All Chapters of Marked By Midnight : Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

Azrik’s POVBefore the banquet even ended, I noticed Lunessa had slipped away. The moment I could, I made my way to her chambers, only to find her crumpled on the floor like a shattered painting.I rushed to her, but she snapped.“Why? Do I look filthy to you? Not graceful enough? Not the picture-perfect Luna you really wanted? Is it the crumbs? The snacks? Or maybe I just don’t match the pristine elegance?”Each word slammed into me harder than any battle blow I’d taken. Her voice trembled with something more than anger, hurt, sharp and raw.I opened my mouth to respond, to tell her she was wrong, so damn wrong, but nothing came out. I stood there like a fool with a bleeding tongue. She turned and shut the door to her room.I remained in the sitting room, staring at the empty space where she had sat, feeling like the air itself had turned against me.‘Something is wrong,’ Rowen murmured through the mindlink, his tone unusually gentle.‘Yes,’ I replied.‘Let’s go and ask her,’ he urge

Lunessa's POV My eyes drifted back to the video, but my attention flickered as Azrik returned and settled beside me. His warmth was calming, yet my heart pounded with nerves.“So…” he asked softly, “did you like the performance?”“Yes,” I breathed, trying to steady myself. “It’s beautiful.”He nodded, then added, “For security reasons, I asked Mira and some staff to go through the gifts before bringing them up here. Just to be safe.”“Of course,” I whispered, though my mind was far from safety protocols.If I didn’t say it now, Due wouldn’t let me rest. She was already pacing in the back of my mind.“What’s going on?” Azrik asked gently, his eyes searching mine.I inhaled deeply, my voice trembling. “So I…” I paused, my courage faltering.‘Just say it already!’ Due snapped inside me.I squeezed my eyes shut for a heartbeat, then opened them and exhaled the truth. “You are my mate.”Silence stretched between us. He didn’t flinch or gasp, just stared at me. Then a small smile curled h

Lunessa's POV That Night we lay tangled in each other, the sheets halfway off the bed, limbs draped lazily.“You okay?” Azrik whispered again, his voice low and gravelly, brushing against the shell of my ear.I let out a sigh that sounded way too satisfied. “Mhm. I might be paralyzed, but yeah, I’m good.”He chuckled. “Didn’t I warn you not to tease me?”“And I still did,” I said, smug. “No regrets.”“You shouldn’t, but just so you know…” He pulled me closer, brushing a kiss along my shoulder. “You’re not walking straight tomorrow.”I groaned into the pillow, laughing. Amid those teasing and soft whispers, I slept off.I blinked awake to the smell of something warm, and buttery. I sat up groggily, the blanket still wrapped around me, my hair a storm cloud of chaos.The door creaked open. Azrik walked in shirtless, wearing only loose sweatpants, holding a tray like a royal servant, and looking dangerously edible.“I present,” he said dramatically, “breakfast, for the Queen of Whimperi

Lunessa's POV By the time I got home, my body betrayed me. A wave of nausea twisted my stomach, and every step felt like dragging myself through mud. I barely made it to my bed before collapsing into it.Curled beneath the sheets, I focused on calming myself when Azrik’s voice broke through the mindlink, warm, but clearly strained.“Hey, Ness. Sorry I didn’t reach out all day... it’s been a hell of a day. How are you holding up?”His voice alone made my heart ache. He sounded exhausted. I forced my tone to stay light, to sound normal. “It’s okay. I’m glad you’re safe. I’m okay too.”But Azrik wasn’t easily convinced. “Did something happen?” he asked gently.“No, not really,” I lied. “Just a little dizzy, that’s all.”“I’ll call the doctor…”“No,” I cut in softly, “it’s nothing serious. If it’s still bad by morning, we’ll call, I promise.”He hesitated, but eventually relented. We talked for a few more minutes, he told me he was safe, still investigating, but I could sense how tightl

Azrik’s POVSince I returned, something about Lunessa felt distant. Subtle, but there. She hadn’t even sensed me in the library that day, her senses was usually as sharp as a blade, but not that day.I told myself it was the pregnancy. Hormones, they said. That had to be it.But this evening, when she saw her portrait, when her eyes sparkled as if the stars had returned to her, I felt something thaw. I pulled her into my arms, holding her like the universe might try to take her from me again.Before the next full moon, I wanted every moment to count. So I planned something simple yet perfect, a quiet evening, just the two of us. I reserved a five-star restaurant where no one would interrupt us.She like a dream painted in silk, her gown shimmered with every graceful step, her hair pinned up just enough to tease me with strands falling loose. Her makeup was soft and radiant.I watched her take in the place with quiet awe. “Beautiful,” she whispered, her eyes scanning the candlelit inte