Reclaiming My Broken Luna by Selene Souchon

Chapter 428: Mother’s Desperation

Astrid's POV

The world felt distant, muffled by the thick fog of unconsciousness.

My body was heavy, weighed down by pain and exhaustion, yet my mind clawed for clarity, for awareness.

Then, all at once, reality came crashing down.

Elara.

My breath hitched, my body jolting as I forced my eyes open. A sharp pain seared through my back, but I ignored it, my heart hammering against my ribs.

My surroundings swam into focus-the soft glow of candlelight flickering against the stone walls, the scent of herbs lingering in the air.

I was in my room.

Someone had carried me here.

A shadow shifted beside me, and my gaze landed on Killian.

He sat in a chair beside the bed, his elbows resting on his knees, his golden eyes dark with something raw and unguarded.

His face was drawn, his usual sharp confidence buried beneath an overwhelming weight.

The moment he saw me stir, he straightened. "Astrid," he breathed, relief washing over his features.

But I barely heard him.

"Elara," I gasped, my voice hoarse. The panic surged through me like wildfire, burning through every ache and pain.

I tried to push myself up, but my limbs felt weak, trembling beneath me.

Killian was there in an instant, his hands catching my arms, his grip firm but gentle. "Astrid, stop," he said, his voice low, steady.

I shoved against him, my breath coming in shallow, uneven gasps. "Where is she? I have to go "

"Astrid, listen to me." Killian's hands tightened, his golden eyes locking onto mine. "She's gone, but we're tracking them. My men are already on their trail."

Gone.

The word slammed into me, stealing the air from my lungs. My vision blurred, my pulse roaring in my ears. I shook my head violently, my nails digging into Killian's

arms.

"No, no, I have to "

"You can't," he said, his voice strained. "You're injured. The doctors just treated you-you had wolfsbane in your system. If you go after them now, you won't make it past the border."

a sob breaking past my lips. "She's out there, Killian! Alone! She's scared-what if

terrified

to fight against the

weak, my muscles screaming in protest, but

needed to get to

I had to.

chest, his strong arms

place as my sobs

him at first, my fists weakly pushing

go.

then, slowly,

my body shaking as the dam inside

whispered, my voice cracking. "I

murmured, his voice filled with

"But what if—”

hair. "She's our daughter. And we are going to

gripped his shirt, my breath coming in uneven gasps.

her."

exhaled shakily, his voice breaking slightly. "No, Astrid. This wasn't

burning as I searched his face. "You promised," I whispered, the words

in Killian's expression

clenched, his golden eyes shining with grief and fury.

his body so tense it vibrated with restrained rage. "L swore to protect you. To protect them. And I didn't. I let them

her"

head, my vision swimming. “No,

should have been there. I should have stopped them. I should

look at me. "Then we fix it," I whispered fiercely.

His hands moved to my shoulders, steadying me as if

my body still pressed

unyielding, but even his strength couldn't quiet the

Elara was gone.

Taken.

I hadn't been able to

the sob that

strong. I had to think.

Ryker.

A fresh

Where was Ryker?

Why wasn't he here?

gripping his forearms

eyes, usually so steady and unwavering, flickered

I whispered, my voice

twitching against my

it—the hesitation, the flicker of something dark