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—"

before I

burning pain of the shackles be damned as I spun and slammed

as he crumpled to the ground,

Silence.

other rogues halted,

wheezed in disbelief, clutching his ribs as he glared up at

of

I was still Astrid.

Still a fighter.

Still a mother.

talk about my daughter like

ever speak about my child again," I said, my voice

whistle, stepping forward, clearly entertained. "Still got some bite left, huh?" He crouched beside the rogue on the ground,

won't be

I said nothing.

I didn't need to.

knew who I was

who he had taken from

The Rogue Stronghold

changed as we reached the rogue

was thick, mingling with the lingering

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

From Killian.

the entrance barely glanced at us as we passed, too accustomed to their own filth

moment they realized

shock. Others smirked, clearly enjoying my current

Let them look.

wasn't here for

was here for

the stronghold opened with a deep, resounding creak, and my

went rigid.

power

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 and

sent every

same as I remembered.

barely moved as he stepped forward, his gaze dragging over me, over the shackles on my wrists, the bruises already forming on

mused, voice smooth, arrogant. "The mighty Almega, finally

I didn't respond.

"No sharp words? No threats?" His

rage bubbling in my throat,

him

Not yet.

studying a wounded prey. "You came alone," he noted. "Smart. I expected Killian to put up more