The Twice Rejected Luna のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 51 - チャプター 60

~SilverI woke up at three in the morning with a desperate need for pickles. Not just any pickles but th specific brand of sweet and spicy pickles that the pack house back at Mike’s territory always kept stocked. The ones that came in the jar with the green label and had exactly the right amount of crunch. My mouth was watering just thinking about them and suddenly nothing else in the entire world mattered except getting those pickles.I lay there for ten minutes trying to talk myself out of it. It was three in the morning. Everyone was asleep. I was supposed to be on bed rest technically even though the bond had formed last night and I felt physically fine. “This is ridiculous,” I muttered to myself as I got out of bed and pulled on a robe. “You’re losing your mind over pickles.”But I was already heading for the door!The palace was quiet and dark as I made my way down to the kitchens. I’d only been down here once before when Sarah had given me a tour but I remembered the general

~SilverThe knock came at exactly eight in the morning which I only knew because I’d been awake since six staring at the ceiling and trying not to think about the fact that I could feel both Caspian and Bastian through the bond even when they were sleeping. Their dreams had been restless and I’d felt every shift in emotion until I wanted to scream at them to just wake up already so I could have some peace.“Come in,” I called out while sitting up and reaching for my robe.The door opened and both of them walked in carrying trays that were clearly from the kitchen except Caspian’s had this homemade quality to it that immediately made me suspicious. Bastian was grinning like he knew something hilarious was about to happen and Caspian looked nervous which made the bond hum with anticipation.“We brought breakfat.” Caspian announced.“I can see that.” I eyed the trays as they set them down on the small table by the window. “Why do you look like you’re about to watch someone get pranked?

~BastianThe rest of the day passed normally. I feel better than fine actually since my vision was still improved. I went through emails and attended a video call with a neighboring pack’s Alpha and had dinner in my chambers. LBy the time nine o’clock rolled around I’d almost convinced myself it had been a one time thing. Stress or bad coffee or some weird bond adjustment like Dr. Woods suggested.Then there was a knock on my door.Silver stood in the hallway wearing leggings and an oversized sweater that made her look younger than her nineteen years. Her silver hair was pulled back in a messy bun and she had her arms wrapped around her pregnant belly in that protective way she always did.“Can I come in?” she asked.“Of course.” I stepped aside and she walked past me into my chambers. It was the first time she’d been here since before we rejected her and I watched her take in the space like she was looking for changes.“You redecorated,” she observed.“Yeah. After you left I could

~SilverI was in the middle of searching Viola’s abandoned rooms with Aurora when the pain hit through the bond. Not nausea this time but actual pain that was stabbing and radiating from Caspian’s chest like someone had driven a knife between his ribs.“I have to go.” I dropped the drawer I’d been rifling through and ran for the door.“Silver wait—”But I was already sprinting down the hallway following the pull of the bond. It led me straight to Caspian’s study where I found the door locked. I didn’t bother knocking. Just slammed my shoulder against it until the lock gave way.Caspian was on the floor behind his desk collapsed. His skin was gray and sweat was pouring down his face and through the bond I felt everything. The poison was worse this time like whoever was dosing them had decided to escalate.“Caspian!” I dropped to my knees beside him and pressed my hands to his chest. “Can you hear me?”His eyes opened but they were unfocused. “Silver? What’s happening to me?”“I don’t k

~SilverWe spent the next hour mapping out timelines. When the poisoning started. Who was where. Who had access to what. The pattern that emerged made my blood run cold.The tea had been introduced three weeks ago. Right after Viola found out about the bond completion and she’d been told she was being replaced as potential Luna Queen.“It’s Viola,” I said. “It has to be. She had a motive. She had access through the Queen Mother. And she left right when we started getting suspicious.”“But how did she get into Mother’s private garden?” Aurora pulled up security footage. “Look. The garden has cameras. No one went in or out except Mother and Margaret in the past month.”“Then she didn’t get the poison from the garden. She got it somewhere else and added it to the tea after it was prepared.” I started pacing. “Where does the tea go after Margaret makes it?”“Kitchen storage. Then it gets brought up to the brothers’ chambers every morning by the breakfast staff.”“So Viola could have tampe