Lahat ng Kabanata ng THE CAPTIVE'S LOVE: Kabanata 141 - Kabanata 150

Emereah's heart ached at Lunareth's muffled sobs, the hunger evident in the baby's wails. Her chest ached, not just from the physical discomfort of motherhood, but from the burden of everything—everything that had happened and everything to come.Vladimir's face relaxed immediately as he hugged the child a bit more roughly, his lips pursing into a minute frown of concern. "I think she's hungry," he whispered, his voice uncertain. He was never the kind of person who would care for a baby, not like Emereah had, but the way he cradled Lunareth now, it was as if he were learning.Emereah nodded, her own arms already open to receive Lunareth once more. "It's alright," she cooed softly to the baby, her voice a gentle lullaby. "We will care for you."She placed Lunareth in Vladimir's arms, enveloping the baby into her chest as she sat on the next chair. The baby's wails grew louder, and it pained Emereah, the cry of her daughter's hunger echoing in her heart. There was, however, softness in

The pounding of fists and clashing of steel echoed in the cold corridors of the sanctuary like the living heartbeat. From atop the raised balcony, Emereah watched the men beneath her in lines—Vladimir leading them through blows of savage intent, Rhovan bellowing orders with foul discipline. They marched with intent, every step a vow to stand, to fight.But Emereah understood that strength was not tempered on the field alone.There had been wars fought secretly—in kitchens where mothers stirred stew with trembling hands, in nurseries where grandmothers sang lullabies under their breath, in hearts that loved warriors but feared war. The sanctuary had always been an equal sanctuary. The Flame never parted man from woman when it was a matter of courage."Are they ready?" Vera's voice sounded behind her, as firm as stone.Emereah spun, the eyes drawing in. "They will be. But we are not."Vera dropped into step beside her, her cloak billowing like darkness on the cold stone floor. Her lip w

"Emereah," Vladimir stated, moving closer, his tone deep but laden with unspoken command. "I told you once already, this is not something that is for you. You do not belong to be outside here. We need to protect you, not expose you. And secondly, it is not what your father would have us do."Emereah stood in front of him, the fiery rebellious glint in her eyes as fierce as the fire burning in her soul. Her lips parted, a glare of resolve flashing across her face."I am not going to remain behind, Vladimir," she said resolutely. "I am not going to be the one stuck in the background, waiting for someone else to fight for me. Not again."Vladimir's teeth snapped together, but he realized that there was no turning her back now that she had decided. He saw it in her posture, the way she held Lunareth against her child, their child.You already possess the most important thing in this world," he panted, but there was no keeping back the tide of her resolve."I'm carrying the future," Emerea

Darkness cradled her.It was not the chill, nullified nothingness of death but a living, squirming darkness. It beat with ancient remembrance, with centuries-old hunger. It whispered promises, songs of revenge, and lullabies of power once wrenched from it.Morgane floated inside it, her form lost long before, her essence blown to ash and cinder. But not lost. No… not lost. The fools had buried her beneath fire and foretelling. They believed her smothered, a legend for cowering whelps and musty scrolls.But true darkness does not perish.It bides its time.And now… it awakens.A spark was lit in the darkness. Not fire, but decay. Not light, but hunger. Gradually, she started reassembling herself, fragment by shattered fragment. Each bone recalled the flavor of fury. Each nerve hummed the refrain of betrayal. The air if air begets air trembled about her as her soul started to coalesce.She opened her eyes.At first, there was only void. Then the void trembled and bent around her will, s

The heavens over Crescent Vale were weighed down with implicit threats. The wind held a foreboding, its passage through the branches like a whispered promise of conflict yet unmade. But inside the moon-blessed walls of the sanctum, all that was present at that time… was quiet.Emereah sat in the window seat, her arms around her daughter, the small heat of Lunareth's body against her chest. Her heart beat strong but not peaceful. Something within her had moved. Something old, waiting. The child's breath was light, feathered, like a glimpse of dawn taken in her chest.“She’s not just ours,” Emereah whispered, more to herself than to anyone else. “She’s the answer to what they tried to silence.”A gentle knock pulled her from her thoughts. Rhovan stepped inside, his face solemn. “The Council has begun their preparations. But… they’re nervous. The air stirs differently. We all feel it.”Emereah rose slowly, her gaze blazing softly with silver warmth. "I sense it too. As though something