All Chapters of Rejected Luna: Rise of the Moon Sovereign : Chapter 21 - Chapter 27

Akira's POV Smoke curled through the dark, carrying the name “Akira Nightfall” spoken again, drawn out, heavy. The hush between words stretched thin. A pause breathed before the next phrase slipped free: “You never missed a chance to arrive in shadow, in silence, in spectacle.” That old habit hadn’t faded.Everything stopped. My hold on Ronan’s hand grew hard enough that I could feel his bones move inside it. Still, he stayed right there.A whisper of metal slid free. Elara stood still, eyes scanning the dark. Her fingers tightened around the hilt before she spoke again. The question came out quiet, edged. Moonlight flickered across steel, just enough to show the truth: she was ready.A sound like wind through leaves broke the silence. “Always startled, aren’t you. Same old Elara.” It came from somewhere among the branches.Familiarity hit me like a punch there it was again, that laugh. Not just any sound, but the sharp edge of mockery curling through the air. A knot formed low in my

Akira's POV “Sit,” Ronan said quietly, nodding toward the flat rock we’d used earlier. “We’ve got hours until first light. No point standing here wearing ourselves out.”Down I sat on the rough rock. Cool now was the evening breeze, bringing hints of pine, far-off wet earth. Tired my legs were, though no long path led here. Weight came not from steps, but what moved unseen - in speech, in quiet.Elara dropped down beside me, stretching her legs out. “You think Darius will tell the truth when he gets back?”There I stood, eyes fixed on the place they’d vanished among the branches. He will speak of his sighting. If Lucien takes it in, well - only time showsRonan crouched in front of me, elbows resting on his knees. “Lucien will believe it. He’ll hate it, but he’ll believe it. The man’s not stupid. Just proud. And pride makes him blind until the last second.”Garrick limped over and leaned his staff against the rock. “Pride’s a slow poison. Eats a man from the inside while he’s still s

Akira's POV The dawn arrived the way a blade arrives: slow at first and then all at once, an unforgiving light cutting through the dark․By the time we got to the ridge looking down across Crimson Moon territory, the fog had burned off, and I could see the valley below, like an old wound․ The high stone walls had mostly held, and the watchtowers had dying torches burning, and the sprawl of pack houses and training fields glimmered in the first cold gold of day․ Thin white smoke rose straight up from the central hearths․ Life moved on․ Routine․ Unaware․They did not know the dead were walking home․Ronan stopped beside me now, his shoulder touching mine․ This time it was intentional․ The contact resonated with something in my ribcage that's been rattling since we left the clearing․"Do you still want to walk in alone?" he asked․I kept my eyes on the gates․ "Not alone․ With you․ But I go through first․"He didn't argue․ He nodded once, a movement so small that most people would never

Akira's POV Light spills down through tall windows, catching dust that drifts like tiny sparks. Old wood fills the air cedar soaked in years, and underneath it, a hint of rusted iron lingers. At the room's heart stands a table stretched out, silent, bare. It holds nothing. Nobody has taken their place. Stillness presses in, heavy with what hasn’t been said. A place by the front became mine not taken, just left empty by everyone else. At my right stayed Ronan, hands relaxed yet ready, gaze moving without stop like something hidden could strike from any shadowed edge. Leaning by the doorway across was Elara, foot raised on cold rock, weight balanced with quiet patience. Moving behind the rows, never settling, went Garrick, each step carrying a tension that hung thick even in silence. Into the room stepped the elders first. Thane came alone, his head down, leaving his staff at the door as if laying it down after battle. Behind him, Mira followed she who had tied my arms with silver s