All Chapters of Bound to the First Blood: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

The expedition departed at dawn.Dark clouds stretched across the horizon as the massive gates of Castle Nocturne slowly opened.Rows of mounted warriors waited in formation.Vampires.Werewolves.Witches.An alliance that would have seemed impossible only months ago.Yet now they rode together toward a common enemy.The Devourer.Elara sat atop a black horse beside Lucien.The cool morning wind brushed against her face.For the first time since arriving in Noctis, she was leaving the kingdom.Part of her felt excited.Another part felt terrified.Mostly terrified.---The expedition consisted of thirty elite warriors.The four queens remained behind to govern Noctis during Lucien's absence.Much to Seraphina's annoyance."I should be coming."Lucien had ignored her complaint."I should definitely be coming."He ignored that one too.By the end of the argument, Seraphina had threatened to follow them secretly.No one was entirely convinced she wouldn't.---The journey lasted several

Silver light exploded across the temple.The force of it shook the ancient ruins.Stone pillars cracked.Dust rained from the ceiling.The monstrous creature was thrown backward before it could reach Elara.For a brief moment, everything became blinding white.No one could see.No one could move.Only the power of the Moonborn filled the temple.Ancient.Beautiful.Terrifying.---When the light finally faded, silence followed.The warriors slowly looked toward the center of the chamber.Then froze.Elara stood surrounded by silver moonlight.Ancient runes glowed across her arms and neck.Her golden eyes had once again transformed into silver.Yet this time, something was different.She was conscious.In control.The power wasn't consuming her.She was wielding it.Lucien stared.Kael stared.Everyone stared.Even the monstrous creature hesitated.For the first time since appearing, it looked uncertain.Afraid.---Inside her mind, Luna's voice remained calm."Good."Elara clenched he

The sanctuary trembled. Silver crystals hanging from the ceiling shook violently. Dust drifted through the air. Ancient pillars groaned under invisible pressure. And for the first time since meeting Luna, Fear appeared on her face. Not concern. Not caution. Fear. The sight alone sent a chill through everyone present. If the First Moonborn feared something, then that something was far beyond ordinary danger. "The Devourer..." Lucien stepped forward. His crimson eyes narrowed. "You know where it is." It wasn't a question. Luna slowly turned toward him. The ancient woman seemed older suddenly. Wearier. As though thousands of years had settled upon her shoulders all at once. "I always knew." The answer echoed through the chamber. Nobody liked hearing it. Kael folded his massive arms. "You said it was imprisoned." "It is." Luna's silver eyes darkened. "For now." The emphasis on those two words made several warriors uneasy. The sanctu

Moonlight engulfed the hidden sanctuary.Silver radiance poured from Elara's body in waves, washing over every street, every tower, and every crystal bridge of the ancient city.The corrupted creatures froze.The darkness surrounding them quivered.For the first time since they had emerged from the cracks beneath the city, the monsters looked uncertain.Afraid.High above the battlefield, Elara floated with her silver hair dancing in the wind of her own magic.The runes covering her skin shone brighter than the stars carved into the ceiling above.Her silver eyes overlooked the battlefield without fear.Without hesitation.She looked like the Moonborn of legend.Every warrior stopped fighting.Every vampire.Every werewolf.Every witch.They stared upward in awe.Even Lucien found himself unable to look away.He had seen powerful beings throughout his long life.Kings.Queens.Ancient monsters.Immortal sorcerers.None of them had possessed an aura like this.It wasn't merely strength

The sound of the broken chain echoed long after the General had disappeared.It wasn't merely a noise.It was a warning.A promise.Deep beneath the Sanctuary of Luna, the ancient prison trembled as another crack spread across its silver walls.The Devourer had grown stronger.And everyone in the sanctuary knew it.No one celebrated surviving the battle.No one spoke.They simply stared at the Heart of the Sanctuary.The enormous silver crystal that had protected the underground city for three thousand years was slowly turning black.Dark veins crawled across its surface like poison spreading through a living body.The once-brilliant light had begun to dim.With every heartbeat, the sanctuary grew a little darker.Luna rested her palm against the crystal.She closed her eyes.Ancient moonlight flowed from her body into the Heart.For a brief moment, the corruption stopped spreading.The black veins ceased moving.A sigh of relief escaped several warriors.Then the silver light around