The Day They Buried Their Luna

THE BLOOD OATH

Lysara’s POV

The palace shook under my feet.

Dust fell from the stone beams as the giant chandelier swinging from the vaulted ceiling shook fiercely.

Somewhere behind closed doors, the sounds of horns resounded through the mountain fortress and the sound of steel fighting steel followed.

Vaelric turned his head towards the door.

The cool man before me suddenly disappeared into thin air.

Every drop of heat went out of his crimson eyes.

His entire being shone with the killing intent of the ruler who had fought through many wars.

Even the servants waiting outside the chamber stopped.

Several Lycan guards kneeled instantly even though nobody had ordered them.

It wasn’t in honor of the man.

They got ready for war.

Vaelric walked towards the door.

“Stay here.”

No argument in his voice.

He lifted the huge black sword resting at the side of the door and strapped it on his waist.

For a brief moment, I thought about obeying.

But there was another blast.

The scream of a servant reached my ears from somewhere outside.

My heart skipped a beat.

This wasn’t happening because of him.

This was happening because of me.

Ignoring the pain that still burned in my body due to the childbirth, I rose from the ground.

“I have spent many months being decided on behalf of me.”

I followed him.

“I am not going to stay back anymore.”

The second I stepped into the corridor, chaos engulfed me.

Warriors dressed in black armor ran everywhere with the torchlight gleaming off their armor.

Some messengers yelled out orders while others helped frightened children hide themselves in some secret passage.

What appeared to be the quiet mountain fortress a few moments ago had become the battlefield.

There was the smell of blood in the air.

I managed to catch up with Vaelric even though every step was burning in my body due to the pain in my legs.

Every step reminding me that just a few hours ago, I had lost my child.

But I did not stop running.

“This is happening because of me, isn’t it?” I yelled.

No answer.

But he walked ahead with his purposeful pace.

His silence spoke volumes.

My heart clenched.

Silvercrest hadn’t come here by accident.

They had come here to find their missing prisoner.

Me.

As we approached the grand staircase, something surprising occurred.

A Lycan lady in her older years, carrying medical equipment, came to a sudden stop when she saw me.

Her misty eyes went wide.

"…Impossible…"

It was said in such a low whisper that I could barely hear it.

But another woman instantly grabbed her arm.

"Don’t."

And the old healer instantly ducked her head down.

Neither of them made eye contact with me again.

Before I got a chance to ask what she was referring to, Vaelric moved past her.

I couldn’t shake off this weird interaction with them.

What made her look at me like she had seen a ghost?

Heavy boots echoed in the hallway.

Warrior appeared around the corner, running towards us, before kneeling down.

Blood poured out of a large cut near his eyebrow.

"My Lord."

He panted.

"It's the Silvercrest tracking party."

Complete silence settled in the hall.

"They have been following the horses since the dungeons."

Suddenly, cold shivers ran up my spine.

No.

No…

Not yet.

But Vaelric did not move an inch.

"How many?"

"Thirty-eight confirmed."

Warrior swallowed.

"And possibly more hiding in the forest."

Before anyone could respond, second scout dashed into the hallway.

Unlike the first, he was actually scared to death.

"My Lord… "

He hesitated.

"Speak." – said Vaelric, with his voice getting darker.

"They were not the first."

Everything seemed frozen.

"What do you mean?"

"He knew exactly where to search."

Silence.

"They managed to avoid all the false trails."

His voice lowered.

"They moved as if someone already knew about the location of the palace entrance."

Ronan’s features also hardened.

Somebody…

had betrayed them.

Not from Silvercrest.

But from within the borders of Vaelric’s kingdom.

This news hit me like no blade ever did.

This was not just a rescue mission anymore.

This was becoming a start of a new war.

If they discovered I was alive…

They would demand my return.

If Vaelric refused…

Then every Alpha of the entire continent would accuse the Lycan King of interference with another country’s laws.

This was now becoming an international issue.

And I lowered my head.

All these warriors running in these halls…

All this blood spilled on these floors…

All these families who were waiting for their loved ones to return…

It was all because of Vaelric who decided to save one condemned Luna.

The weight of guilt pressed on my chest.

“I should surrender.”

Before I could stop myself, the words fell from my lips.

All heads turned toward me.

“If they take me back…”

Forcing myself to continue,

“…this is over tonight.”

Several Lycan warriors stared at me with surprise.

One was even offended by my suggestion.

Vaelric slowly turned around.

And for the first time…

his expression showed anger.

“You think that’s mercy?”

His tone was frighteningly composed.

“They’ll not stop until they’ve hanged you.”

He stepped closer to me.

“They now know the location of my fortress.”

His crimson eyes met mine.

“Dead women do not eliminate witnesses.”

Chills ran down my spine.

He was right.

Even if I surrendered…

they were going to attack regardless.

They had taken too much already.

Ronan came from another corridor.

Blood oozed from his split knuckles.

A bloody mess was covering his armor.

Following him were two Lycan warriors trying to bring their wounded companion to the infirmary.

“The eastern wall will hold another hour.”

He glanced toward one of the captains.

“Maybe less.”

Another explosion was heard in the fortress.

Chunks of rocks hit the ground.

Looking directly at me, Ronan said:

“All this…”

He gestured towards wounded warriors.

“…is happening because one woman entered our walls.”

His words shocked me more than they should have.

But they were the bitter truth.

Before I could say anything, a new messenger rushed to Ronan.

“My commander!”

“Enemy has broken through the second gate!”

Ronan cursed under his breath.

Grabbing the messenger by his shoulder, he asked:

“How?”

“There was no sign of breaking in.”

Swallowing hard, the messenger answered:

“The gate…

was already open.”

Silence filled the corridor once again.

Another betrayal.

One of us was collaborating with the enemy.

Ronan clenched his jaw.

“We have a traitor.”

Glancing at Vaelric, he added:

“My Lord…

give the order.”

There was a pause.

Vaelric didn’t say anything for a moment.

Instead…

he glanced at me.

On the outside…

the battle continued.

The walls trembled.

Horns could be heard somewhere in the fortress.

Then a scream.

Time was running out.

“There is no time left for consideration.”

The weight of his voice came from a king having to make an impossible decision.

“Decide.”

I stared at him.

Confused.

“Decide what?”

Those red eyes did not look away from mine.

“Whether tonight turns out to be the start of your new life…

Or the last for all those willing to protect you.”

Before I had a chance to speak up, another warrior stumbled into the hallway.

“My Lord…”

The sound was barely audible.

“The enemy has entered the inner courtyard.”

Vaelric shut his eyes for a split second.

But when he opened them again…

His decision had been made.

“I had hoped for more time.”

He looked right into my eyes.

“But destiny is rarely merciful.”

He came closer until there was only one pace between us.

“There is only one way to make sure no kingdom ever lays its hands on you again.”

I tried to find answers in his expression.

“How?”

That answer changed everything.

“A Blood Oath.”

“A Blood Oath?” I echoed, trying not to let fear break my voice.

It sounded as if it belonged to the forgotten past… something that should have been forbidden.

Outside, another explosion rattled the whole palace. Dust from the ceiling was flying through the hallways. Every second brought closer to the reality that men were dying out there while we stood here discussing our problems.

I made myself lock my eyes with his red ones.

“Then tell me what I am agreeing to.”

My tone grew sharp.

“No more half-truths.”

“I have had my trust broken before.”

The memories of Kaelor turning his head away filled my mind.

“I trusted my mate.”

I saw Seris standing in the council chamber, crying her heart out and ruining my life.

“I trusted my best friend.”

And then my baby…

No more.

“I will never go to the promises blindfolded again.”

For a long time, Vaelric just looked at me.

Instead of getting insulted…

He gave a barely noticeable nod.

“Good.”

This one word surprised me.

“A ruler who accepts each and every offer without asking any questions never lasts long.”

Ronan shot another impatient glance in the direction of the hallway.

“My Lord…”

Vaelric held up one hand.

Instantly, Ronan stopped talking.

“You deserve to know the truth,” said Vaelric.

“So listen.”

"The Blood Oath is older than every Alpha alive today."

Even Ronan lowered his head respectfully at the words of Vaelric.

"It was created by the first Lycans before the existence of the kingdoms."

His voice was full of the weight of history.

"It binds two souls under the power of the Moon."

"It is not a mating bond."

"It is not a contract."

"It is absolute."

And then he looked directly into my eyes.

"If you betray me knowingly…"

"Your wolf will reject you."

"If I betray you knowingly…"

"The same will happen to me."

I frowned.

"So neither of us can break it?"

"No."

"Is it reversible?"

"No."

"What if one of us changes his mind?"

The answer came instantly.

"The Moon knows no regrets."

The silence that fell upon us was heavy.

And then he added something that chilled me.

"The oath carries fragments of the truth."

I blinked.

"What does that mean?"

"During the ritual…"

"You can see fragments of my soul."

"I can see fragments of yours."

"But only as the Moon allows."

Before I could formulate yet another question…

another warrior burst into the corridor.

"My Lord!"

"They've broken the eastern barricade!"

"They're inside the outer fortress!"

The battle was getting closer.

No time left.

Steel met steel somewhere far below.

A scream rang out through the whole palace and then faded into silence.

Every muscle in my body tightened.

For a single second I imagined myself hearing the voices of innocent servants instead of warriors.

Three times a battle horn sounded outside.

Ronan's face changed.

"Retreat signal."

"They've reached the inner walls."

And then—

CRASH!

A stained glass window exploded inwards.

Glass shards flew through the corridor.

An arrow penetrated the stone pillar right next to my shoulder.

Reflexively I stumbled back.

Right behind me a Lycan warrior appeared.

Ronan yanked out the arrow from its resting place.

His expression hardened.

"Silvercrest crest."

He examined the arrow shaft in his hands.

"They're sending a message."

Vaelric watched the destroyed window.

"No."

His voice was unnaturally calm.

"They're testing our defenses."

Again another arrow whizzed past.

And yet another.

The fortress turned into a battlefield.

Everything else around me faded away.

The battle sounds.

The explosion of magic.

The screams.

The fear.

All that remained in my thoughts was a single question.

What if I walk away now?

How many lives would be lost because of me?

I closed my eyes.

I saw Kaelor's cold expression.

I heard the council's voice.

I remembered the dungeon.

I recalled Seris laughing while holding the baby in her belly.

And…

I remembered the heartbeat of my little child.

One that was gone forever now.

When I opened my eyes again…

the scared Luna who once pleaded for justice within the council chamber was gone.

Because she was dead – in that dungeon.

I stretched out my trembling hand towards Vaelric.

"The woman they have punished…"

I whispered.

"...is already dead."

My hand stopped shaking.

"If this oath allows me to find the truth…"

"If it allows me to reveal the truth about all those who condemned me to death…"

I raised my head.

"Then do it."

"I won't run anymore."

"I won't beg anymore."

"And I won't let anyone else decide my fate anymore."

For the first time…

Vaelric looked at me with what seemed to be respect.

Without another word…

Vaelric pulled a silver dagger from his belt.

The blade shined in the torchlight.

The ancient runes were glowing on its surface.

Vaelric cut his own palm open.

Bright red blood started flowing.

Then he looked at me.

"Your last chance."

"If you take it…"

"Both of us will be changed forever."

I nodded.

"I'm done being afraid forever."

The blade touched my palm.

Sharp pain flared up.

Before I could do anything…

he put our bleeding hands together.

Warmth exploded between our palms.

Vaelric closed his eyes.

Then he started chanting in an ancient tongue I've never heard before.

The voices sounded unnatural in the corridor.

Even the whole palace seemed to answer him.

Runes on the walls started glowing silver.

Outside…

every single wolf on the mountain howled at the same time.

The sound gave me goosebumps.

Suddenly—

Agony.

As though burning fire and ice were traveling through every single vein of my body.

I screamed.

The power threw me to my knees.

Everything around me started spinning.

The corridor disappeared.

The voices disappeared.

Everything turned white.

Darkness took over.

And then…

I was no longer myself.

I saw through someone else’s eyes.

Heavy rain fell from a black sky.

In front of me was a solitary grave under a very old, dead tree.

The name on the stone had been eroded away.

But the sorrow that weighed down on my chest was intolerable.

It was not mine.

It belonged to him.

Emotions that I never experienced before raged through my heart.

Losing.

Being sorry.

Being angry.

Beating myself up over something.

They hit me like an attack until I couldn’t breathe anymore.

Two pairs of trembling hands touched the gravestone.

Larger hands than mine.

Scarred from too many fights.

Vaelric’s hands.

His voice rang across the silence.

Not with pride.

Not demanding.

Not the feared Lycan King.

Just...

a broken man.

“I am sorry…”

His voice cracked.

“I have failed you…”

Then he uttered the name of a woman.

One that I didn’t know.

It was not mine.

The vision dissolved.

I sucked air back into my own body.

The silver light that surrounded us disappeared all at once.

Vaelric stepped back as if struck by invisible power.

For the first time since I had met him…

The composure of the Lycan King shattered.

His crimson eyes grew wide in genuine surprise.

“Impossible…”

he said.

“No one…”

“No one has ever invaded my memories.”

Silence hung in the hallway.

Even Ronan looked at us, surprised.

Before anyone could say anything else…

a huge explosion shook the palace.

The whole building shook.

A scared-looking warrior ran into the hallway.

“Sire!”

“Enemy has breached the throne hall!”

The fight had caught up with them.