Randell.

My breath hitched as I saw her. Blood trailed from the corner of her lips, staining her face.

What happened to her? I thought she had returned to the sanctuary. Why was she here like this?

“Look at her,” Lyra said darkly, her voice sharp as a blade. “She’s the one who revealed your mission. She sold you out, and yet you still want to save them?”

Just as I suspected. Randell was the traitor all along. I glanced at Randell, and to my disgust, she smirked.

“It looks like I’ve been betrayed as well, Princess,” Randell sneered. “You promised to give him to me if I told you their location.”

He didn’t finish her sentence because Lyra unsheathed her sword in one swift motion.

“Promise?” Lyra’s tone was deadly. “I don’t make promises, especially not to someone like you.”

Randell let out a bitter laugh. “I see. A woman who can’t keep her word…”

My eyes widened as Randell suddenly coughed up blood. Lyra had thrust her sword into Randell’s stomach, silencing her mid-sentence.

“No one can have him but me.”