Lahat ng Kabanata ng Luna by Contract, Mother in Secret : Kabanata 41 - Kabanata 48

The hidden sanctuary was a crumbling temple, its stone walls weathered by time, tucked deep within the jagged embrace of the mountains. The air hung heavy with the scent of damp earth and the faint, lingering trace of ancient incense. Water dripped somewhere in the distance, its echo threading through the stillness. Aria held her infant son Rollan close, his small, warm body pressed against her chest, his steady breaths a fragile anchor in the chaos that had become their lives. Caden stayed at her side, his hand resting lightly on his sword hilt, his keen eyes darting to every shadow. Elara followed, cradling the Orb of Destiny, its golden glow flickering like a heartbeat, while Torren and Kael, the rogue mage who had joined them, trailed behind, their steps quiet on the moss-covered stone.Kael guided them into a central chamber, its cracked dome ceiling arching overhead, adorned with faded murals that seemed to dance in the orb’s soft light. The paintings told a story: shadowed figu

The cavern’s oppressive heat clung to them like a second skin, the air thick with the acrid scent of sulfur and the faint, metallic tang of blood. Aria knelt beside Rollan, her hands trembling as she brushed a stray lock of hair from his forehead. His tiny chest rose and fell steadily, his mark glowing faintly in the dim light, but the sight of him—so small, so vulnerable—twisted her heart. I almost lost you, she thought, her throat tightening. She pressed a kiss to his brow, her lips lingering as if to ward off the lingering dread.Caden stood nearby, his sword still drawn, his sharp eyes scanning the cavern’s shadowed corners. His broad shoulders were tense, his jaw set in a hard line. “We can’t stay here,” he muttered, his voice low and taut. “That cult bastard could be back any second.”Torren, leaning against a jagged rock, wiped sweat from his brow with a grimy sleeve. “And those Hollow Ones aren’t far behind. We’re sitting ducks in here.”Elara cradled the Orb of Destiny, its g

The hidden stairwell twisted downward into the spire’s heart, its damp stone steps treacherous underfoot, the air heavy with the musk of wet soil and long-buried secrets. Aria held Rollan tightly, his small body pressed against her, his gentle breaths a quiet comfort amid the suffocating stillness. The orb in Elara’s hands glowed softly, its pulsing light stretching shadows across the walls, revealing faded runes that seemed to murmur tales of a forgotten age.Caden took point, sword in hand, his muscular frame taut with readiness. His keen eyes swept the path ahead, searching for danger. “Stay close,” he said, his voice a deep, steady growl. “We don’t know what’s lurking below.”Elara trailed behind him, her fingertips grazing the ancient runes as they descended. “These carvings—they’re older than any records I know. The Worldheart’s power has been locked here for centuries, maybe longer.”Torren guarded the rear, daggers poised, his sharp gaze flicking to every flicker of shadow. “L

The Shadow’s ReckoningThe wind howled through the jagged peaks of the Eldren Mountains, carrying with it the faint scent of ash and iron. Below, the valley stretched out like a wound in the earth, its edges scarred by the recent battle. Kael stood at the precipice, his cloak snapping in the gusts, his dark eyes scanning the horizon. The weight of the amulet hung heavy around his neck, its faint pulse a reminder of the power—and the burden—he now carried. Beside him, Lysa adjusted the straps of her leather armor, her auburn hair tied back in a tight braid. “We can’t stay here,” Lysa said finally, her voice cutting through the wind. “They’ll come for it. For us.”Kael didn’t respond immediately. His mind replayed the moment the High Warden had fallen, his blood staining the sacred stones of the temple. The amulet had chosen Kael then, its light flaring as it bonded to him. He hadn’t wanted this—none of them had—but the prophecy had been clear: one would rise to wield the Shadow’s Hear