บททั้งหมดของ TO DENY A LUNA: บทที่ 161 - บทที่ 170

DAMON'S POVI carefully settle Velara inside the waiting ambulance, giving Dante instructions to keep an eye on Kael since he’s still with Elysia. Once we reach the hospital, Hazel is immediately placed under a medically induced coma. The doctors cannot explain her condition. Forsaken saliva is known to be toxic, carrying strange bacteria that have baffled us for generations. No one truly understands why, but when someone is turned forsaken, their DNA mutates, which explains why banishment is rare in our city.Velara, on the other hand, is slowly recovering, though her body is connected to multiple IV lines filled with fluids and antibiotics. Her infection is relatively mild, while the few injuries I sustained have already healed completely. Forsaken bites have never seemed to affect me—likely because of the same genetic anomaly that grants my bloodline amber eyes, the same trait Kael has inherited. Velara doesn’t share this, though her bond with me seems to have granted her slightly

VELARA'S POVWhen I return to the room, I see Kael curled up against his mother, the blanket pulled snugly up under his chin. My father remains in the chair by the bed, his expression serious as he lifts a finger to his lips and gestures toward the sleeping pair.“What was that all about?” he asks quietly once I sit beside him.“Viktor,” I answer, lowering myself into the chair. “I am not sure what is happening, but something is troubling him. He kept mentioning an oncoming war.”My father’s brows crease with concern, and he exhales heavily. “I will make a few inquiries. Perhaps I can uncover something,” he says. After a pause, he glances at Kael. “Do you want me to take him for the night?”I shake my head as my eyes drift to the bed where my son lies nestled beside Velara. “No. I will bring him home later. You should go get some rest,” I tell him, though part of me aches to remain here with her. Still, Kael needs me, and I know Velara would want at least one of us to stay close to hi

VELARA'S POVThe next morning, I woke up with a sharp grunt when a small knee jabbed me in the kidney. Kael had climbed onto the bed, wiggling his way right between us before tugging Damon’s pillow out from under his head as if it belonged to him. Damon jerked awake in irritation, while I laughed softly and let my eyes flutter closed again as Kael squirmed closer to me.“Perfect, you’re awake now. Can we have pancakes?” Kael asked his father, whining sweetly as though he hadn’t just robbed him of his pillow.“I’m awake, thanks to you,” Damon grumbled, rubbing his eyes and groaning. I opened mine just in time to see him dragging a hand down his face, trying to shake off his exhaustion.“Please, Dad. Please, Dad,” Kael chanted, tugging on Damon’s shoulder with persistence.“What time is it?” Damon yawned.“Breakfast time!” Kael answered quickly.“Isn’t your mother awake?” Damon muttered, yawning again. I instantly shut my eyes, feigning sleep because I had no desire to crawl out of bed

VELARA'S POVHours drag by as the dinner I prepared cools untouched on the table. I hadn’t made anything elaborate—just a simple pot of spaghetti with meat sauce since exhaustion had weighed me down and all I wanted was rest. Damon promised he would be home before dinner, yet two hours have passed since the food was ready. The clock now reads 7:30 p.m., and outside the storm has only grown more violent. Thunder cracks through the sky, lightning tearing it open in jagged streaks. No stars can be seen, not even the moon, swallowed whole by thick clouds.I wander back into the living room, snatch my phone from the coffee table, and redial Damon’s number. My heart dips when the call goes straight to voicemail without even a ring. Anxiety begins creeping in.Ten minutes later, just as I reach for the phone again, it vibrates in my hand. Relief washes over me—finally, he’s calling back. But instead of Damon’s name, an unknown private number flashes across the screen. I answer quickly, only

VELARA'S POVI bite into my muffin as my eyes drift toward Elysia, who looks like she has been dragged through hell. A laugh escapes me as I take in her slouched figure sprawled dramatically across the table. She looks so pitiful that it is almost comical. I had only come here to check on her and bring her some breakfast. Dante went to fetch Selene so Kylie could cover Elysia’s shift today, and now, after seeing her condition, I fully understand why she cannot manage to work.“Quit laughing at me,” she groans, slowly peeling herself off the table before trudging to the fridge with her pitifully sagging bag of melted frozen peas.“Disgusting. Toss those out already,” I remark, taking another bite of my muffin. She ignores me, grabs another bag of frozen vegetables, and with a dramatic sigh, shoves it down the front of her pajama shorts. I cannot hold back a snort as she waddles awkwardly back to her chair and sinks onto it.“My entire body feels raw. Can that even happen?” Elysia mutte