Chapter 79

Chapter 79: Chapter 79

Chapter 79

"Hello, Luna. My name is Sophia."

"I’m Alex. It’s nice to meet you." I returned her warm gesture, and a hug she had thrown in her approach.

"Oh, it’s an absolute pleasure to meet you," she claimed, her eyes squinting at the edges from her smile. "I’ve heard so much about you. I’ve wanted so many opportunities to meet you."

"And I believe you would have, if..." I turned my eyes to Marcellan.

As though we’d both practised it, we shot Marcellan a death glare at the exact same time.

Behind us, Marcellan looked devoid of blood, his eyes darting between Sophia and me as though he’d overheard us planning his funeral and was desperately looking for an escape route.

"Oh, Luna, I came to borrow some of your time. Without distractions, of course, if you don’t mind."

Her accent truly wasn’t from around SilverFang, and she carried herself with much authority.

I’m glad to know more about Marcellan, but this part of him I’d learned about was a very nasty part. Yet at the same time, Sophia seemed like she’d help me learn better.

"Sophia..." he began, chiming in and making sure of the momentary silence that waltzed past.

The lady hadn’t regarded him since, nor did she even glance his way as he called her.

Instead, she focused on me. "Would you like some more drinks, Your Highness? There’s so much to drain one’s energy in a place like this."

"Yeah, sure," I muttered as I followed her, sharply turning my head towards Marcellan. I mouthed, "I like her."

Then I made a gnawing expression. "She’s rawrrr..." My hands helped with the tiger claws.

Sophia led us towards the bar area. A man attended to us there, whose smile was as bright as the first light of dawn.

"You know, I still can’t believe I’m here with you," she began.

A cocktail sat before my side of the counter, and I slid it closer before taking a sip.

"Wow." I muttered. The taste was indeed enlivening.

"And why’s that?"

"You carry so much aura. You..." She dropped her gaze. "You remind us of coming from nothing and becoming something. You went from zero to hero. A true inspiration for those who wish to be Queen in their own era."

Oh, I didn’t really know that about myself.

"Go on. I’d like to hear your perspective." I urged, paying more attention as I expectantly watched her.

"All right, so call me a pervert, but I’ve read every article written about you. You stopped wars from happening."

But wasn’t that only once or twice?

She continued. "You literally went into MoonBlade’s territory more than once. Imagine that. That’s the Pack that would have any SilverFang member’s head for dinner."

Okay, cannibalism wasn’t a thing in MoonBlade, but I didn’t want to interrupt her, so I let her continue.

"And oh, your journey with Alpha Kai. Damn, it was worth writing about."

"And are you a writer?"

"A fiction writer, yes. I used to write articles, but it doesn’t pay nearly as much as writing novels. I have a mind that constantly wishes to escape, so yes, I write stories."

"Does it help with your escape?" I asked.

She nodded once. "It’s like any external stimulation. It keeps you grounded for a while, but eventually you come back to face whatever you left behind."

She bit the inside of her mouth, making her lips twitch to one side.

Her raven hair, packed into a high bun, sat perfectly atop her head. A few stubborn strands threatened to fall into her eyes, and she brushed them away.

I was about to speak when my sight caught a familiar figure, causing adrenaline surged through my blood for reasons I couldn’t even explain.

Leo.

He had my undivided attention as he strolled into a secluded hallway.

I turned back to Sophia. "I don’t know much about you yet, but I’ve spent enough time with Marcellan to know he’s not completely a bad guy. As you’ve said, escape isn’t permanent, but maybe letting go of some grudges might help."

I slid off the footstool, my shoes clicking against the floor. "And by letting go of grudges, I don’t mean falling in love with the same man again. Just forgive yourself and let go of the trap."

I winked at her before apologising. "I’ll be back, okay?"

She stared helplessly at me as I left.

I made my way into the hallway.

The filament bulbs were dimly lit, leaving the corridor wrapped in a cold atmosphere as I strolled along. An ominous sensation clawed at the back of my neck the farther I ventured, but I stopped when I heard the murmur of a familiar voice.

Leo’s voice.

"What madness has possessed you?"

"It’s not madness..." The other voice stopped midway, and my throat tightened.

I could not be the denier. That’s definitely Nathan’s voice.

"You will shut it right now. How dare you come here?" Leo sounded enraged. I could almost imagine his face burning red. "Do you not realise the damage you’re about to cause?"

"You really don’t give a shit about me, do you? All you care about is saving your own face. You know what? Fuck you."

"Hey! Come back here. Where the fuck do you think you’re going?" Leo shoved him back.

I tried to peek through the door, but I feared it might creak if I pushed it even a little.

"I’m going to kill them both right now. Apparently, you’ve got no balls to join me, do you?"

A slap resonated through the room.

I imagined it was Leo’s hand connecting with Nathan’s cheek.

"I have better plans already in place. You think I arranged this banquet for no reason?"

As he explained, the realisation struck me so hard I froze, both hands flying to cover my mouth.

"I’ve got the armories secured. My armies are being built. So you won’t come here and ruin that for me. How the fuck did you even get inside?" Leo sounded far more than merely frustrated. If he could kill Nathan, I was sure he’d gut him where he stood.

Silence settled between them.

I steadied my breathing so neither of them would hear my presence.

"My life’s the one being threatened here. You’ll never understand."

Leo practically seethed with vexation.

"I was the one who fucking saved you. MoonBlade would’ve killed you by now. If you even dare betray me, I’ll end you."

Fuck...

Marcellan had been right when he said Leo seemed like the mastermind and the greatest antagonist we’d faced.

Seeing him now, even controlling Nathan, who possessed magic, it all made sense.

I took a careful step back.

I’d heard enough to conclude that the two of them were guilty of treason at best and needed to be captured immediately. So I reached out through the bond to Kai, but I hadn’t even completed the thought I was sending when my body froze.

My arms and legs bound themselves to my sides. Magic clawed its way up my skin, snaking around me to entrap me in a suffocating squeeze.

Then I floated into the air.

The next second, I was dragged violently forward, hissing as my head smacked against the doorframe on the way inside.

"And there’s the little rat that’s been eavesdropping." Nathan spewed.

My eyes darted from Nathan to Leo, who looked like he was about to shit himself.

"Fuck..." Leo muttered.

But among the three of us, I had a feeling I was the one who was truly fucked.