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.

course she did," Asha instantly answered. "After all you guys are still here mother. There wasn't a day where she didn't asked about her mother and father. All of them were asking too many questions

gap from Leira and Elara. With his age and his intelligence it would be hard to fool him and hide anything from

right?" I asked, hoping that

we left that she shouldn't tell the kids about the true reasons why we had left. I didn't want the dangers of our journey to rob peace from the children while we

said, shaking her head. "Don't worry, I didn't say a thing even to Ryker," Asha

if you had stayed away even for a day, I would have accidentally revealed something to Ryker already.

trembling slightly despite my

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

tightened, and I forced myself to breathe. "How... how were they

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

my best to

anything to 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

seeing the kids tomorrow was eagerly hoping to see

mind during

now so I could hold them and talk

a commotion broke out near the gates. Heavy

over the packed dirt, and a warrior approached us

halt, bowing

steady but