All Chapters of Blood of The Shattered Moon: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

I wake to sunlight filtering through the tent fabric and the feeling of strong arms wrapped around me.Kael.Sometime during the night, after the Bloodmoon set and the transformation reversed, he must have freed himself from the chains. Now he's curled around me protectively, his chest pressed against my back, his face buried in my hair. And he's completely human again. I can feel it through the bond—the curse is dormant, sated by the release of the Bloodmoon. His breathing is deep and even, his heartbeat steady against my spine. No shadows writhe beneath his skin. No red tints his silver eyes. He's just a man. Exhausted and peaceful and mine.I shift carefully, not wanting to wake him, but his arms tighten around me instinctively."Don't go," he murmurs, his voice rough with sleep."I'm not going anywhere," I promise.He makes a satisfied sound and nuzzles closer, pressing a kiss to the nape of my neck that makes me shiver. "Good. Because I'm not ready to let you go yet."We lie ther

The Opal Citadel at night is even more breathtaking than Riven promised. As darkness falls, the crystal structures begin to glow from within—soft pulses of light that shift through the spectrum like slow-moving auroras. The streets become rivers of color, and the air itself seems to shimmer with magic.Kael and I walk through the night market, our fingers intertwined, simply existing for the first time since we met without the immediate threat of death hanging over us. We're still wanted. Still hunted. But here, in neutral territory, we can breathe."I never imagined places like this existed," I admit, watching a street performer conjure illusions of dancing fire and water. "Eclipsehaven was beautiful, but it was always the same. Silver and quiet and afraid. This is…""Alive," Kael finishes. "Chaotic and colorful and utterly unafraid to be exactly what it is.""Like us," I say, squeezing his hand. He glances down at me, and in the shifting light of the crystals, his eyes are more silv

The twelve days we spend in the Opal Citadel preparing for the Sunken Temple are a strange blend of domesticity and anticipation. During the days, we train. Thessia introduces us to a former temple raider named Jax—a grizzled Marshborn with gills along his neck and eyes that can see through illusions. He teaches us about the Tide Court's magic, about shapeshifters and curse-weavers, about how to navigate underwater passages without drowning."The temple is half-flooded," he explains, spreading a water-stained map across the table. "These sections here—" he points to areas marked in blue "—are completely submerged. You'll need to hold your breath for up to three minutes at a time, or find another way through.""I can create air pockets," I say, studying the map. "Dreamweave breathable space.""That'll drain you fast," Jax warns. "The temple wards fight against reality manipulation. Every spell you cast will cost triple the normal energy."Kael traces the path from the entrance to where

Our return to the Opal Citadel is met with both celebration and unease. The Starveil Caravan welcomes us back like conquering heroes—Riven throws her arms around me, Torven claps Kael on the shoulder hard enough to make him stumble, and even the usually reserved crew members offer congratulations.But Thessia's expression is grave as she pulls us aside."The Dominion has increased their presence in the region," she says quietly. "More patrols. More checkpoints. Pyra Ashenheart has been seen in the city, asking questions about you two."Kael's hand tightens on mine. "She's still hunting us.""Of course she is. You embarrassed her. The Dominion doesn't forgive that." Thessia glances toward the crystal spires of the Triarch Palace. "But you're safe here for now. The Triarchs don't allow violence within their walls. Come on. They're waiting for you."---The audience with the Triarchs is more informal this time. We meet them in a garden chamber filled with flowering vines and pools of cle

The staircase descends in a tight spiral, and with each step, the light behind us fades until we're walking in absolute darkness. Not the darkness of a moonless night. Not the darkness of closed eyes in a windowless room. This is the darkness of the void—the absence of everything. Light, sound, sensation. Even the bond between Kael and me feels muted, distant, like trying to shout through water.I keep one hand on the wall, the other clasped tightly in Kael's, and I focus on putting one foot in front of the other. Down. Always down.Time loses meaning. We could have been walking for minutes or hours or days. There's no way to tell in this crushing absence. And then, finally, I see light ahead. Not the blue-white glow of the upper waters, but something deeper. Darker. A crimson-gold radiance that pulses like a heartbeat.We emerge into a chamber that defies description. It's vast—so vast I can't see the far walls, despite the light that emanates from the center. The water here is diffe