All Chapters of The Heart of the Queen: Legacy of The Moonborn: Chapter 61 - Chapter 70

By the time the inner circle assembled, I was fully in control of my emotions again and the storm in my chest was nearly over.The Council chamber was filled with sharp eyes and stiff postures as I walked in. I sat at the head of the room, regal, cold. Untouchable.That was the version of me I wanted them to see.Ronan was seated just by my right, a constant reminder that I wasn’t alone. He knew the purpose of the meeting and I reminded him before we entered—watch Vane. Every twitch of his face, every shift in his tone. The plan was to bait him into a trap or to force him into going to see Selene. “Thank you for gathering so quickly,” I said, voice level. “The Citadel must begin preparations. War is no longer a threat—it is a certainty.”That got their attention.Elder Thorne leaned forward, fingers interlaced. "Has the threat been identified?”“Not formally. But yes, and a proper briefing will be done during our next general meeting.” I replied. “But it is of urgency that we strike

《》Lucien's POV You killed him. Didn't you?" My voice came out low. Steady. It wasn't a question. It was something I knew for a fact. The words burned like acid on my tongue. Selene tilted her head with a sick smile like she was proud. "Which one exactly?" she asked sweetly. "Oh... you mean your father?" I lunged without hesitation, grabbing her by the neck. I slammed her back into the wall with a growl that came from someplace deeper than rage I was feeling. Somewhere black and endless. Somewhere I'd been in since Aria left. Selene’s cold smile didn’t drop. "You think this scares me?" she whispered, "You have no idea who I am, Lucien. What I'm capable of." "Oh I know exactly what you'recapable of, you conniving snake." I spat. She laughed. Actually laughed. In my face. "Your father," she said, her eyes glinting. "I could tell he didn't like me. He saw right through me the second I arrived. So I had to silence him. It was innevitable to be frank, I just sped it up a little. A

The steps down to the dungeon echoed louder than they should’ve. I shouldn’t have come alone. I told myself I didn’t owe Vane anything. Yet, when a guard had sent word to me that Vane requested my presence I'd left my room without hesitation. I was desperate for answers. For the truth. When I reached the cells, he was already waiting, hands folded behind him like this was just another council meeting. His gaze on me was steady. “Aria,” he greeted. “Thank you for coming.” “You asked for me,” I said, stopping a few feet from the bars. “I assume you’re ready to come clean.” He tilted his head slightly. “You’ve grown steel in your voice. That’s new.” I didn’t answer. I wasn’t here for flattery or small talk. “You’re not denying it this time?” I asked. “I am,” he said, his voice steady. “I’m innocent.” I crossed my arms, masking the flicker of doubt and fury behind my eyes. “Then why call me? To waste more of my time? To judge my leadership from your cell?” “I didn’t ca

The further down the tunnels we went, the colder the air grew. Our footsteps echoed off the stone walls as we raced deeper, the cloaked figure just out of reach. “There!” Ronan hissed, pointing ahead. The figure slipped around a bend, his cloak spread out behind him. We turned the corner... Empty. "What the—” Ronan cursed, spinning in place. “He vanished.” My heart thudded in my chest. “He must’ve taken another passage. We don’t know these tunnels…” Ronan nodded grimly. “We need to split up.” “No,” I said, catching his arm. “We can’t risk it. Let me try something.” I closed my eyes and reached deep inside myself—past the fear, the anger, the gnawing betrayal. I called to the silver warmth buried in my blood. Nyra… show me. The pulse came sudden, like a breath of wind, brushing past my cheek. I opened my eyes. “That way.” I pointed to a narrower corridor nearly hidden behind a collapsed archway. We moved in silence, rounding another corner. My fingers skimmed t

I didn’t want a birthday. Not now. Not with everything still tangled in a mess of unanswered questions and wary glances. But Ronan had other ideas, as always. “Absolutely not,” I told him flatly that morning. “Absolutely yes,” he returned with that mischievous grin I rarely ever saw— but when I did, there was no escaping whatever he had planned. He'd breezed into my study interrupting my one moment of peace to talk about part decorations and guest lists. As out of character for him as it was, I knew why he was doing it. He set down two mugs of warm chocolate tea, one for me and one for himself. I eyed the cup with suspicion. “You bribing me with beverages now?” “I’m bribing you with joy,” he said, all too simply. “And a nice beverage. But mostly joy.” I sighed. “Ronan, I appreciate the effort, really. But a party right now? I'm just not into that idea. I don't really want one.” He leaned against my desk, folding his arms, his face was serious now but his eyes still carried a