His Forsaken Luna-Chapter 136: Children of Day (1)

My palace felt emptier than ever as I entered its grand, desolate halls. The sound of my feet padding against the cold stone echoed through the space, each step a reminder of how hollow this place had always been. With no one by my side, I felt the weight of how I have really lived these past sixteen years. My wolf growled, disliking it and how I, an Alpha Princess, had been treated all this time.

I moved swiftly, pushing aside my thoughts. There was no point dwelling on the past. That’s all it was now-- the past. I would no longer stay here. Even if I was not going to the South, I would not stay here.

My wolf growled again, both with rage and debts that needed to be repaid thrice in kind to those who had mistreated me and at the mention of going to Sun and Fury. ’We’ll be gone with Eryx soon... But first, our people need us...’ I tell my wolf. At the mention of our chosen mate, my wolf gets excited.

The cold was barely kept away with Soren’s cape draped over my shoulders. Its weight was comforting and did its job of concealing me until I could change. I wouldn’t dwell in my room long; I was only there to change and then seek answers.

I climbed the winding staircase to my chambers, the air growing colder with each step. The door creaked as I pushed it open, revealing the familiar, untouched space. My bed sat in the centre, the sheets still perfectly smoothed from the last time I’d been here. I moved to the wardrobe, already unfastening the clasp of Soren’s cape, and grabbed a set of breeches, a shirt and some knee-length boots, followed by a warm coat with a fur-lined hood. I’d left only one outfit here in case I returned, aware the kingdom of Sun and Fury was much warmer than the North.

I turned back immediately once my boots were tied up, ready to face whatever havoc was left behind from the attack, but something stopped me in my tracks.

An envelope lay on my bed, stark against the pale linens. My heart stuttered as I recognised the handwriting: Theos. The letters were uneven and jagged—the mark of someone who had worked hard to learn, someone I had taught. It wasn’t elegant, but it was his. My fingers trembled as I reached for it. The edges of the paper felt rough against my skin, and for a moment, I simply stood there, frozen.

The sound of footsteps broke through my paralysis. I turned just as Soren entered the room, his eyes scanning the area with a soldier’s precision. His gaze settled on me, then shifted to the envelope in my hands.

"Is Calix okay?" I asked quickly, seizing the opportunity to shift focus. I tossed the envelope back on the bed, feigning nonchalance.

Soren nodded, running a hand through his dishevelled hair. He managed to find a pair of breeches, a loose shirt, and boots. Besides the time I’d spent with him in my bed, I hadn’t really seen him so unpolished.

"He is safe. Smart enough to lock himself in his room. I thought he might try acting the hero..." A faint smile crossed his lips, pride softening his otherwise hardened features.

"You should be with him and rest, Soren. You’ve been through a lot," I say, my fingers working swiftly to button up the jacket I’d chosen, the movements mechanical, practiced.

"You are not resting, and so I shan’t," Soren replied firmly. "Calix understands this—"

"Calix is still a child," I interrupted, turning to face him. "He must be frightened, even if he doesn’t show it. If he is anything like you..." My eyes narrowed pointedly; he is usually so stoic that it is easy to hide emotions. "Go to him. Rest. I am only going to question the children and then see my brother."

Soren hesitated, his jaw tightening as he weighed his options. Finally, he nodded, though reluctance lingered in his movements. We descended the stairs together, parting ways at the palace entrance. Just as I stepped toward the courtyard, his hand caught my wrist, his touch surprisingly gentle.

"I’m sorry I wasn’t much help the last few days..." he said quietly, his voice tinged with regret. "And... thank you. For what you did for me. I wouldn’t be... alive."

I blinked, caught off guard. "What I did?" He couldn’t possibly know...

"I will forever be grateful, Your Highness," he continued, his sincerity unwavering, bowing his head to me. "And I will come to you if anyone tries to use me against you again."

For a moment, I was speechless. I simply nodded, watching as my knight turned and disappeared to another part of the palace, heading toward his son.

𓆩:*¨༺✧ ♛ ✧༻¨*:𓆪

The children were gathered in one of the smaller, warmer rooms of the palace, unlike before, where they had been staying in the old hall.

Their faces were pale, their eyes wide and searching. They looked up as I entered, their expressions a mix of relief and fear. Xan, the eldest of the group, stood and approached me with a cautious determination. There were only a few of them now, at least four of them, including Xan. Two girls, one at least five, and another boy, similar age possibly the same as Xan.

"We hid well," Xan began, his voice steady despite the tremor I could see in his hands. "Just like you taught us. No one saw us." 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

I placed a hand on his shoulder, offering what little comfort I could. He was still a weird child, but it was clear this scared him. It was the second attack he’d witnessed in his short life. "You did well, Xan. Keeping everyone safe was the most important thing."

He nodded, swallowing hard before continuing. "But..." His voice dropped to a whisper. "I couldn’t hide everyone."

I knelt before him, holding his gaze. "You did what you could. I’m proud of you." I looked at the others. "I’m proud of you all."

The others stared back wide-eyed and then looked down like they’d been caught stealing cookies.

"Can you tell me... everything you know about the attack?" I ask gently. "Can you do that?"

Xan nodded, determination outweighing his fear as he stared back at me. "While the palace was attacked, a man sneaked inside to where we were staying."

"A man?" My expression grew serious. I glanced at the incredibly small number of children left behind, the ones that managed to escape and hide. "What did he do?"

"He checked our marks. Then his underlings came to take us. The others mostly willingly went. We used the chaos of the attack to escape and hide," Xan explained.

My expression grew darker and darker; I was unable to hold it back. "You didn’t want to go with them?" I asked. They had been settling in, but to hear some of the others willingly went with their kidnappers. Was it willing?

Xan shook his head. "He offered a better life for us. I do not see what the difference would be. We are in the royal palace, treated well, and looked after under you."

This kid was far too intelligent. I nod and then ask what I already knew the answer to be. "What did this man look like?"

"Black hair, red eyes. He was striking in a fearful, unnatural way," Xan explained.

Ciro. I leaned back and nodded with a sigh. "Is there anything else I might need to know? Anything at all?"

"We need more than food to survive..." A small, timid voice said from behind Xan.

Xan’s head snapped back to the older girl. "Quiet," Xan snapped.

"You need blood as well?" I ask with a sigh; some of my nightmares of the children are beginning to make sense. It was like some magick had been lifted from my mind, and what I had been seeing was real.

At this rate, I wouldn’t deny that it was. I’d met some High Fae, wildlings, and bat-winged creatures, got my wolf, and seen a few Blood Wraiths by now; maybe a creepy child like Xan could alter my memories.

Xan looked back at me slowly, his lips opening and closing until he mastered cold features. "Yes," he answered, taking a protective stance in front of the others, deeming me a threat.

If he did alter my memories and has been feeding from people, I will have his answer. Not right now, though; something else suddenly bubbled to the surface of my mind.

"Has your friend Asa visited you?" I asked, ignoring his protective stance.

"No," Xan replied, watching me warily.

"I am not your enemy. I have been the one trying to help you all..." I sigh and rise to my feet. "We will talk about what you’ve been doing later," I warn, then glance at the children behind Xan and blow out another breath, calming my wolf’s ire.

"Have you... fed?" I ask quietly, glancing at the door even though I knew the guards were pacing outside, complaining to each other about having to babysit children. My gaze swept across the children; they all looked hesitant to answer me. After meeting Ciro and seeing it was possible for a Blood Wraith to be completely sane, it wasn’t bizarre to believe the children were a hybrid of sorts.

They could also walk in the light, making me wonder if this is something Blood Wraiths cannot do. Their attacks were always at night. Similarly, those bat-winged creatures were nocturnal.

His nod was slow. "Yes... We took advantage of the chaos."

We—meaning he did. Xan was the leader of this little group and the smartest.

"Good. For now... Rest and stay out of trouble."

My steps were swift as I turned towards the door. "Put more guards on the children," I ordered the warriors outside their room.

At first, they stared at me, dumbfounded, about to question me. Then, I held their stares and tilted my head. "Is there a problem?" I asked, my tone steely. My wolf swelled with pride.

"Right away, Your Highness!" One of them ran off, and I heard him speak in the pack mind link.

I didn’t wait around as I marched away, my back straight. ’Alaric... The attack wasn’t aimless... The Blood Wraiths came for them. Ciro came for the children.’ I mind link my brother in a rush. ’Were there any surviving servants that attacked us?’

’We are with them now.’ Alaric sent an image of them in the dungeon, aware I wanted to see them.

’On my way.’