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."

don't care," I choked, a sob breaking past my lips. "She's out there, Killian! Alone! She's scared-what if they hurt her? What if we're

Elara in their hands, terrified and

as I tried to fight against the hands that held me

felt weak, my muscles screaming in protest,

needed to get

I had to.

me into his chest, his strong arms

as my sobs wracked through

first, my fists weakly pushing against him, but

go.

then, slowly,

against him, my body shaking as

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

temple. "She will be safe," he murmured, his voice filled with a quiet, unrelenting conviction. "I swear to you, Astrid, we will get

"But what if—”

smoothing over my hair. "She's our daughter. And we are going to bring her

breath coming in uneven gasps.

her."

breaking slightly. "No, Astrid.

my eyes burning as I searched his face. "You

in Killian's expression

golden eyes shining with grief and fury. "I know,"

vibrated with restrained rage. "L swore to protect you. To protect them. And I didn't. I let them

her"

head, my vision

have been there. I should have stopped them. I

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

at me for a long moment before exhaling sharply, nodding. His hands moved to my shoulders, steadying me as if grounding us

pressed against Killian's

firm, unyielding, but even his strength couldn't quiet the

Elara was gone.

Taken.

been

eyes shut, forcing down the sob

strong. I had to think.

Ryker.

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

Where was Ryker?

Why wasn't he here?

pulled away from Killian, my hands gripping his forearms

usually so steady and unwavering,

my

sharply, his fingers twitching against my skin.

I saw it—the hesitation, the flicker of