Lost Luna

Chapter 13

Nymera’s POV



I was sure Tony noticed it too because his shoulders stiffened slightly. Kaelith rested the sword against his shoulder casually, though there was nothing relaxed about his expression now.

“Shouldn’t you be helping clean the western training racks?” he asked Tony flatly.

Tony blinked. “I already finished my shift earlier.”

Kaelith stared at him for a second too long before replying calmly, “Then maybe find something else productive to do.”

Tony looked awkward immediately. “Right. Of course.”

He glanced toward me quickly before stepping back. “I’ll see you later, Nymera.”

“Bye,” I said quietly.

Then Tony left quickly enough that it almost looked like he was escaping.

The second he disappeared into the crowd of warriors, I looked back at Kaelith in confusion.

“What was that?”

Kaelith picked up the water flask resting beside the bench and took a long drink before answering.

“What was what?”

“The way you spoke to Tony.”

He shrugged lightly. “I spoke normally.”

“No, you didn’t.”

Kaelith stayed quiet.

I stood up slowly now, studying him more carefully. His jaw looked tighter than usual and he refused to properly meet my eyes for more than a second at a time.

“Are you upset?” I asked gently.

“No.”

“You seem upset.”

“I said I’m not.”

The answer came quicker this time. He sounded irritated… at me.

I blinked slightly at his tone.

For a few awkward seconds, neither of us spoke. The noise from the training field continued around us while Kaelith focused too hard on tightening the straps around his wrist guards like it suddenly required all his attention.

Then I stepped a little closer.

“Kaelith.”

Finally, he looked at me properly.

“What?”

“Did something happen?”

His expression softened slightly at my voice, but only slightly.

“No.”

“Then why are you acting strange?”

He exhaled quietly before looking away again. “I’m tired.”

I frowned a little. “You’ve trained tired before.”

Kaelith gave a small humorless laugh. “You notice too much.”

“Of course I do.”

That finally made him glance at me again.

For one second, he looked like he wanted to say something.

Instead, he just shook his head lightly and reached for my hand.

“Forget it.”

I let him hold my hand, but the strange feeling in my stomach remained.

Because even though Kaelith stood close beside me like always, something still felt slightly wrong.

Astra’s POV

I knew my plan was working the moment I saw the look on Kaelith’s face at the training field. He tried to hide it well, but I had known him for too long not to notice when something was bothering him. The second he saw Tony standing beside Nymera, talking comfortably with her while she smiled, his entire mood shifted. He became colder. Sharper. Possessive in the quiet way he always got whenever something touched a nerve.

And Nymera noticed it too. I could tell from the confused look on her face while she kept trying to ask him what was wrong. But Kaelith didn’t answer her. That was the important part. It meant that doubt had already set in.

I stood near the upper balcony overlooking the training grounds while watching them leave together afterward, their hands intertwined but their steps slower than usual. There was tension there now, small but visible.

That was exactly what I needed.

Sandra appeared beside me a few moments later carrying folded towels she obviously only brought as an excuse to be there.

“Well?” she asked quietly.

I smiled faintly. “He’s already starting to think about it.”

Sandra peeked over the railing curiously. “Prince Kaelith looked angry.”

“He was jealous.”

Sandra let out a small laugh. “Good.”

I leaned lightly against the stone railing while watching Nymera tilt her head toward Kaelith again like she was still trying to get him to speak properly. Poor Nymera looked completely unaware of what was happening around her.

Honestly, part of me almost admired how trusting she was.

She never questioned people enough or suspected bad intentions. That innocence was exactly what made manipulating her so easy.

Sandra lowered her voice slightly. “Are you showing him the pictures today?”

I looked away from the training grounds slowly.

“Not now.”

Sandra frowned. “Why?”

“Because timing matters.”

That was something my father drilled into me constantly over the years. Acting too quickly ruined good opportunities.

And right now, Kaelith still loves Nymera so much.

If I pushed too hard too early, he would defend her instead of questioning her.

So, I needed pressure to build naturally first.

Luckily, pressure was already everywhere around him lately.

The coronation was only days away now, and the entire palace felt suffocating because of it. Elders walked around constantly discussing preparations, servants barely slept because of decorations and ceremonies, and Kaelith himself looked exhausted every single time I saw him.

He and Nymera also barely spent proper time together anymore because preparations kept dragging them in different directions.

Which worked perfectly for me.

Distance made misunderstandings worse.

Sandra adjusted the towels in her arms nervously. “You really think he’ll believe the pictures?”

I glanced at her calmly. “People believe what they’re already afraid of.”

And I was sure Kaelith was afraid of being humiliated, or of becoming Alpha while people secretly mocked him behind his back. Or even talk of him choosing someone unworthy beside him and looking weak in front of the Elders.

Those fears already existed deep inside him even if he refused to admit them aloud. All I had to do was push gently.

Sandra looked impressed.

“Sometimes you scare me.”

I rolled my eyes before walking away from the balcony. “You’re dramatic.”

“No, seriously.” Sandra hurried after me. “You think about things like some evil mastermind.”

I laughed softly despite myself. “I’m not evil.”

Sandra gave me a look but wisely said nothing.

Over the next few days, I stayed patient.

I watched Kaelith carefully whenever Nymera and Tony happened to cross paths naturally around the palace. Nothing inappropriate ever happened between them, but after the pictures, even harmless interactions would look suspicious if someone wanted them to.

And Kaelith definitely noticed now.

Sometimes his expression darkened slightly before he quickly looked away. Other times he became quieter afterward.

Nymera looked increasingly confused by his behavior, but she stayed gentle and patient with him like always.

It almost annoyed me how sweet and calm she remained.

The coronation day finally arrived faster than expected.