Chapter 16

Chapter 16

Lyra’s POV

I couldn't sleep, no matter how hard I tried. It felt like all of the nerves in my body were at alert, and all at once too. They refused to quiet down, like they were patiently waiting for something to happen, and I wouldn't say I blamed them, because in a way, they weren't too far off from the truth. The palace was never truly silent, not even before dawn. There was always a whisper of movement somewhere, the clatter of armor, the soft murmur of servants preparing for the day, and even the distant howl of a wolf greeting the moon’s departure. But this morning, it felt like everything in the walls of the palace, and beyond had completely still. Something was dying to break free, I could feel it, but for the life of me, I couldn't tell if it was going to be positive or not.

A chill ran down my spine after that. Deep down, I knew the answer, but right now, I was simply hoping for the best.

A small knock on my door was all it took to pull me out of my little monologue. I jerked upright, my heart slamming wildly against my chest. My pulse roared in my ears, and perhaps I would have passed out, if the door didn't give way to reveal a familiar face.

Ophelia didn't speak, not with her words anyway, but her eyes said everything her lips couldn't. I watched her sneak a couple of glances into the hallway, before turning back to me again. She motioned to me, and in one swift motion I was on my feet.

The little bag in my hand felt heavier than it should have. I'd lost count of the number of times I'd walked down the narrow servants’ passage, but now, each step seemed to echo too loudly in my ears. Ophelia led the way, and with her lantern barely lit, it cast only. the faintest glow against the walls. I watched her move with practiced stealth, navigating the twists and turns like someone who knew these paths by heart.

“Almost there,” she whispered, pushing aside a wooden panel at the end of a forgotten hallway.

Behind it was a small stone archway that opened into what looked like nothing but a dark crawl space. I hesitated only a second before following her in, and the first thing I noticed was the air instantly becoming colder.

“This tunnel connects to the old irrigation routes,” she explained quietly as we moved deeper underground. “It leads past the eastern border wall. No patrols, no eyes. If you keep to the left path when you reach the fork, you’ll find the pack gate near the dried up creek bed.”

I nodded silently, heart hammering. There was nothing else I could do, because right now, I wasn't sure I trusted myself to not tell if I tried to speak. Everything was at stake at the moment, and somehow, It wasn’t the idea of fleeing that frightened me most, it was everything I was walking toward, and the eventual end result.

Was this going to be a success? Was I really going to be able to escape and stop the bloodbath? How would Xavier react to my presence all of a sudden?

I pushed the thoughts away as we continued our journey. After a long, tense shuffle through the narrowing tunnel, a dim light ahead signaled the exit. Just a few more steps and I’d be out. I could practically feel the cold breath of freedom against my face, but just when I thought I was close, something caught my attention

“Who's there?” The barked voice sliced through the stillness like a blade. I froze mid step, pressing myself into the damp wall as a torchlight flickered into view behind us. Goosebumps raced down my spine, and I momentarily pressed a hand to my mouth to stop myself from screaming.

If Ophelia was bothered by our latest addition, she didn't show it. She spun around in an instant, just before placing herself between me and the light. Faint footsteps reached my ears, and as they bounced off the walls, I didn't miss the mumblings that accompanied it.

“...patrols this early?” Whoever it was hissed. “How's this my first job the moment I get reassigned?”

A soldier. Shit.

While my heart drummer rapidly in my chest, his silhouette was getting closer. He must’ve heard something, seen a flicker of movement, and was coming to check it out.

“I have to go back,” Ophelia whispered quickly, grabbing my hands. “If he sees both of us, it’s over.”

“No…” I'd barely gotten anymore words out before she cut me off with the small shake of her head.

“You’re the Luna,” she said, firmer this time. “You're the one who has to go. You have a mission. I’ll stall him, and say I came here alone, that I was looking for supplies, or probably got lost. Anything. Just go.”

“Ophelia, he could…” I couldn’t breathe.

“I’ll be fine,” she said, giving me a shaky smile. “Just promise me you won’t waste this. Promise you’ll come back in one piece.”

The light was closer now, and I could hear boots on gravel. There was no time left, it was either now, or never.

“I promise,” I whispered, voice cracking. I wanted to throw my arms around her, but she’d already turned, moving back toward the approaching guard with the confidence of someone who belonged there.

I slipped through the last narrow passage, heart slamming in my chest, and forced myself to keep going. I didn’t look back. I couldn’t, but as I emerged from the tunnel mouth beneath the dried creek bed and took my first step beyond the Redmoon border, a single, raw thought echoed in my head.

Please let her be safe.

The guards at Red Moon weren't monsters, and since literally everyone knew Ophelia and I were joined at the bone, I doubt they would be hard on her. If I could predict properly, I would say they were only going to taunt her a little for still being with me at this point.

A low hoot from the trees was all it took to pull me back to the present. The forest ahead loomed in shadows and silver fog, and somewhere far beyond it, so did Blackwater.

And Xavier.

The mere thought of the man had my pulse roaring, but before I could second guess myself or probably read too much meaning into it, I ran.