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Chapter 121: Burned and Not
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2022-12-01 17:44:03
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The Returned Lunaย ย ย Chapter 122: Return To The Castle
After the troops from the capital rested a bit, they loaded up the prisoners into carriages and headed back. Laurel sat on Adolphโs horse with him, leaning against him as Adolph refused to be separated from her. Chasel gave him an amused and grateful smile, but Adolph could only grin back, pressing stray kisses to Laurelโs head. The ride back to the castle was longer than any of them had realized after the battle and the initial ride up to the border. Laurel was dozing against his chest as they traveled through the forests between the border and the imperial city. The city did not receive them as they made it nearer to dawn than Adolph had hoped. They rode through the night until the sight of the castle rose out of the distance. The guards of the gates greeted him cheerily, gratefully, and they opened the gates for them. The servants came to help put away the horses and the supplies. Adolph dismounted carefully and brought Laurel into his arms and carried her through the palace. Wit
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2022-12-01The Returned Lunaย ย ย Chapter 123: Celebration Of The Fall
Adolph was sure that his head would be ringing for at least a few days after the celebration ended. Heโd sent the fastest riders out to every pack to announce the official fall of the vampire queen. As far as he knew, the entire country had broken out in celebration. The men who had fallen in the last battle were lauded as national heroes in their packs and Adolphโs heart. He would add them to the list of people to be given title and status posthumously. While the entire nation celebrated, he still wasnโt sure what to do with the vampire territory. The news from the border said that there had been no suspicious activity and no signs of the castle, meaning that both Annwn and the vampire queenโs castle maintained their protections despite the death of Morrigan and Eden. He didnโt know what that meant, but until they found a way around it, they would need to be cautious. He wrote out an order to advance the order a few miles towards cliffs overlooking the sea every week. He would be
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2022-12-01The Returned Lunaย ย ย Chapter 124: Dismissals and Reinstatements
It had been mere days since the celebration ended when Adolph called a formal meeting again, but instead of the usual meeting room, the meeting was held in the throne room. To Gavinโs surprise and dismay, he was dressed in full ceremonial dress and he had no idea what was happening. Every noble of the court was in attendance, including the ministers who had been dismissed. Laurel was dressed in a fine gown that made Gavin purple with fury. Olivia had been the luna yet she had never had a gown as grand as the one Laurel wore, or perhaps she had never seemed so natural standing beside Adolph. The sight of her irritated him to no end. โYour Majesty, what is happening?โ A minister asked, almost timidly. Adolph looked at him from his throne with a little smirk, โDo you not recognize open court?โGavinโs stomach churned. He didnโt like the sound of open court. They never held it while he was at war as a matter of course. What did they care about the problems of peasants? โThe first orde
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2022-12-01The Returned Lunaย ย ย Chapter 125: The Princeโs Duties
โI think we should talk about the prince,โ Laurel said as they lay in bed early the morning after theyโd held open court. Raven had been beside herself after the dinner was over, teary and emotional as she was shown back to her old rooms. Irene dabbed at her eyes and tried to maintain a brave face, but he had a feeling that Henry, Dorian, and Liam would all be dragged through the castle exploring all of their favorite places from their old studies to the gardens. The rest of his cousins would be doing the same, likely, happy to explore the castle with new eyes. Maybe they would end up chasing a frog or two around the pond. Whatever they did, it would be nice to have more than him, Laurel, and Basil at formal meals going forward from time to time. They would return to their packs at the end of the week to check up on things and carry on with their duties, but there would no longer be such a ceremony around them coming to visit. He imagined Basil would be pulled out of his drunken s
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2022-12-01The Returned Lunaย ย ย Chapter 126: Literacy
Laurel and Adolph came down for a formal breakfast just before Raven, Henry, and the rest. Basil and Delia were already inside the formal dining room. It was unnerving to have so many people at the table now, but a glance at Basil told her that he wasnโt uncomfortable if a bit timid. The food was served by a small team of servants and taste-tested in front of them before they began to eat. As always the food was delicious, but it was hard to focus on it with them talking so much. The cold older women who had come to the castle as lunas of nearby noble packs had been replaced with women laughing happily with each other, teasing and chatting amicably. They were so sickeningly happy that Delia had to tune them out. Sheโd had sisters once, but they had never been like this. She knew that Raven was Adolphโs sister, but she didnโt know the exact familial relationships between the others and she didnโt care. She supposed living at the top of society meant that people could be happy.โ...
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2022-12-01The Returned Lunaย ย ย Chapter 127: Unexpected Changes
Gavin looked at the seats where the other ministers used to sit and seethed. In their places were elevated commoners and warriors as courtiers along with all the pack leaders, the alphas, and lunas. He sat across the table from Basil, but he never felt so alone or powerless. Adolph had been cruel in the way heโd allowed his ceremonial title to remain, a cold gleam in his eye every time he glanced at Gavin. He would pay for this but Gavin held his tongue as people began to speak about their options. Annexing the territory of the vampire queen was partially in their interest. More land typically meant more power, but the land had been barren since time immemorial. If the land was truly barren, then annexing the land would just bring more mouths to feed. After all the upheaval, they wouldnโt have the food stores to make it through the year. Adolph watched Gavin contemplating it. His thoughts were clear on his face, and to a degree, Adolph agreed, but there was no way around it.โI th
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2022-12-01The Returned Lunaย ย ย Chapter 128: Plots and Announcements
She was nervous, pacing the little parlor of his rooms. While he had her things moved into the queenโs rooms, she hadnโt spent much time in them. She held the drafts of the birth announcements that Raven had the royal calligrapher create for them. They wouldnโt be going out until the baby had arrived, but it was the best way to tell Adolph. โLaurel?โ She stopped and turned as Adolph entered the room with a surprised expression. โWhat are you doing here? Itโs almost dinnertime.โShe smiled, โI thoughtโฆ we could have dinner together in private.โAdolph smiled, coming closer, โPrivate, hm?โHis tone set a flush in her cheeks and lowered her gaze, โYesโฆ Though I have something to tell youโฆโAdolph frowned, flinching as he eyed her, โWhat is it?โLaurel startled, shaking her head and drawing closer, โNothing bad. I promise. Sit down.โAdolph sunk onto the couch and she sat beside him. She set the drafts in front of him, but his eyes widened at the first one she placed in front of him. He
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2022-12-01The Returned Lunaย ย ย Chapter 129: Anxiety
*The scent of blood filled his nose, seeping under the doors.* *Cries of agony and fear filled the air. He ran through the door to find Laurel in her birthing bed, growing paler by the moment, reaching for him with a trembling pale hand.* *Servants rushed around in a flurry, screaming for towels.* *The healer looked harried and he felt their bond trembling.**It shook, strained, and stretched until he felt it about to break.* โLaurel!โ Adolph cried, sitting up in bed. He was alone in bed and it only made his heart run faster. He threw off his blankets and jumped from the bed. โLaurel?โ Adolph called, entering the bathroom. Laurel flinched, looking up at him from in the bathtub, her body obscured by the layer of bubbles on top.Her face turned bright red, โA-Adolph, whatโs wrong?โHe shuddered, slumping back against the wall before crossing the room in quick strides. He fell to his knees beside the tub and pulled her close to press their lips together. She gasped as he pulled her aga
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2022-12-01
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The Returned Lunaย ย ย Chapter 174: Jack
His stomach churned but he nodded, walking into the room. Fear filled him, but as he entered the room he started to relax. โYouโre so beautifulโฆ you take after your father.โLaurel lay among the sheets, dressed in a loose gown and cradling the baby to her chest.At the distance, he could only see a tuft of honey blonde hair in the swaddling blanket. The wetnurses bowed and stepped aside as he approached. Laurel smiled up at him, โWant to meet him?โโHim?โLaurel beamed at him, โHimโฆ Nimue told me before, but I wanted it to still be a surprise for you.โAnother boy. Adolph sunk onto the bed beside her, kissing her cheek before looking down into her arms. He had Laurelโs nose and hair pattern though the coloring was all his. Maybe when he grew up heโd take after his grandfathers, but he wouldnโt be able to tell that for a while.โCan I hold him?โLaurel nodded, offering the child to him. He smelled like fresh water and clean skin as Adolph took him, and held him close. He was so smal
The Returned Lunaย ย ย Chapter 173: Defense and Not
Nimue took a deep calming breath as Basil let out a mournful sob. The air began to warm slowly around them as the path between their world and the afterlife closed. She should have known when her first evocation yielded nothing that Olivia was going to be another troublesome spirit.She hoped Basil would be able to recover and accept the truth in time.โNoโฆ motherโฆโ Nimueโs heart twisted with grief as she calmed her powers and Basilโs hand tightened on her ankle. โWhy? Sheโฆ She lifted it.โโShe was prepared to sacrifice you,โ she said solemnly.โShe lifted the curse, Nimue! You didnโt have to!โNimue looked down at him, โShe only did so to save her existence, Basil. That was the test. It wasnโt about remorse towards what sheโd done to your fatherโฆ it was about what she did to you.โHis eyes welled with tears as she set her staff aside, allowing it to hover in the air. โShe was never your mother.โShe kneeled beside Basil, placing a glowing hand near the dagger in his chest as he fell
The Returned Lunaย ย ย Chapter 172: Oblivion
Adolphโs voice was sure and even, but Basil couldnโt believe what he was saying. Didnโt he understand that they had no way of knowing how long that would be? A few months? A few days? His father was the strongest man he knew, but he wasnโt indestructible!โBut fatherโโโYouโd let Basil be king?โ Olivia scoffed and laughed, โYou know heโs not ready. He wonโt ever be ready!โThe twinge of pain that went through him took his breath away. He pushed it aside. This wasnโt the mother heโd imagined his whole life. He expected his father to say those things, not the woman who died giving birth to him. He winced at the thought. She hadnโt died giving birth to him. Sheโd died giving birth to a curse. There was no other choice to make.โNimue, end the sรฉance.โNimue said nothing. Whether that meant she couldnโt or wasnโt going to, he didnโt know.Adolph shook his head, โYour father tried to make that true, but itโs not. Basil isnโt an idiot. Heโs young and inexperienced, but thatโs fixable. He h
The Returned Lunaย ย ย Chapter 171: Love and Obsession
Adolph narrowed his eyes down at Olivia. She was just as pretty as she had been before, but he saw the wicked light in her eyes. โShouldnโt you be greeting our son whom youโve never met?โ Adolph asked. She smiled at him, poisonous and vicious, โI would never put anyone before you dear husband.โโYou are dead,โ Adolph said, โSpeak to Basil.โโโฆ very well.โOlivia turned her head and looked at Basil. Adolph was about to retract his statement at the hopeful look on Basilโs face, but it was too late. โYou asked them to kill the man who raised you,โ Olivia said, โYou asked for the death penalty.โโMother, theyโโโDonโt call me that!โ Olivia hissed at him. โAll of them. Murdered and for what? What of your loyalty to me?โBasilโs eyes widened, โTo youโฆ?โโAfter what your father did to me?โ Olivia said, โWhat is a bit of money?โโYouโฆ You knew?โ Basil asked. โButโโโI love your father,โ she said, her eyes glimmering with tears. โButโฆ that wasnโt good enough. My love was never good enough f
The Returned Lunaย ย ย Chapter 170: Olivia
Laurel didnโt expect Basil to come quickly, so when the door closed, she was grateful that Nimue made herself a cup of tea and smiled at her. โYou were once someone else,โ Nimue said. โI am glad that the moon saw fit to bring the white wolf back to us.โLaurel blinked and sat across from her, โYouโreโฆ not much like Eden.โNimue chuckled, โEden and I have different giftsโฆ He is what we would call an elemental Wiccan. Lightning strikes, fire, flashy shows of power that most associate with real magic. Iโm a spiritual mage.โLaurel blinked and made herself a cup of tea, โWhatโฆ does that mean?โโIt means I have a connection to the living and the dead. Hence, I know the body youโre in right now is one you were reborn into. I can only guess how you died, but I assume that Basil knew you in your past life.โLaurel winced, โThisโฆ isnโt how I expected this conversation to go.โNimue shrugged, โYou make plans and the spirits laugh, but Iโm not concerned about your aura. Itโs more than healthy a
The Returned Lunaย ย ย Chapter 169: Mates and Fated Pairs
Adolph watched Basil leave. Nimue winced.โIโฆ would like a moment to speak with my wife,โ Adolph said slowly. Nimue nodded, โIโllโฆ go after him.โShe left wincing. That had been a fucking disaster if sheโd ever seen one. As she exited the room, she followed the trembling confusion, fear, and anger down the hall and around the corner. The thing about magical compatibility between fated matches was that it worked like a homing beacon. She found him in a parlor sitting on the couch with his head in his hand. He lifted his head and shot to his feet as she entered. โYouโYou canโt just say things like that!โ Basil said, โYou canโt just accuse her if youโYouโre a healer! How would you know something like that anyway?โNimue watched him, his shoulders heaving as he held himself still. โI am a healer,โ she said. โBut I am not just a healer. Sit down and calm yourself.โโLook me in the eye and tell me the truth,โ Basil said, glaring at her. โTell me you know for sure my mother did it. Tell
The Returned Lunaย ย ย Chapter 168: Lady Nimue
Basil had tried to keep his mind focused on the path ahead the next morning, no matter how Nimueโs scent had seemed to take over his senses and make him dizzy with need and desire. She smelled like fresh blooming flowers, fresh earth, and a hint of fresh sweet bread. It was a distracting, comforting, and maddening scent. His wolf growled in contentment and want whenever she grew near, so he took to riding further ahead to try and keep his mind clear. *I hate you*, his wolf huffed and growled. *You and your stupid pride and fear andโฆ**Not now*, Basil thought, stubbornly. *Focus on getting back to the capital, okay?*He huffed, *And your need for distraction instead of facing the truthโฆ*Basil sighed, tuning out his wolfโs whining. This wasnโt the time for thinking about such things. Adolph and Laurel were supposed to be staying at the temple until the baby was born. There was no reason they should have called him back unless the baby was early or something had happened to his father
The Returned Lunaย ย ย Chapter 167: Forgiveness
Taliesin sent the message off with a heavy heart. While his judgment was sound and he knew he wasnโt wrong, the likelihood that it would all go to plan was slim. Curses laid by the dying or the dead were harder to get rid of than living curses and he was not an expert in such dark magics. He had no affinity for creating or breaking them. His late brother and twin, Merlin, had no such limitations, but he had gone into Eternal Repose after his wife, Viviane, had been killed in the war against Morrigan. Merlin could not help them.Taliesin couldnโt blame him. The war had taken so much from all of them and raising the barrier had taxed them both greatly. There was little hope that he would ever wake up, and Taliesin had accepted that centuries ago, focusing on raising Merlinโs daughter as if she were his.โNimue?โ Taliesin called as he returned to the meeting hall. She was seated on the old stone bench, looking up through the canopy of the ancient oak trees that were always in bloom. Hi
The Returned Lunaย ย ย Chapter 166: Cursed Last Moments
Laurel woke up, frozen in terror in bed. The last time sheโd had a vision of the moon goddess, sheโd been pushed off a cliff. She wasnโt sure if hearing that her husbandโs late wife put a curse on him was better or worse. How bad was the curse now? How much longer did they have? Could she break it? If she couldnโt, what would happen to him?Her stomach turned as she turned over to see Adolph sleeping peacefully beside her. The days of his insomnia seemed to have caught up with him all at once. The strain of the days seemed to be gone now as he slept.His scent was just as bloody and lovely as ever, but that blood that she had once found just a bit sexy seemed tainted with danger now. It wasnโt just the scent of someone who had seen a great deal of war, but it was affecting his mind. An alpha werewolf like Adolph could be dangerous if they lost control of their strength. She knew that Adolph was much stronger than the average wolf. Was it anything like going rogue? Would it kill him?
