Shadow of the Moon

Chapter 24

Estella

I sat in the largest chair, the mirror of my throne a few rooms away. My small frame was almost swallowed by the imposing structure. Yet, as I donned the crown, my posture straightened, my eyes hardening. The satin purple gown I wore was itchy and too tight, my skin crawling with the urge to shift, to run far from here.

The jeweled golden chain that hung from my hips, a relic of my royal lineage, shimmered against the dark wood of the table.

The crown, a masterpiece of ancient craftsmanship, was a thing of both beauty and power. Forged from the heart of the earth, its obsidian surface seemed to absorb the light, leaving only a haunting darkness. Intricate silver filigree, woven in the likeness of thorny vines and twisting branches, adorned its surface, a testament to the wild, untamed magic that pulsed within the realm.

Scattered atop the obsidian, tiny diamonds, like captured stars, glittered with a cold fire, a stark contrast to the crown's dark majesty. It was a crown that commanded respect, a symbol of authority and a reminder of the sacrifices made to protect the realm.

The wolf mask, a chilling visage of snarling teeth, felt cold and restrictive against my face, its edges digging into my skin. Each breath I took heated the mask's interior, the rise and fall of its articulated jaw mimicking my own, creating an unsettling illusion of a beast speaking.

I drummed my clawed fingertips against the smooth tabletop, the rhythmic click-click-click-click echoing through the silent hall, a gesture I had seen A-pa perform countless times, a subtle assertion of authority. I needed to project confidence, strength, even if I felt anything but.

Proteus, his gaze fixed on me, sat across the table, his hands clasped and resting atop its surface. Beside him was Vega, my mother, her face etched with sorrow. Lynx, her youthful features alight with curiosity, sat on the other side of Mother, her silver eyes wide with anticipation.

The council members, their expressions a mix of apprehension and respect, shifted uneasily in their seats. They had gathered in the meeting hall, a smaller chamber that housed the large round table where all important meetings were held. The air was thick with tension, the weight of recent events hanging heavy in the atmosphere.

"Councilman Modris," my voice, filtered through the snarling wolf mask, resonated through the hall, a chilling echo that sent shivers down the spines of the assembled council members. The faint creak of the mask's jaws as I spoke added an unsettling edge to my words, a reminder of the untamed power I now wielded.

"Please enlighten me as to why you called this meeting," I commanded, my voice resonating through the chamber, amplified by the wolf mask. The faint clicking of my claws against the table punctuated my words, a subtle reminder of my authority. I would not tolerate this blatant disrespect, this attempt to undermine my position.

The three remaining council members fidgeted in their seats, their gazes darting nervously between Councilman Modris and me. Proteus stiffened beside Mother. Vega herself sat rigid, her lips pressed into a thin line, her eyes narrowed with disapproval. A palpable tension filled the air, a silent conflict brewing beneath the surface of the council meeting.

"Your Majesty," Councilman Modris stammered, his voice barely above a whisper. "We have... two matters... we wish to discuss today." He cleared his throat, his gaze flickering towards Vega, as if seeking her approval.

"Spit it out, Modris," I growled, my voice laced with a hint of impatience. I didn't like the direction this conversation was taking. The council's nervous demeanor, my mother's disapproval... it all pointed towards something I wouldn't like.

Modris swallowed audibly, his Adam's apple bobbing nervously. "We, the council, along with your mother," he began, then paused, his eyes darting back to Vega. "We believe... it would be in the best interest of the kingdom... if you were to... to marry."

My gaze hardened as I turned towards Councilman Modris. "Excuse me?" I said, my voice laced with a dangerous calm. Marry? Was this a joke? After everything that had happened, after the loss of my siblings, the attack on our borders, the constant threat of war... they wanted me to marry?

"It would demonstrate stability," one of the other councilmen, Ash, interjected, his voice smooth but firm. "A marriage would reassure the people, ensure the continuation of the royal lineage."

Lynx, who had been observing the exchange with a detached amusement, now leaned forward, her eyes wide with curiosity. I could practically feel her mind buzzing with questions, her mischievous spirit eager to dissect this unexpected turn of events.

"Absolutely not," I growled, my voice rising with barely suppressed fury. "I will not be forced into a union with a stranger. I don't need a male by my side to prove my right to rule." I rose from my seat, my small frame radiating a power that belied my age. "Unless you've all forgotten," I continued, my voice ringing with defiance, "whose blood flows through my veins."

I lifted the end of the jeweled chain that hung from my hips, the heavy links clinking against each other. "Each ruler of Tenebris adds to this chain, a symbol of our lineage, our power. It is a tribute to our mother goddess, Nyx. I do not need a male by myside to demonstrate power," I said that last part as a hiss.

I saw my mother flinch, a flicker of pain crossing her face, and my anger softened slightly. I had spoken harshly, my frustration and grief spilling over. But the council's suggestion, their insistence on marrying me off like a pawn in a political game, had ignited set my teeth grinding. How dare they?

"We haven't forgotten, Your Majesty," another councilman, Trevas, interjected, his voice laced with respect and a hint of sorrow. "But a marriage would project strength, unity. It would show our enemies that we are not weakened by tragedy."

“It is also well known that a mated pair provides more strength together than a ruler on their own,” Ash added, his voice soft. They wanted me to take a chosen mate? That was not how these things worked and they knew that. Plus, I already had a mate, but they need not know that.

“Do you see my mate here? Because I do not,” I said, waving my hands around the council chambers.

"That is why we have arranged one for you," the last councilman, Zev, added, his gaze hard as he settled his blue eyes on me.

I suppressed a growl. "And what poor soul would you have me marry?" I asked, my voice was dangerously low. I could feel my control slipping, the rage that had been simmering within me since the attack threatening to erupt.

The room fell silent. The council members exchanged uneasy glances, their faces pale. Finally, Modris cleared his throat. "We believe... Proteus would be the most suitable choice."

I recoiled as if struck. Proteus? My guard. Thallia's mate. The male who was still recovering from his own loss? I now understood his attempts to hide the mating marks on his neck, his awkwardness around Lynx. The thought made me sick; he was practically my brother. I didn’t even want to think about bedding my sister’s mate.

"Absolutely not!" Lynx shot to her feet, her voice ringing with indignation. Her hands, glowing with a vibrant green light, slammed against the polished surface of the table, the wood twisting around her hands. "That is absurd!" she exclaimed, her silver eyes blazing with anger. "You expect him to marry? Seriously?" She turned her attention to Proteus, who sat rigid in his chair, his chin lifted, a flicker of defiance in his eyes.

“Do you even know what you are asking of him?” she demanded.

"It is what's best for the kingdom," Councilman Zev replied, his voice laced with a patronizing tone that grated on my nerves. "He is a strong, capable male. He has proven his loyalty to the crown."

"I will do whatever it takes to secure this kingdom," Proteus said, finally turning to look at Lynx. His gaze was steady, his voice firm, but I could see the flicker of pain in his eyes, the shadow of his loss that lingered beneath his stoic facade. As if Lynx had struck him with her eyes, he turned away from her abruptly.

"You sully my sister's memory with your crude proposition," Lynx countered, her voice dangerously calm, though her hands still glowed with a faint green light. "If my sister were a male and your daughter were alive," she continued, her voice rising with indignation, "would it be Artemis you proposed for this union?"

A heavy silence fell over the chamber. My heart ached at the mention of Cyrus's mate, another victim of the conflict, another life stolen by the shadows of the sun. Artemis, with her gentle spirit and unwavering love for Cyrus, had been like an older sister to Astra and me.

After Cyrus’s death, Artemis was in so much pain from his loss that the babe suffered. The poor little girl couldn’t survive the grief and pain Artemis was feeling. After that, she immediately marched to the top of the keep and jumped. Her death had cast a long shadow over the keep.

The council members shifted uncomfortably in their seats, their gazes averted. Shame and regret flickered across their faces. They knew Lynx was right. They would never have dared to force a shifter's mate into marriage with their siblings, not when our traditions considered them royalty. The only reason this was being considered was because Thallia was not in the line of succession.

"If it is truly what is best for the kingdom," Zev began, his voice faltering, his usual arrogance replaced by a flicker of doubt, "then perhaps..."

How dare Zev say such a thing. Artemis was his daughter, yet he would have subjected her to this nonsense. My anger flared anew.

"Enough," I said, my voice firm and resolute. “I am done with this conversation. Modris, you said there were two matters?”

I fixed him with a stern gaze, my jaw clenched, my patience wearing thin. The council's attempt to dictate my personal life, to use me as a pawn in their political games, had ignited a fire within me, a rebellion against the constraints and expectations that had been placed upon me since assuming the throne.

Lynx sank back into her chair, her anger momentarily subdued, but a spark of defiance still lingered in her silver eyes. Councilman Modris, his shoulders visibly relaxing, let out a relieved sigh. He seemed to realize that he had overstepped his bounds,

"Indeed," Modris continued, his voice regaining its composure. "As we all know, the brambles are weakening. Holes have appeared in the bramble wall, large enough for our spies to slip through." He paused, his gaze flickering towards my mother, who sighed wearily. Lynx reached out and gently squeezed Mother's hand, a silent gesture of comfort and support.

"We have received intelligence," Modris continued, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper, "that Queen Celeste and the heir have returned to the castle."

Lynx's eyes widened in alarm, and she exchanged a startled glance with me.

"That is what you wanted to discuss?" I asked, my voice sharp with apprehension. "Their return? I was already aware of this." I was trying to draw attention away from Lynx's look of revelation, hoping the council wouldn't notice the sudden shift in her demeanor.

Councilman Zev leaned forward, his expression grim. "We want to send a message to King Phoenix," he said, his voice cold and resolute. "We want to assassinate the Queen and her son in retribution. Weaken their kingdom the same way they had crippled ours. "

My breath hitched in my throat. Assassinate the Queen and her son?

"The Queen and her heir mean nothing to Phoenix," Mother's voice, though quiet, cut through the tension in the room. Her gaze swept across the council members, her eyes filled with a wisdom born of years of navigating the treacherous currents of courtly intrigue.

My heart ached for my mother. I could see the pain hidden beneath her composed exterior, the grief for her lost mate, the fear for her remaining children. She had endured so much, lost so much. And yet, she still possessed the strength and wisdom to guide our kingdom, to protect our people.

My own relief was so profound that my knees nearly buckled beneath me. I gripped the arms of my chair, my fingers digging into the smooth wood, as a wave of dizziness washed over me.

"Celeste is the only one who can keep his cruelty in check," Mother continued, her voice gaining strength. "Ending her and her line will only unleash chaos, plunge Eloria into a darkness from which it may never recover." My heart flinched at the name. Eloria. I hadn’t allowed the name into my mind, trying to block all reminders.

My heart swelled with pride for my mother, her wisdom and foresight shining through even in this moment of grief and uncertainty. She understood the delicate balance of power in Eloria, the precarious hold that King Phoenix had on his throne.

"Come," Councilman Zev called out, his voice sharp and commanding, clearly ignoring my mother's words. Two figures emerged from the shadows beyond the doorway, their entrance as precisely timed as if they had been awaiting his summons. Leera, the spymaster, walked with confident stride, her dark eyes scanning the room with an intensity that made me shiver. Nysa, her second-in-command, followed close behind her expression a mask of impassive obedience.

My anxiety returned, a cold knot tightened in my stomach. Why bring her here? Leera and I have never had anything from hatred for one another. Her presence only added to my anger. I watched as they approached the table, their presence cast a pall over the already tense atmosphere. The air in the room seemed to thicken, the shadows deepening as a sense of foreboding settled over me.

Leera was an imposing figure, her tall frame and blood-red hair and eyes radiating an aura of power and danger. Her forked tongue, a literal manifestation of her sharp wit and cutting remarks, flicked in and out as she surveyed the room with a predatory gaze.

Her lineage was shrouded in mystery, whispered to be descended from a creature of darkness that even the creatures who fed off the blood of others. She was said to command the shadows themselves, weaving them into weapons of fear and despair. Similarly to how A-pa was able, and how I was not able to.

Nysa, in contrast, was small and unassuming, her short jet-black hair and solid white eyes giving her an otherworldly appearance. She moved with a quiet grace, her demeanor a stark contrast to her imposing commander. As they reached the table, Nysa sketched a deep bow before me, her head lowered in deference.

But Leera remained standing, her gaze fixed on me with an intensity that made my blood boil. My fingers tightened around the arms of my chair, my heart pounding against my ribs.

"Explain what you have seen, Spymaster," Councilman Zev commanded, his voice tinged with amusement at Leera's blatant disregard for courtly etiquette. He leaned forward, his eyes gleaming with curiosity.

Leera's lips curled into a sly smile, and she addressed the council with a voice that was a low, sibilant hiss, like a serpent coiling around its prey. "There is to be a grand celebration in the coming days," she announced, her gaze sweeping across the faces of the council members, lingering for a moment on me. "A celebration in honor of the Queen's return and the Prince's, that fiery one, twenty-first birthday."

"The King, Queen, and all the princes will be in attendance," Nysa confirmed, her voice soft yet chilling. "It would be the perfect opportunity to strike."

"Then it is settled," Councilman Zev declared, leaning back in his chair with a satisfied smirk. "Leera, how many agents would you require to complete this mission?"

My heart pounded in my chest. They were serious. They were actually planning to assassinate Kyros, my mate. A wave of nausea washed over me, and I had to grip the arms of my chair to keep from fainting.

"It is not settled," my voice rang out, sharp and clear. I couldn't let them do this, couldn't let them take Kyros from me, not when I just found out he was alive. "I have not approved anything."

Leera, completely ignoring me, continued as if she were the one in charge. "I would only need three, including myself, my lord," she said, her voice a sibilant hiss that sent a shiver down my spine. "Three of my most skilled assassins. We will slip through the weakened barrier, infiltrate the celebration, and eliminate the targets swiftly and silently."

"Excellent," Zev said, rubbing his hands together with glee. “We shall plan for you and yours to…”

I slammed my fist against the table, the force of the blow sending tremors through the room. The room darkened with my rage, shadows leaking from me. “Enough!” I growled; my voice laced with a power that silenced the council members. In one fluid motion, I stood, my hands morphing into deadly claws as I pointed to Zev. "You will not speak of assassination in my presence. You will not plot the murder of innocents, not while I am Queen!"

The shadows in the room swirled and gathered around my head, forming a menacing crown of darkness that intertwined with the obsidian one I already wore. A low growl rumbled in my chest, a primal warning that echoed through the hall. I would not tolerate any threat to my mate.

The council members exchanged uneasy glances, their faces pale. Leera did not flinch, she only shifted her blood-red eyes in my direction, hate and discontent simmering beneath the surface. The answering snarl that erupted from my mouth at the insolence of the spymaster caused her to back up a step. She may be powerful, but I was the Queen, and she would respect my authority. She reluctantly bowed her head, her face twisted into a sneer.

Councilman Modris cleared his throat, his gaze flickering nervously between me and Leera. "Your Majesty," he began, his voice hesitant, "we understand your... reservations. But we must consider the safety of our kingdom, the security of our borders."

"And what of the innocent lives you would sacrifice to achieve your goals?" I countered, my voice filled with a righteous anger. "What of the Queen of Eloria, who has shown us nothing but kindness? What of her son, who risked his own life to save mine?"

The council members shifted uncomfortably in their seats, their faces flushed with shame. They had no answer to my questions, no justification for their bloodthirsty plan. They had been so consumed by their desire for revenge, their thirst for blood, that they had forgotten the most basic tenets of our kind: compassion, honor, and justice.

"You forget yourselves!" My voice, though muffled by the mask, resonated with a power that silenced the council members. I radiated an aura of authority that belied my age, the strength of my convictions amplified by the fury that burned within me.

“The Queen and her heir had no part in this tragedy," I continued, my voice rising with each word. “Nor did the people of Eloria. What happened was the work of a cowardly King and his treacherous son.”

My eyes blazed with a fierce intensity that made the council members squirm in their seats. I could feel the power of my ancestors coursing through my veins, the strength of the Tenebrian fae flowing through me like a raging torrent. If I wasn't wearing the mask, I would have bared my teeth, a primal display of dominance that would have sent them cowering.

“Killing them would solve nothing!” I declared, my voice echoing through the hall. “It would only plunge our worlds into a war that would consume us all. Is that what you want? More bloodshed? More suffering?”

My words hung in the air, heavy with the weight of the tragedies we had already endured. The council members, their faces pale and drawn, exchanged uneasy glances. They knew I was right, but their thirst for vengeance, their fear for the future, clouded their judgment.

“You have two choices, Estella,” Councilman Zev interjected, his voice cold and calculating. “Either marry Proteus and provide the kingdom with an heir, or we proceed with the assassination. Either way, we secure our future. If you cannot comply,” he added, his eyes narrowing, “then perhaps you are not fit to rule.”

"You dare to threaten me, Zev?" I growled, my voice low and dangerous.