Reclaiming My Broken Luna by Selene Souchon

Chapter 435: Deal with the Enemy

Astrid's POV

The journey to Ardan's stronghold felt longer than it should have.

They forced me to walk.

Through the forest, over uneven terrain, my wrists bound in iron shackles laced with wolfsbane, burning against my skin with every step.

I didn't fight them.

Not because I couldn't.

But because every second I stalled, every moment I made them think I was truly broken, brought me closer to Elara.

That was all that mattered.

The rogues surrounded me in a loose formation, their laughter and whispered taunts filling the night air.

They didn't see me as a threat.

Not anymore.

They saw a woman who had given up, a mother who had walked willingly into the lion's den.

That was their first mistake.

Their second?

Letting me breathe.

As we moved deeper into rogue territory, my thoughts remained sharp, focused. I counted our path, memorized the turns, the landmarks, the scent markers.

If I survived this, if I found a way to get Elara out, I needed to know exactly how to escape.

If I didn't... then at least Killian would know where to find us.

A rough shove at my back nearly sent me stumbling.

I gritted my teeth, inhaling slowly through my nose as I forced my posture to remain steady.

I wouldn't give them the satisfaction.

A rogue to my right-the one with sunken eyes and a cruel smirk—chuckled, his voice dripping with amusement. "What's wrong, Almega? You're awfully quiet for someone who walked right into her own death."

I ignored him.

Another rogue snickered. "Maybe she finally realized what she's done. Traded her own life for a brat that's probably crying herself to sleep by now."

My fists clenched.

"Or maybe she's not crying," a third rogue mused. "Maybe she's learning that her mother isn't coming for her. Maybe she's realizing that—"

moved before

the burning pain of the shackles be damned as I

crack echoed through the trees as he crumpled to the ground, gasping in

Silence.

other rogues halted,

the one I had just struck wheezed in disbelief, clutching his

meeting each of their gazes one by

I was still Astrid.

Still a fighter.

Still a mother.

let them talk about my daughter like

speak about my child again," I said, my voice like ice, "I will break

let out a low whistle, stepping forward, clearly entertained. "Still got some bite left, huh?" He crouched beside the rogue on the ground, shaking his head in mock

at me. "She won't be

I said nothing.

I didn't need to.

I knew who

he knew who he had taken from

The Rogue Stronghold

air changed as we reached the

blood was thick,

was a fortress. Hidden deep within the mountains, built into the cliffs, it was

From Killian.

glanced at us as we passed, too accustomed to their own

the moment they saw me-the moment

Others smirked, clearly enjoying my

Let them look.

here

here for

with a deep, resounding creak, and my

went rigid.

scent of power hit

Then the voice.

"Astrid."

I lifted my gaze.

And there he was.

Ardan.

The rogue king.

the center of the room his presence commanding, his dark eyes gleaming with a mixture of satisfaction

sent every

as I remembered. Tall.

dragging over me, over the shackles on my wrists, the bruises already

voice smooth, arrogant.

I didn't respond.

"No sharp words? No threats?" His smirk widened.

swallowed the rage bubbling in my throat, forcing my expression

him what he

Not yet.

took another step, circling me like a woff studying a wounded prey. "You came alone," he