All Chapters of The Heart of the Queen: Legacy of The Moonborn: Chapter 71 - Chapter 80

"I-its nothing really I'm fine. It's just... this brings back some old memories for me." "What about?" I asked, rest on the arm of the chair she sat in. “I used to think birthdays were dumb,” she said suddenly, drawing little circles in the plush fabric of the chair as the twins bickered over whether strawberry or chocolate should be the dominant flavor in the cake tiers. My eyes flickered back to Ansel. “That’s… a bold stance.” I wasn't exactly the most enthusiastic about celebrating, but it was more about the surrounding circumstances than it was my birthday itself. And, Ansel was still young. For her to already think like that was a sign of something... deeper. She shrugged, then smiled faintly. “I didn’t mean they’re dumb for everyone. Just… for me..." her voice fizzled away as she seemed to be immersing herself deep in a memory. "My mom used to make a whole event out of it. Like she was in a competition with herself to outdo every year whether it was my birthday or one of m

I didn’t feel the cold—eating away at my heart until I stepped back into the ballroom.The air had shifted. The music, the laughter—it was all a blur to me. My mind was still replaying Lucien’s voice, still picturing his eyes and that broken look on his face.He knew now.He knew the truth.That didn't change anything for me. But I couldn't deny that fear—the uncertainty echoing in my head.What was he going to do? Would he just accept defeat and return to his pack? Or... would he try to take the twins?I scanned the crowd, immediately looking for them. I was still conscious of all the pepole gathered so I forced myself to stand tall and smile. I didn't need anyone to know I was unraveling.I soon found them near the far corner, hidden behind a pillar. Talia’s curls bounced as she giggled, folding a napkin into some messy shape. Kael sat cross-legged beside her, watching quietly like he always did.My heart gave a small ache. For a second, I just watched them. Safe. Unaware.Then I m

The scent of blood hit me first.Thick. Metallic. Wrong.By the time Ronan and I reached the halls, the everyghing had unraveled. The once quiet halls were not filled with the metallic clang of metals clashing and the cries of people. The Citadel was burning.Not just with fire, but with the kind of chaos that spreads like rot.We didn’t speak. We didn’t need to. Our steps synced in urgency as we rounded the corner, only to come face to face with two rogues snarling through bared teeth, eyes blazing red.They lunged.Ronan moved first. His blade caught the first rogue mid-charge, slashing across its chest. I didn’t have time to watch him finish as the second one was already charging straight at me.I ducked, felling Nyra's energy surge through me. Its claws grazed my side. Pain flashed, but I didn’t stop. I grabbed the dagger I always kept attached to my thigh and drove it deep into the rogue’s back as it turned to strike again. A gasp escaped its throat as it collapsed at my feet.I

The moment I saw them, I felt my lungs work again.“Mommy!” they cried in unison, and their little feet ran towards me.I dropped to my knees.Their arms around me felt like a drop of water on the desert ground. They clutched tight, sobs and sniffles muffled against my ripped clothes. I cuddled them up.“I’m here,” I exhaled, barely able to get the words out. “I’m here. I’ve got you.”Talia pulled back just enough to look up at me. Her lip wobbled. “Everything got loud. There were—there were booms. And fire.”Kael nodded furiously. “And people yelling. And then… and then he came.”My eyes went up to Lucien.Kael’s little hand tugged at my sleeve. “He said we had to go.”Talia whispered, “He kept us safe.”Lucien’s gaze never left mine. Neither did mine from his.Of all the people. Of all the godsdamned people in the realm… it had to be him.“Thank you,” I said, my voice low. It nearly killed me to say it. “For getting them out.”He gave a small nod. No smug smile. No sharp remark. Jus

Dinner was warm and quiet. The kind of quiet that isn’t peaceful. Just... stretched thin.The long dinner table we sat around could’ve easily seated twenty people, but it was just the six of us. And the subtle but very heavy tension.The twins sat on either side of Lucien, gleaming. Talia wouldn’t stop asking questions.“What was your house like growing up?”“Do you remember the names of your horses?” “Did you ever break a bone?”And he answered every single one. Patient. Smiling. Like he belonged here. Like he was really their father.I kept watching.Ronan did too. But he was better at pretending not to. I saw the way his eyes flicked toward me every time I froze with my fork halfway to my mouth. Every time my knuckles went white from holding back a dozen different words.He couldn't just waltz into their lives like that, acting like the father he never was. Bonding. It made me sick. Then I said one of the many words.“When will you be leaving?”It slipped out sharper than I meant.