Reclaiming My Broken Luna by Selene Souchon

Chapter 397: Pleads

Astrid's POV

"Rowena... sacrificed herself?" Asha's voice cut through the heavy night air, her words laced with disbelief.

She stared at me, her sharp eyes narrowing as though she'd misheard. "You're telling me Rowena-the same woman who would manipulate her way out of a storm if it meant saving her own skin-gave her life for you?"

Her tone wasn't accusatory, but I heard the doubt threaded in her question. I opened my mouth to respond, but before I could, her gaze swept over our group.

Her lips parted slightly as she studied us, taking in Killian's stiff posture and the unbearable weight etched into his face.

His shoulders trembled just enough for someone who knew him to notice, his pain so palpable it seemed to radiate off him in waves.

Asha blinked, her sharp demeanor softening as realization dawned on her. "She really did it," she murmured, her voice quieter now. "She's gone."

A quiet moment passed between us, thick with unspoken grief, until Nova broke the silence. "Where are the kids?" she asked, her voice thin and frayed with exhaustion.

Asha straightened, her expression tightening with resolve. "Don't worry," she said firmly, her tone laced with reassurance. "I've been personally taking care of them. Leira's been with Elara the whole time."

Nova felt relieved, hearing that her daughter is safe both physically and emotionally.

"I knew Leira wouldn't be troubled if she stays here with Elara. As long as Elara is with her, that girl doesn't care about anything else. Tell me, did she ever asked about us?" Nova's brows lifted slightly as she questioned Asha.

asked about her mother and father. All of them were asking too many questions that were hard to answer and

a huge age gap from Leira and Elara. With his age and his intelligence it would be hard

didn't tell them anything, right?" I asked, hoping that Asha didn't share a word to

why we had left. I didn't want the

her head. "Don't worry, I didn't

glad you guys are back already. I'm afraid if you had stayed away even for a day, I would have accidentally revealed something to Ryker already. Ryker is far different from his

trembling slightly despite my

They've had a long day." She paused, her expression softening further. "But I'll tell you this-they missed you. Both of them. Elara especially. She's been asking questions nonstop about when you'd come

and I forced myself to breathe. "How... how

of exhaustion and fondness. "They were worried," she

my

keep their minds off it-but they knew something was wrong. Kids always do." Her lips curved into a faint smile. "But when they wake up tomorrow and see you're back,

the thought of seeing the kids tomorrow was eagerly hoping to see them how.

They were always in my mind during the

wish they were awake now so I could hold them and talk

broke

and a warrior

halt, bowing his head slightly in

steady but urgent.