Chapter 38: The Queen Awakens

The roar beneath Lunaris shook the entire underground chamber.

Dust fell from the ceiling.

Ancient stones cracked.

And somewhere above them, the bells of the ruined kingdom continued to ring.

One after another.

As if Lunaris itself had awakened.

Lyra stood frozen.

Queen.

The word echoed in her mind.

She looked at Adrian.

“What did the throne mean?”

Adrian stared at her with an expression she had never seen before.

Fear.

“The Moon Throne doesn’t simply choose a ruler,” he said.

“It chooses the person who can command the ancient blood of Lunaris.”

Lyra looked at the broken throne.

“And now it chose me.”

Adrian nodded.

“Yes.”

A deep rumble interrupted them.

The Blood King stepped forward.

“At last.”

His crimson eyes fixed on Lyra.

“The final heir has awakened.”

Karl moved between them.

“You won’t touch her.”

The Blood King smiled.

“You still believe you can protect her?”

Karl raised his sword.

“I don’t have to believe.”

His eyes hardened.

“I’ll try.”

Lyra looked at him.

For a moment, their eyes met.

She remembered the man who had once rejected her.

The Alpha who had made her feel unwanted.

And the man standing before her now.

The one who had chosen to stay.

Lyra quietly said,

“Thank you.”

Karl gave her a small nod.

“Always.”

Suddenly, the Moon Bow appeared in Lyra’s hand.

Silver light surrounded it.

Three arrows materialized beside her.

The Blood King’s smile disappeared.

“The Moon Bow.”

Lyra pulled the first arrow.

“You said this weapon was created to destroy you.”

“Yes.”

“Then let’s see if the stories were true.”

She released it.

The arrow flew through the darkness.

The Blood King raised his hand.

A wall of black energy appeared.

The arrow struck it.

BOOM!

The entire chamber shook.

When the smoke cleared, the Blood King was still standing.

But a silver mark had appeared across his armor.

His expression changed.

“You’ve inherited her power.”

Lyra lowered the bow.

“Whose?”

The Blood King looked at her.

“Your mother’s.”

Lyra’s heart skipped.

Before she could ask another question, he disappeared into the darkness.

His voice echoed around them.

“Come find me, Moon Queen.”

Then silence returned.

Master Thorne hurried toward Lyra.

“You cannot remain here.”

“Why?”

“The Blood King knows you’re awake now.”

Lucien nodded.

“And he’ll come after you.”

Caelan looked toward the ruined throne.

“There’s another problem.”

Everyone turned.

Caelan pointed toward the floor.

The three cracks beneath the throne were glowing.

“The prisons are opening.”

Adrian’s expression darkened.

“How long?”

Caelan looked at him.

“Not long.”

Arnold stepped forward.

“What happens when they open?”

Caelan answered quietly.

“The Blood King’s army returns.”

Silence.

Lyra looked around the chamber.

“Then we stop them.”

Lucien shook his head.

“We don’t even know how many there are.”

Lyra looked at the Moon Bow.

“Then we’ll find out.”

They hurried through the underground passage.

But as they approached the exit, Lyra suddenly stopped.

Karl noticed.

“What is it?”

She looked toward the wall.

A faint silver symbol had appeared.

A crescent moon surrounded by four stars.

Lyra touched it.

The wall opened.

Behind it was a small room.

Inside stood a single mirror.

Lyra approached it.

Her reflection stared back.

Then the reflection changed.

It became her mother.

Evelina.

Lyra whispered,

“Mother?”

The image smiled.

“If you’re seeing this, my daughter, the throne has chosen you.”

Lyra’s eyes filled with tears.

“I need answers.”

“I know.”

The image lifted a hand.

“You will soon learn that power is not what makes a queen.”

The room became brighter.

“It is what she chooses to protect.”

Lyra listened carefully.

“Your father loved you.”

“Adrian protected you.”

“Caelan carried our secrets.”

“And the man you once rejected…”

The image paused.

Lyra’s heart skipped.

“…will be tested.”

The image disappeared.

Lyra turned toward Karl.

He had heard everything.

“What does that mean?”

Lyra shook her head.

“I don’t know.”

But before they could say more—

A howl echoed from outside.

Then another.

Then hundreds.

Lucien drew his sword.

“They’re here.”

Everyone rushed toward the exit.

They emerged from the ruins of Lunaris.

The sight before them left Lyra speechless.

The valley was covered with dark figures.

Thousands of them.

Ancient warriors stood beneath the moonlight.

Their armor bore the symbol of the Blood King.

The army had awakened.

Karl stood beside Lyra.

Arnold moved to her other side.

Lucien raised his sword.

Caelan and Adrian stood together for the first time in twenty-one years.

Master Thorne whispered,

“The final war has begun.”

Lyra looked across the army.

Then she raised the Moon Bow.

Silver light spread across the valley.

Every ancient warrior suddenly stopped.

Their heads turned toward her.

And one by one…

They lowered their weapons.

The army knelt.

Karl stared in disbelief.

Lyra looked at the thousands before her.

Then a voice echoed from the mountains.

“My queen…”

Lyra’s eyes widened.

The Blood King wasn’t commanding them.

She was.