Moonlit Vows Of Vengeance-Chapter 37: The King’s Devotion

"Good," he murmured. "This is the first step. The ritual must hold. If we’re able to gather the remaining pieces soon then we would be able to revive the moon goddess and then my wife... I can finally see her again."

I felt touched by his devotion to his wife freēwēbnovel.com

I looked at Lucas, his expression remained indifferent.

No one else knew. Not the court. Not any of the guards. Not even the royal advisors. Only the four of us knew that the Moon Goddess, was slowly dying.

The fragments of her divine soul were being shattered, and without them, her power and with it, the protection of our world was going to turn into destructive chaos.

This Kurd would be used together with the remaining to restore her essence.

The King turned back to us and placed the Kurd into a sealed case etched with runes older than any language still spoken. He closed the lid with care.

"I would keep this very safe until it’s needed. But I’m curious to know.. Did the beast say anything?" he asked.

Lucas shook his head. "No it didn’t speak exactly. But even though we could communicate with it, it only expressed rage and fear."

I hesitated. "It also expressed pain and loss. It wasn’t mindless. It was guarding the Kurd like it was sacred."

The King gave a slight nod, as if he’d expected that.

"It was a guardian beast once. Long before it was corrupted. Some of its memories should still remain."

He looked between us.

"You’ve done well. Both of you."

Lucas straightened slightly. "What’s next?"

The King’s eyes narrowed with thought. "There is another object that you must retrieve, it is located in the southern lands. But we’ll wait for now. You need rest."

I nodded. "We’ll be ready."

He stepped closer and looked at me, not just as a king, but as a man that missed his wife dearly.

"When all of this is over," he said quietly. "I will leave this place and give the throne to a true born wolf."

Then he turned, case in hand, and walked toward the sealed passage behind the throne, it was the place where his wife laid frozen and unconscious.

We were left in the silence.

And the weight of what was still to come.

We stepped out of the silent hall together, the heavy doors closing behind us with a dull thud. I didn’t speak right away, and neither did Lucas. The tension of the meeting still clung to us—like moonlight on cold skin. The Kurd was no longer our burden. But the journey ahead loomed larger than ever.

Lucas glanced sideways at me as we walked down the palace corridor. "One down," he said softly. "Much more to go."

I gave a quiet nod. "And each one is probably much harder than the last."

We passed the arches that overlooked the inner gardens, light spilling in through the stained glass. The hush of the palace made our footsteps sound louder than they should’ve.

That’s when I heard a sound calling out my name behind us. We turned.

Cassius looked at us while still walking forward to meet up, his golden eyes was fixed on us.

He looked like he hadn’t slept in days, but his expression was still alert and sharp "Athena," he said, voice calm but clipped. Then he frowned and said "Lucas." Lucas nodded his head in acknowledgment but didn’t speak.

Cassius finally stopped after catching up, stopping a few paces away. "Athena, You don’t have to worry, I’ll be going with you on your next mission. I’m glad you were able to come back unhurt."

I raised a brow. "Going with me next time?."

"I spoke with the king during your absence," Cassius replied. " I’ll be joining you on the next one."

Lucas’s face didn’t move for a second. Then he smiled.

Barely.

"Really?" he said. "That’s news."

crossed his arms. "That means you’re off rotation. You don’t have to work with her anymore."

Lucas’s half-smile faltered.

Then his expression completely changed. He was frowning now. "And why would you assume she doesn’t enjoy working with me?" Marcus’s jaw tensed. "Because I know she doesn’t for sure."

Lucas chuckled under his breath. "I don’t think you know her like I do. I mean we’ve... bonded in so many ways. During both of our missions." He shot me a glance, a really playful one.

I felt shy all of a sudden. What was he saying..

Cassius’s fists clenched at his sides. "Don’t involve Athena in your games."

I didn’t understand why he was so angry. I wanted to speak up but then.. Lucas’s smile dropped entirely. "You think that I am playing games?"

Cassius took a step closer. "I think you’re cunning. And selfish. And I won’t let you use her—" "That’s enough!" I snapped before I could stop myself.

Both of them turned to look at me.

"I don’t need either of you speaking for me," I said sharply, my voice low but firm. "Not about what I enjoy. And definitely not about my choices."

The silence that followed was thick. Lucas looked away first. Cassius exhaled deeply through his nose.

"I’ll see you at your quarters a bit later," he said tightly. And then he turned on his heel and left.

I stood there a moment longer, staring at the space he’d just occupied. Lucas finally said, "Well... that was fun."

I gave him a look. "You didn’t have to provoke him."

He shrugged. "Didn’t mean to. He just makes it so easy, besides my words shouldn’t have angered him so much."

I sighed and rubbed my forehead. "He was just worried about me, you didn’t have to say weird things like us bonding in many ways..."

He gave me a sideways grin. "And why is that a weird thing?"

I blushed a little. " I don’t know, just.. just don’t say that again. Now let’s go."

He didn’t push the matter and I sighed in relief. The conversation was becoming weird to me. Then we continued walking side by side again.