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

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

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

Silence.

other rogues halted, watching,

in disbelief, clutching his ribs as

of their gazes one by

I was still Astrid.

Still a fighter.

Still a mother.

talk about my

again," I said, my voice like ice, "I

"Still got some bite left, huh?" He crouched beside the rogue on the ground, shaking

"She won't be so bold once

I said nothing.

I didn't need to.

knew who I

he

The Rogue Stronghold

changed as we

of damp wood and blood was thick,

a camp-it was a fortress. Hidden deep within the mountains, built into the cliffs, it was protected from sight,

From Killian.

the entrance barely glanced at us as we passed, too

moment they saw me-the moment they realized who I was-something

Others smirked, clearly enjoying

Let them look.

wasn't here for

was here

the stronghold opened with a deep, resounding creak, and

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 eyes gleaming with a mixture of satisfaction and

that sent every

as I remembered. Tall. Broad.

his gaze dragging over me, over the shackles on my wrists, the bruises already forming on

voice smooth, arrogant. "The mighty

I didn't respond.

sharp words? No threats?" His smirk

bubbling in my throat, forcing my expression into

him

Not yet.

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