All Chapters of THE REJECTED BARREN LUNA REVENGE : Chapter 61 - Chapter 70

CHAPTER SIXTY-ONEThe war council convened at dawn. Mira sat at the head of the table, her hands clasped before her, her face betraying nothing of the fear that churned in her chest. Around her sat her children, her advisors, and the leaders of the allied territories. The room was thick with tension, the weight of what was coming pressing down on everyone.Zara stood at the far end of the table, a map spread before her. She had drawn it from memory, marking every pass, every stronghold, every village that had fallen to Malak's advance. Her hand trembled slightly as she pointed to a cluster of marks near the eastern mountain range."He's here now. At the base of the mountains. His scouts have been moving through the passes for weeks, testing our defenses." She looked up, her eyes hollow. "He'll make his move within the month.""How many soldiers does he have now?" Kael the Younger asked, his voice tight."More than when I left. He's been absorbing the territories he's conquered, forcin

CHAPTER SIXTY-THREEThe climb was relentless. Each step felt like a lifetime, each breath a struggle. The wounded stumbled and fell, only to be lifted by those who still had strength. The children cried, their small legs too tired to carry them further. But they kept moving. They had no choice.Mira walked at the back of the column, her eyes scanning the path behind them. The enemy was out there, somewhere in the darkness below. She could feel their presence, the weight of their pursuit pressing down on her shoulders.Tomas stayed by her side, his hand never leaving hers. His face was pale, his body worn from the relentless pace. But he refused to slow down, refused to let her carry the burden alone."We need to find shelter," he said, his voice hoarse. "The wounded can't go much further. The children are exhausted.""I know." Mira looked up at the mountain peaks, their jagged edges cutting into the star-filled sky. "There has to be somet

CHAPTER SIXTY-FIVEThe moon was hidden behind thick clouds, the darkness absolute. Mira moved through the mountain pass with her soldiers, their footsteps silent on the rocky ground. They had trained for this, rehearsed every movement, every signal. Now it was time to put that training to the test.Kael led the advance team, his eyes scanning the darkness ahead. He had inherited his grandfather's instincts for combat, the ability to read the land, to sense danger before it struck. Mira trusted him completely, even as her mother's heart ached with fear for his safety.The supply depot appeared in the distance, a cluster of wooden buildings surrounded by a rough palisade. Torches flickered along the walls, casting dancing shadows. Guards patrolled the perimeter, their movements slow and bored. They had grown complacent, confident that no one would dare attack so deep in Malak's territory."They don't know we're coming," Kael whispered, appearing at Mira's side. "We have the element of s

CHAPTER SIXTY-SEVENMira didn't remember the journey back to the valley. She didn't remember the fighting, the chaos, the desperate attempt to save what remained. She only remembered Tomas's face, pale and still, the life gone from his eyes. She only remembered the sound of her own screams, raw and broken, tearing through the smoke-filled air.Now she sat in the ruins of their camp, her hands covered in ash and blood. The fires had been extinguished, the wounded tended, the dead counted. So many dead. Friends, neighbors, soldiers who had fought beside her. And Tomas. Always Tomas.Her children gathered around her, their faces streaked with tears and soot. Alara knelt beside her mother, her healer's hands reaching out to offer comfort. Mira pushed them away, unable to bear the touch."Mother, please," Alara whispered. "Let us help you.""There's nothing anyone can do." Mira's voice was hollow, empty. "He's gone. He's gone, and I couldn't s

CHAPTER SIXTY-NINEKael the Younger stood on the ridge overlooking the valley, his eyes scanning the horizon. The sun was rising, painting the peaks in shades of gold and crimson. Below, the new capital was waking up, the buildings still rough but growing, the fields green with crops. It was peaceful, beautiful, everything his grandparents had dreamed of.But Kael couldn't shake the restlessness that had settled into his bones. The war was over, Malak was dead, and the territories were at peace. Yet something was missing. Something he couldn't name.He had thrown himself into the rebuilding, working alongside his people, leading the new guard. He had trained soldiers, secured borders, and helped establish the new council. He had done everything asked of him, everything expected of him.But at night, alone in his chambers, he felt the emptiness. The loss of his father still ached, a wound that refused to heal. The battles he had fought still haunted his dreams, the faces of the fallen