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

pain of the shackles be damned as I spun and slammed

trees as he crumpled to the ground, gasping in

Silence.

other rogues halted,

disbelief, clutching

each of their gazes

I was still Astrid.

Still a fighter.

Still a mother.

let them talk about my daughter

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

bite left, huh?" He crouched beside the rogue on the ground, shaking his

at me. "She won't be so bold once Ardan

I said nothing.

I didn't need to.

I knew who

he had taken from

The Rogue Stronghold

we reached

wood and blood was

deep within the mountains, built into the cliffs, it was protected from

From Killian.

rogue warriors at the entrance barely glanced at us as we passed, too accustomed to

moment they saw me-the moment they

stared in shock. Others smirked, clearly enjoying my

Let them look.

wasn't here for

was here for

of the stronghold opened with a

went rigid.

power hit me

Then the voice.

"Astrid."

I lifted my gaze.

And there he was.

Ardan.

The rogue king.

commanding, his dark

sent every instinct

looked the same as I remembered. Tall. Broad.

he stepped forward, his gaze dragging over me,

you," he mused, voice smooth, arrogant. "The mighty Almega, finally brought to

I didn't respond.

slightly. "No sharp words? No

in my throat, forcing my expression into cold

give him what

Not yet.

wounded prey. "You came alone," he