Shadow of the Moon

Chapter 25

Estella

My vision blurred with red, and my chest heaved. A wave of dizziness washed over me, and I felt blood trickle down my palms as my nails dug into my hands. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Either marry Proteus, my sisters mate, or let them kill my mate.

Fury hot and consuming blinded me. I couldn’t bear to remain in that suffocating room a moment longer. With a roar of rage, I erupted, the heavy wood of my chair scraping against the stone floor as I threw it back. The sudden movement startled the council members, their faces paling as they recoiled from my outburst.

Lynx, her eyes wide with surprise, scrambled to her feet. I stormed out of the hall the doors nearly knocking off their hinges from the force of my blow. My footsteps echoing through the corridors, the council’s stunned silence ringing in my ears. I could hear Lynx close behind, her soft footsteps a counterpoint to my own furious pace.

“Stell,” she called, her voice soft.

I turned and thrust the heavy obsidian crown and the jeweled chain into her hands, the weight of them almost toppling the smaller female.

“Hold these,” I commanded, my voice a guttural growl. I needed to escape, to unleash the wildness that clawed at my soul, the fury that threatened to consume me. The confines of the council chamber, the stifling weight of their expectations, were suffocating me. I threw off my shoes, the horrible heels my mother insisted I wear across the hall.

Then, before Lynx could utter a word of protest, I was gone. I sprinted down the corridors, my bare feet slapping against the cold stone, my shadow stretching long and distorted in the flickering torchlight.

I burst through the doors of the keep, the cool night air a welcome relief against my heated skin. The moon, a silver crescent in the inky sky, cast long shadows across the gardens, beckoning me towards the wild embrace of the forest.

With a guttural growl, I shed my fae form, my body transforming into that of a powerful Bresag. I leaped into the forest, my paws pounding against the soft earth, my muscles rippling with a primal energy. The trees blurred around me as I ran, the wind whipping through my fur, carrying away the remnants of my anger, my frustration, my grief.

I ran until my lungs burned and my legs ached, until the trees blurred into a green haze and the ground seemed to rise and fall beneath my paws. I stumbled, my breath coming in ragged gasps, my body trembling with exhaustion. Finally, I collapsed at the edge of a still, black lake, its surface reflecting the star-dusted sky like a mirror.

The crystal lake was a place that I found solace in when the world was too much. It was a place Astra and I had visited often, we would swim through the icy water, ignoring our duties or trainings.

With a shuddering sigh, I shifted back into my fae form, my once-pristine purple gown now torn and muddied, I hadn’t bothered with the magic to keep the garment intact. I ripped the mask from my face, the metal suddenly too suffocating, the snarling wolf a mockery of the grief that gnawed at my soul.

I sank to my knees, my fingers digging into the soft earth, my gaze fixed on my reflection in the still waters of the lake. The face that stared back at me was pale and drawn, my eyes shadowed with exhaustion and despair. The scar that marred my face, a jagged reminder of the attack, pulsed with a dull ache.

A scream tore from my throat, a raw, primal sound of anguish that echoed across the silent lake. I clawed at my face, my nails raking against my skin, leaving angry red marks. I screamed until my voice was hoarse, until my throat burned, until tears streamed down my cheeks, blurring my vision.

The pain was unbearable, a suffocating weight that threatened to crush me. Astra, Cyrus, Thallia, A-pa... they were all gone, taken from me too soon, leaving me alone in this world of shadows and sorrow.

Finally, I collapsed onto the ground, my body wracked with sobs. I looked at my reflection in the dark water, my face pale and tear-streaked, my eyes red and swollen. For a moment, I imagined it was Astra staring back at me, her mischievous grin replaced by a haunting sadness.

“I don’t know what to do, Az,” I whispered, my voice raw with grief. “Either choice I make will destroy what is left of my heart. I wish you were here. You always knew what to do.”

I longed for her guidance, her wisdom, her unwavering support. She would know what to do, how to navigate this impossible situation. But she was gone, and I was left to face this burden alone. A gust of wind blew through the still clearing, it brushed against my face, almost feeling like a caress. I closed my eyes, leaning into the feeling.

I cupped the icy water in my hands, the coldness a shock against my burning skin. I splashed it onto my face, the water mingling with my tears, offering a momentary respite from the inferno of my emotions. But the pain remained, a deep ache that throbbed in my chest, a constant reminder of the impossible choices I faced.

A soft whimper, carried on the gentle breeze, pulled me from the depths of my despair. I lifted my head, my tear-stained cheeks catching the moonlight as I peered into the shadows. A pair of familiar emerald eyes glowed in the darkness, and my heart clenched with a mixture of sorrow and affection.

“Cara,” I whispered, my voice hoarse from weeping.

The magnificent Wrioron emerged from the shadows, her scales shimmering like polished jade in the moonlight. She approached me cautiously, her head lowered, her eyes filled with gentle concern.

She approached me with a gentle grace that belied her size, her footsteps silent on the soft earth. She nuzzled side, her warm breath ruffling my hair. A deep purr rumbled in her chest, a sound of comfort and reassurance that resonated through my weary soul.

“I didn’t mean to disturb you,” I murmured, my voice thick with emotion. I reached out to stroke Cara’s snout, my fingers tracing the smooth scales that shimmered like polished jade. “But I’m glad you’re here.”

Cara leaned into my touch, her massive head resting against my shoulder. Her presence was a balm to my wounded spirit, a reminder of the loyalty and love that still existed in this world, even in the face of such overwhelming loss. I leaned against her, letting her presence comfort me.

“Your father is back,” I whispered, my voice cracking. “He’s looking for you.”

Cara whined softly, her tail drooping. She had been separated from Kyros for far too long, the bond between them strained by distance and circumstance. I felt a pang of sympathy for the creature, a shared understanding of the pain of separation, the longing for a connection that seemed out of reach.

“I know it’s been too long,” I said, my voice firm with resolve. “But I’ll find a way for you to get back to him. I promise.”

Cara nuzzled me again, a silent expression of trust and gratitude. I wrapped my arms around the creature’s neck, my face resting against her smooth scales. In that moment, I felt a connection to Kyros, a tangible link through his beloved Wrioron, a reminder that he was out there, somewhere, fighting his own battles, facing his own demons.