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

of the shackles be damned as I spun and slammed

the trees as he

Silence.

other rogues halted, watching,

wheezed in disbelief, clutching his

meeting each of their gazes one by

I was still Astrid.

Still a fighter.

Still a mother.

wouldn't let them talk about my daughter like

said, my

crouched beside the rogue on the ground,

"She won't be so

I said nothing.

I didn't need to.

who I was

who he had taken from

The Rogue Stronghold

air changed as we

wood and blood was thick, mingling with the lingering burn of

the mountains, built into the cliffs, it was protected from sight, from any

From Killian.

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

moment they saw me-the moment they realized who I

in shock. Others smirked,

Let them look.

here

here

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

went rigid.

scent of power hit me

Then the voice.

"Astrid."

I lifted my gaze.

And there he was.

Ardan.

The rogue king.

center of the room his presence commanding, his dark

every instinct in

same as I remembered. Tall. Broad.

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

voice smooth, arrogant. "The

I didn't respond.

tilted his head slightly. "No sharp words? No

swallowed the rage bubbling in my

give him what he

Not yet.

prey. "You came alone," he noted. "Smart. I expected Killian to put up more of a fight to keep