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."

lips. "She's out there, Killian! Alone! She's scared-what if they hurt her?

their hands, terrified and crying for me, shattered something inside

violently as I tried to

felt weak, my muscles screaming in

to get to

I had to.

into his chest, his strong

in place as

fists weakly pushing

go.

then, slowly, I

body shaking as the dam

whispered, my voice cracking. "I promised her she'd always be

will be safe," he murmured, his voice filled with a quiet, unrelenting conviction.

"But what if—”

softly, his hands smoothing over my hair. "She's our daughter. And we

breath coming in uneven

her."

breaking slightly. "No, Astrid. This wasn't

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

Killian's

clenched, his golden eyes shining with grief and fury. "I know," he said hoarsely.

my back, his body so tense it vibrated with restrained rage. "L swore to protect you. To protect them.

her"

my vision swimming. “No, Killian,

did," he rasped, his voice raw. "I should have been there. I

to look at me. "Then we fix it," I whispered fiercely. "We bring her

moment before exhaling sharply, nodding. His hands moved to my shoulders, steadying

body still pressed

firm, unyielding, but even his

Elara was gone.

Taken.

been

down the sob that threatened to

strong. I had

Ryker.

caught in my throat, my body stiffening. A fresh wave of panic

Where was Ryker?

Why wasn't he here?

my hands gripping his

usually so steady and

I whispered, my

fingers twitching against my skin. His

the flicker of something dark