The Road To The Moon Kingdom

The Shadow Army charged.

Aurora raised the Blade of Selene.

A wave of silver energy exploded from the sword, sending the first row of creatures crashing backward.

But there were hundreds behind them.

Kael shifted into his enormous black wolf form and launched himself into the battle.

Lucien disappeared into the shadows.

Aurora stood between them, the silver mark on her palm burning brighter with every heartbeat.

For the first time, she wasn’t afraid of her power.

She welcomed it.

“Come on,” she whispered.

The next wave attacked.

Aurora swung the blade.

Silver flames tore through the darkness.

One by one, the Shadow creatures fell.

But then the Shadow King appeared directly in front of her.

His sword collided with hers.

CLANG!

The force sent Aurora sliding backward.

“You’ve become stronger,” he said.

Aurora steadied herself.

“You sound disappointed.”

“I’m terrified.”

He struck again.

Aurora blocked.

Their blades locked.

“You know what happens if you reach the Moon Kingdom?”

Aurora pushed him back.

“I’ll find out.”

“You’ll remember everything.”

Aurora froze.

The Shadow King smiled.

“And when you remember who truly killed you…”

He vanished into smoke.

“…you may hate the wrong person.”

Aurora turned.

“Wait!”

But he was gone.

The remaining Shadow Army suddenly began retreating.

Kael shifted back, breathing heavily.

“They’re running.”

Lucien emerged from the darkness.

“They weren’t trying to win.”

Aurora looked toward the broken entrance.

“They were distracting us.”

Elyra’s face fell.

“From what?”

A deep rumble came from beneath the sanctuary.

The Moonstone suddenly cracked completely.

CRACK.

Aurora rushed toward it.

“No.”

The stone shattered.

A wave of silver light swept through the sanctuary.

Then everything went dark.

When Aurora opened her eyes, dawn was approaching.

The Shadow Army was gone.

So was the stranger.

Only the four of them remained.

Lucien looked toward the eastern horizon.

“We need to leave.”

Aurora nodded.

“Where?”

“The Moon Kingdom.”

Kael looked at the ruined sanctuary.

“We can’t travel by the normal roads.”

Elyra stepped forward.

“There is another way.”

She pointed toward a narrow passage behind the altar.

Aurora frowned.

“Where does it lead?”

Elyra looked at her.

“To the old Moon Gate.”

Aurora’s heart skipped.

“You mean the gate that connects to the lost kingdom?”

“Yes.”

Lucien’s expression became serious.

“If we open it, Seraphine will know we’re coming.”

Aurora looked at him.

“She already knows.”

Kael smiled.

“Then let’s give her something to worry about.”

They entered the passage.

The walls were covered in ancient paintings.

Aurora stopped when she saw one.

It showed a young woman holding a silver sword.

Beside her stood a vampire king.

And on her other side…

a black wolf.

Aurora touched the painting.

“That was us.”

Lucien nodded.

“Yes.”

A strange feeling filled her chest.

She looked at Kael.

“Were we happy?”

Kael’s smile faded.

“For a while.”

“And then?”

Lucien answered softly.

“Everything changed.”

Aurora continued down the passage.

At the end stood an enormous circular door.

A crescent moon was carved into its center.

Elyra placed her hand against it.

The door began to glow.

Aurora stepped forward.

The moment she touched the crescent, the door opened.

A breathtaking landscape appeared beyond it.

Silver mountains.

A glowing river.

Crystal towers.

And in the distance…

a magnificent palace beneath a giant silver moon.

Aurora stared.

“The Moon Kingdom.”

Lucien stepped beside her.

“Home.”

Aurora looked at him.

For the first time, the word didn’t feel strange.

It felt familiar.

Almost like she’d been waiting six hundred years to hear it.

Then a bell rang in the distance.

Once.

Twice.

Three times.

Kael’s expression changed.

“What does that mean?”

Lucien’s eyes darkened.

“It means they’ve seen us.”

Aurora raised the Blade of Selene.

“Then let’s go home.”

The three of them stepped through the Moon Gate.

Behind them, the portal closed.

And from the highest tower of the Moon Kingdom…

Queen Seraphine watched their arrival.

A smile slowly spread across her face.

“Welcome back, my little moon.”