Reclaiming My Broken Luna by Selene Souchon

Chapter 436: Enemy's Terms

Astrid's POV

Elara's blue eyes locked onto mine, wide and glistening with tears, her small frame trembling in the grip of the rogue holding her.

"Mommy!"

Her voice cracked, breaking something inside me.

I lunged, the burning pain of the wolfsbane shackles forgotten, my body driven by nothing but instinct.

I barely made it a step before rough hands grabbed my arms, yanking me back.

A snarl ripped from my throat. "Let her go!"

Ardan's smirk deepened. He raised a hand, and the rogue restraining Elara tightened his grip.

She whimpered.

A sound so small-so fragile that it shattered every ounce of restraint I had left.

"I swear with my own life, Ardan," I growled, my voice raw with fury, "if you so much as touch her "

He laughed.

Actually laughed.

Like this was amusing. Like he wasn't holding my world in his filthy hands.

"My, my," he mused, pacing toward me with slow, deliberate steps. "You really do have a soft spot, don't you?" His gaze flickered to Elara. "I wonder... does she share your stubbornness?"

Elara stiffened, her lip quivering—but she didn't cry.

Not anymore.

My girl. My strong girl.

I tore against the grip of my captors, my body aching, my wolf raging beneath my skin, desperate to rip him apart.

"If you hurt her-"

Ardan hummed thoughtfully. "Hurt her?" He tilted his head. "Astrid, do you really think so little of me? She's been treated like a guest."

My eyes darted to Elara's small wrists-bruises.

Rage blurred my vision. "Then why does she look like she's been dragged through hell?"

Ardan exhaled, shaking his head as if disappointed. "Your mate has rubbed off on you too much. Always assuming the worst."

I couldn't listen to this.

Elara needed me.

And I needed her out of here.

my voice. "You

his

My blood ran cold.

I stilled. "What?"

to me, and you did. But nowhere in

The room tilted.

I swayed, my

No. No, no, no-

recalled what was written in the paper he sent us, and he was right. In

I'd be Elara's substitute. He never wrote that he would release

about Elara that

again, the pain from the shackles no longer registering.

his grip so fast, so suddenly, that my body

dark eyes gleamed, inches from

to tear him

his throat and never let

But Elara-

still

go," I whispered,

Ardan chuckled. "No."

I stiffened.

back. Instead, his gaze dragged over my face, studying me, like I was some

as I imagined,"

slithered down

about this. About me. About this

I felt sick.

to remain steady. "What do

His smile grew.

he mused. "Your power, of

swallowed the bile rising in my

that," I said, my

a child."

last. "Yes, but she's a

flicked his fingers, and the rogue

pained sound slipping through

I lost it.

"Don't-!"

fought violently,

prashing

get

destroy every single

Ardan grabbed my throat.

I froze.

wasn't tight, wasn't crushing-but it

eyes burned into his,

Astrid," he. murmured, voice almost

Almo

And you

slithered around

I refused to react.

watched me for a long moment before