The sickened luna’s last chance

+15 BONUS

Chapter 231

Ella

The moment I saw my body laying there in that casket, lifeless and pale and not quite right–they could never get anyone’s features right in the mortuary, lending everyone to a slightly off appearance in death- I snapped.

The guards who had once kept me locked away in my room on Alexander’s orders had found me on my knees right there in the middle of the parlor, horrified beyond all belief and on the verge of retching up what little I’d eaten today.

They didn’t listen when I told them I needed to speak to Alexander. Just grabbed me forcefully by both arms, treating me like a rogue in my own home, and tried to drag me away while the people who were attending my wake had simply watched in shock.

When Alexander arrived a few minutes later, holding our child–our son, beautiful and tiny and oh so precious–in his arms, I had hoped he would recognize me.

And for a moment, it had almost seemed like he did. His eyes had widened when I turned to reveal my face, and he had gone very, very still.

I had tried to send a thrum down our mate bond, tried to prove to him that I was still me; still Ella, his mate and wife and mother of the child he was currently holding. Even if he still thought I was a spy, he had to believe me.

But the bond felt muted. Dulled. As if the invisible thread that bound our souls to one another had somehow been whittled down, leaving an even thinner thread than before. Somehow, I feared that if I tugged too hard, it might snap entirely. Forever.

If he felt that tentative tug, he didn’t indicate it. He just coldly looked at me and told his guards to take me away like I was nothing more than a nuisance to be handled.

“I won’t have anyone causing a scene on the day of my wife’s funeral,” he said.

The guards grabbed me by the arms again and tried to drag me away. “Wait!” I cried out desperately. “But

I’m-”

Before I could finish saying my name, Lilith suddenly stepped into the room. Her face was just as cold as

said, “Let me see her out, Sir.” The guards froze, and Lilith gestured to

warring inside of me in equal parts when I saw her face. Lilith. My dear, sweet Lilith; she had to recognize me, right? But why was she looking at me like

than a stranger.

would believe me once I told her the

1/4

Chapter 231

+15 BONUS

when no one else would–and forced myself to calm down. The guards looked at Alexander, who hesitated, tightening his

son. Oh, how I wanted to hold my baby in my arms. He was alive and well from the looks of it, although he was so tiny from his premature birth. He needed

make out. They exchanged a few words, and finally, he nodded and stepped back. The guards released me to Lilith, who grabbed my wrist tightly and yanked me out of the

practically had to jog to keep up with her, completely taken aback by how rough she was being.

My son was still in that house, potentially in the arms of a man

I had no allies.

pulled me around the side of the house and into

alone, she turned toward me and threw

she whispered thickly into my neck. “Oh, Ella… My dear

come back.”

let go. Finally, a wave of relief so intense took over me that I nearly crumpled, and I threw my

worried you wouldn’t. But…” I pulled back just enough to look her in the eye. “How did

her hand along my cheek. “The resemblance in your new body is uncanny. Although

body? Why did it seem like Lilith knew exactly what was going on? “Lilith, what’s happening?” I

listening to our conversation, then furtively pulled me deeper into the garden and over to a small stone bench beneath an oak tree. I

did anyway.

began. “Your

“A… curse?”

2/4