Moonlit Vows Of Vengeance-Chapter 40: Going As A Trio

I found them both near the training grounds because of course, that’s where they’d be. Lucas was polishing his blade with that bored-but-dangerous look he always wore.

Marcus stood a few paces away, arms folded, brooding under a tree like the opening line of some tragic love poem.

I cleared my throat. "Hey. You two."

Both of them turned to me. Two pairs of sharp eyes, two very different shades of judgment.

"I’ve made a decision," I announced, standing straighter than necessary.

Marcus took a step forward. Lucas’s hand paused on his blade.

"I’m going to the lantern festival," I said.

Lucas smirked. "That’s good, it’ll be better we go out and you get your mind off what’s bothering you."

Marcus narrowed his eyes. "You two?" Then he asked me. "Bella what’s going on?"

Going together as a trio

I held up a hand before things got complicated. "I’m going with both of you."

They blinked.

"What?" they said in perfect unison.

I grinned. "Yes. Both of you. We’ll all go together." You both asked me so I decided to accept both invitations.

"No way," they echoed again.

Lucas tilted his head at Marcus. "I don’t do awkward third wheels."

Marcus scoffed. "Neither do I. Especially not ones with inflated egos and horrible character."

Lucas gestured vaguely toward him. "See? This is why you’d make a terrible festival companion for her."

"Oh, and you’d be better?" Marcus snapped. "What are you going to do, brood at the lanterns until they float away in fear?"

I raised both hands. "Okay, that’s enough. Children, please."

They both looked at me.

"I said I want to go with both of you," I said slowly. "You don’t have to like it. You just have to not kill each other. Think of it as...a friendly outing."

Lucas folded his arms. "This sounds worse than torture."

Marcus frowned. "I’m not sure this is a good idea."

"Look," I said, stepping between them. "You can glare at each other all night and argue about it or you can accept that I’m not choosing. I want to go, I want to have fun, and I want both of you there. So...cmonnnnn let’s do this."

Lucas exhaled through his nose. "Fine."

Marcus raised a brow. "I am also fine with that."

I put my hand on my hip and turned away. "This is going to be the longest night of my life." fɾēewebnσveℓ.com

But I couldn’t help the smile tugging at my lips.

This was going to be fun.

The sun was beginning to set, painting the sky in strokes of amber and violet, when I stepped out of the palace.

The Lantern Festival had already begun. I could hear laughter, music, the scent of spiced meats and sweet rice cakes thick in the air, and paper lanterns floated like stars drifting down to earth.

Marcus and Lucas were already waiting near the entrance to the festival square. And gods help me, they both looked annoyingly good.

Marcus wore a deep navy tunic embroidered with silver thread, the patterns curling like waves against his chest. His black pants were tucked neatly into polished boots, and his usually tousled hair was combed back for once, giving him a princely look that contrasted with the annoyed expression in his eyes.

Lucas, on the other hand, wore dark crimson with a black leather vest, his sleeves rolled up to reveal strong forearms dusted with old scars. His hair was still slightly damp from a recent wash I guess, it was pushed back with careless ease. There was nothing calming about him, he looked like trouble, the kind that didn’t apologize.

"You both look good," I said truthfully.

Marcus smiled. Lucas smirked. Then they glanced at each other and immediately grimaced.

"Didn’t know the circus was in town," Lucas muttered.

"At least I didn’t dress like I’m auditioning for a brooding tavern bard," Marcus shot back.

"Oh please," I interrupted, before they could start barking at each other. "Let’s go enjoy the festival before I change my mind."

The festival grounds were alive. We walked through rows of glowing lanterns hung from trees and archways, colors bleeding into each other—rose gold, sea green, indigo, flame-orange.

Children ran past us giggling, their cheeks sticky with syrup. Somewhere ahead, a troupe of dancers was performing under a string of crystal orbs that pulsed in rhythm to the drumbeats.

"Oh! Ring toss!" I pointed to a stall lined with prizes, carved pendants, candy, tiny potion bottles that glowed faintly. "Loser buys snacks."

Lucas grinned. "You’re on."

Marcus raised an eyebrow. "Let’s make it interesting then."

The vendor handed us five rings each. I watched as both of them squared up like it was a battle for the throne. Marcus tossed his first one and missed.

Lucas let out a laugh. "Careful. You’ll put someone’s eye out with that technique."

"Focus on your own rings, Red."

To their surprise and slight horror. I landed three out of five.

"Guess you’re both buying me snacks," I said, smirking as I picked out a glowing lavender candy orb that fizzled like fireflies in my palm.

We moved on, weaving through crowds. There was a stall where you could write a wish on a ribbon and tie it to a lantern. Another let you try magical archery, shooting glowing arrows at floating illusions.

Lucas won that one. Show-off.

"Guess it pays to be a charming talented man," he said smugly.

Marcus rolled his eyes. "Congratulations. You can shoot glowing butterflies. How heroic."

They kept bickering like that, but oddly, it didn’t bother me in a bad way.

When we stopped for food, I bought crispy buns filled with spicy meat, handing one to each of them like a peace offering. Marcus took his with a soft thank-you. Lucas took a bite and said, "If I ever die, it better be with one of these in my mouth."

"Noted," I said. "I’ll commission a food cart at your funeral."

Later, we gathered near the main river where people were launching floating lanterns. Each held a tiny flame in its belly, surrounded by enchanted petals. You whispered a wish into it before setting it free.

"I don’t know what to wish for," Marcus admitted quietly.

"Wish to stop being so uptight," Lucas offered.

"Wish to stop being so infuriating," Marcus countered.

I laughed and stepped between them, holding my lantern gently. I stared into its glow, letting the fire reflect in my eyes.

I didn’t say my wish aloud. I wasn’t even sure what it was.

Happiness? Truth? Peace?

Or maybe I just wanted to stop feeling like I was standing on the tip of something I couldn’t see yet.

The lanterns rose around us like fireflies made of hope, floating up into the dark sky, their light reflecting on the river’s surface.

For a moment, everything was just peaceful.

And I was....happy.