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Chapter 157: Assassin
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2022-12-02 13:02:20
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The Returned Lunaย ย ย Chapter 158: Caught In the Trap
Gavin remained at the home when the attack happened, under the full watch of his staff so there would be ample witnesses. Heโd sent a small group of his servants to the capital, just to pick up a few things and wait for their return. As he sipped his whiskey and made plans for what he would do first, he looked through his records. His monetary trail had been covered up well enough. The gold heโd given to the assassin and the rogues who were staging the attack had come from privately held vaults nestled in a small bank at the edge of his territory. It was so obscure that no one would be able to trace the money back to it unless they could break the code on his logbook. Basil was off on the border learning to be a soldier when he should be learning to be a king, so by the time Laurel was murdered and Adolph could even try to return, Gavin would fully be in the clear. โMinister Mirabelle, Jacob has returned from the capital,โ a servant said, huffing and puffing with shock. โHe said th
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2022-12-02The Returned Lunaย ย ย Chapter 159: The Hidden Door
Adolph turned to look at Eden down the hall, seated in an open window high above Adolphโs head, silent and still. He hadnโt even noticed Eden there. How had he gotten up there? Could he fly?How had he been so silent? It was as if he was dead with no heartbeat to mark his presence or the whoosh of his breathing. Unnerving and dangerous. He eyed Eden. โOh?โโWhen she was a girl, there was a garden down there,โ he pointed out to where Adolph had assumed a garden had been. โThe flowers were the first to dieโฆ then the treesโฆ Then the rock turned black and the canals of blood began to dry up.โAdolph shuddered, โCanals of blood?โEden nodded, โThey feed the base of the protections on the castle. I think in Crystal Castle the protections were fed by the people who lived there.โAdolph frowned, โThe living werewolves?โEden nodded and his lips twitched, โMorriganโs plan to rot the werewolf kingdom from the inside started long before Delia arrived.โโ... is this a part of those memories you
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2022-12-02The Returned Lunaย ย ย Chapter 160: Curse Lifted
Adolph stood aside as Eden walked to the center of the room. A stone platform lifted him into the air. The air stirred as Adolph watched the thick, black pool ripple and flow through the cracks in the stone platform. โWhat is he doing?โโItโs a blood cleansing ritual,โ Caedan said mistily. โIt will release every spirit trapped in the pools and cleanse the reservoirs.โAdolph looked at the man, โIncluding you?โHe smiled and nodded, โIncluding me.โHis voice turned to a whisper and his form vanished into a swirl of light that broke against the dark stone, clearing the darkness. More streaks of light jumped from the flowing liquid, blasting the darkness out of the stone until it turned a glowing silver like moonlight. Adolph watched stone turn silver beneath his feet. The door gleamed behind him and opened. He followed the rushing light and silver back up the stairs until he reached a window and saw that dawn was breaking over the citadel. Had they been down there that long? It hadnโt
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2022-12-02The Returned Lunaย ย ย Chapter 161: Death Penalty
It took longer than he anticipated to get back to the capital city. The escort didnโt tell him anything and as he entered the city, he only grew more nervous. What could Laurel possibly want from him? The knights escorted him into the castle with little fuss and straight to the throne room. Laurel was seated on her throne and practically glowing. Her stomach was larger than it had been when heโd left. For a moment, he regretted the sight of her. Laura could have been glowing and pregnant with his child if he had been a good man. His wolf growled, *Laura was not our mate.*He still wasnโt sold that they had found their mate either, but he didnโt want to get into the argument with his wolf right now. After all, theyโd had a marked mate bond with Laura. Then, there was Delia who was barely a marked mate, and now, his wolf was making such a fuss about a woman he barely knew. His wolf grumbled, *If you had listened to me before, you wouldnโt be so wary about the possibility now.* He c
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2022-12-02The Returned Lunaย ย ย Chapter 162: Cleaning Up Treason
Basil went with the search team and went around the house revealing all the telltale signs of a hidden safe. There were several hidden throughout the mansion and with a few looks at the logbooks, he gave them every code he could. He had the servants detained and opened every hidden door and passageway with burning red eyes. The knights who had gone with him reported back that it was a bit like working with a less frightening, though far more angry, version of Adolph. Adolph wasnโt surprised that Basil was taking the lead in the investigation. It was probably a deeper wound than he realized yet to know that his family members had been stabbing him in the back all these years. After all, Basil was a Mirabelle, but above that, he was the heir to the throne. Every act of treachery could have jeopardized that. โWill he be okay?โ Raven asked over lunch. Laurel grimaced and swirled her tea as Adolph shook his head, โI can only let him prove what he needs to within reasonโฆ But no. I donโt
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2022-12-02The Returned Lunaย ย ย Chapter 163: The End of Mirabelle
Basil was packed to leave before breakfast the next morning. As promised, Adolph only had him stay long enough to eat breakfast and say goodbye. He was surprised that Irene hugged him close. โYouโve grown so much,โ she said before drawing back and grinning, โLooks like thereโs some Raymond in there after all.โHe gave her a phantom smile before taking the bag of food from Raven and another hug. Henry clapped him on the shoulder. โSee you soon, Basil.โBasil didnโt agree, but he accepted their well-wishes and placed the food in his saddlebag. Adolph was the last to bid him goodbye. He pulled him into a tight hug and whispered the same prayer his father had said over him when he went to the border. Basil looked up at him a bit dazed and Adolph grinned. โThis in no way makes you any less my son,โ Adolph said, pulling back and cupping his face. โYou have come far, and I am proud of you. Iโll see you soon.โBasil nodded shakily before mounting his horse and leaving with the escort. Ad
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2022-12-02The Returned Lunaย ย ย Chapter 164: The Darkness and Blood
A few days after the executions, there was a minor lull in the torrent of things that needed to be done. Laurel threw up her hands and started stripping just after breakfast. Adolph chuckled, heading into the bathroom ahead of her to run her a cold bath as she struggled out of her gown. โI told you to just wear the simple gowns.โโBut itโs not queenly!โ Laurel huffed and growled. โStupid ribbons!โAdolph left the bath to run and returned to save his young wife from her queenly gowns. โIโm so young barely anyone takes me seriously even now.โAdolph shook his head and caught her hands before she ripped the ribbons. He kissed her pouting lips and began to work the ribbons free. โYou caught a treasonous noble and made it possible to clean up the kingdom in one fail swoop. Plenty of people take you seriously,โ Adolph soothed, undoing the knots and pulling her dress apart. โI certainly take you seriously.โLaurel flushed and worried her lip, stroking a hand over his chest and he licked
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2022-12-02The Returned Lunaย ย ย Chapter 165: Visions
Adolph sighed into the open air as the carriages were prepared. Laurel tottered out of the castle towards him and he led her down the steps. She pouted and Adolph knew she was going to protest his care for her again. She was so stubborn lately though it was clear that she couldnโt move around the way she was used to.He had always been under the impression that a pregnant woman would appreciate being doted on and spoiled, but Laurel had always managed to surprise him.โI am just fine,โ Laurel said. โI can walk on my own, you know?โโI let you walk from the stairs to out here on your own,โ Adolph teased, โFrom our bed to the bathroomโฆ the bathroom to the parlorโโโEnough,โ she stuck out her tongue at him. โYouโre not funny.โโI think you are just not in the mood to find me humorous,โ Adolph said and pressed a kiss to her temple. โLetโs get going, hm?โShe allowed him to help her into the carriage and he climbed in after her. He still wasnโt completely used to riding in a carriage after
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2022-12-02
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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?
