All Chapters of Marked By Midnight : Chapter 121 - Chapter 130

Lunessa’s POVAfter the celebration died down, we finally had time to just be us again.Azrik said he wanted us to bond more, not as rulers, not as parents, but as two people who had found each other again after years of separation. So we carved out time for simple, intentional dates.One evening, he surprised me and the girls by arranging a painting date in the magic garden, which had bloomed fully since our arrival. The air was laced with the scent of lavender and sakura, the sky a soft lilac hue melting into twilight.We sat on the cool grass with the girls, a blank canvas before us and paint everywhere. It wasn’t structured or formal. It was chaotic, fun, perfect. We laughed, teased, and smeared paint on each other until our clothes were dotted with color and our hands were stained with joy.When it came time to stamp our hands on the canvas, Azrik pressed his first, a bold, black palm on the pale green board. I followed with mine, pink and light on his. Shaelith added hers over

Lunessa’s POVThe entire town was in an uproar.Since the discovery of the rogue corpses, the atmosphere had shifted, thick with fear, buzzing with rumors. Even at the hospital, gossip clung to every corner. Nurses whispered between rounds, patients glanced nervously at the news updates on their screens.Some said the bodies were fake, staged for attention. Others murmured about black magic, their voices barely above a breath, as if speaking it aloud would summon something from the dark. People believed whatever suited their fear.I returned home and found Azrik in his office, the office dimly lit except for the glow of his laptop screen. His eyes were locked on it, shoulders tense, jaw tight.Without a word, I walked in and placed a glass of juice beside him. “Hey.”He looked up and gave me a tired smile. “Hey,” he murmured, then gulped down the drink like it was the first thing he’d tasted all day.“What are you working on?”“I asked the Gamma to send me all the CCTV footage from ar

Azrik's POVI’d doubled the patrols. Tripled the clearance checks. No one entered or exited the territory without an identity scan, a scent match, and a guard’s eyes boring into their soul. No room for error.Ever since we caught that soldier and he slit his throat with a smirk, I hadn’t rested. Not really. I’d been working like the enemy was already inside the house, because something told me, maybe they were.Draven came by my office that afternoon. We shared lunch in the dining afterwards, talked strategy, even managed a few sarcastic jabs like the old days. He left for his home, and I returned to the office, but the moment I stepped into my office, a paper sat neatly folded on my table.My eyes narrowed. No scent, no marking and nothing to trace. I unfolded it with deliberate fingers. The message was short.> Give your children willingly, or there will be more bloodshed than the Blood Moon five years ago. I’m sure you remember.I froze. My heart didn’t just skip, it went cold.M

Lunessa’s POVI couldn’t believe what I had just heard.I’d been standing by the door the entire time, eavesdropping, not out of mistrust, but instinct. Something in Azrik’s voice had told me not to leave completely. So I stayed, quietly listening.When Draven finally stormed out, he didn’t even notice me at first.“Draven,” I called softly, reaching out to grab his hand.He stopped, eyes clouded, pain swimming beneath the surface. Not the kind of pain from wounds, but the kind that comes from being misunderstood.“I need to go,” he muttered, voice tight. And just like that, he walked away, not sparing another glance.I stood frozen for a moment, unsure whether to chase after him or return to Azrik. My heart ached for both of them.When I stepped back inside the ward, Azrik was sitting at the edge of the bed, but visibly torn. His eyes were distant. I didn’t ask. Instead, I took a deep breath and kept my voice steady. “Are you strong enough to go home?”“Yes,” he said, grabbing the s

Azrik’s POVMy heart felt heavy. During breakfast, a part of me questioned whether I’d made a mistake letting her go alone.‘One day you’ll wake up and declare me your enemy,’ Dowen said through the mindlink.I sighed. He might be right. I needed to stop overthinking.“Daddy, are you okay?” Seraphira asked gently.“Yes, baby,” I said with a smile.“If you don’t eat, I’ll tell Mummy when she returns,” Shaelith threatened.I chuckled, shaking my head, and picked up my fork. Their teacher arrived shortly after, and the girls dashed off to the room we’d set up as their classroom.I retreated to our chambers, trying to clear my mind, when Lunessa arrived. She walked in calmly and shared everything they had talked about.“I guess that means we’re cool now,” I said, relieved.“No,” she replied firmly. “You’re going to him to apologize.”“Do I have to do that?” I asked, groaning slightly.“Yes,” she said, tone serious. “Now.”I grabbed my keys and drove to his house. He’d just gotten ready, w