All Chapters of THE ALPHA’S UNWANTED PLUS-SIZE LUNA: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

MERRYΝI had expected Nocturne to look ancient, That was the first mistake I made.When the carriage passed through the enormous iron gates, I stared through the window. The city beyond them didn’t look like the kingdom I’d imagined from the stories.Glass towers rose beside dark stone buildings covered in silver runes. Vehicles moved along wide roads lit by floating lamps. Healers in white coats hurried between buildings while armed guards stood beneath enormous black arches.Modern, wealthy and organized.And yet, everywhere I looked, ancient symbols had been carved into the walls. Rhydian sat opposite me, watching my reaction.“You’re disappointed.”I glanced at him.“I was expecting castles.”“There are castles.”“Somewhere?”“Several.”I looked back through the window.“Why don’t people talk about this?”“Because people prefer stories that make them feel superior.”I smiled faintly.“That sounded almost bitter.”“It was.”The carriage slowed.A massive building appeared ahead of

RHYDIANMerryn couldn’t hear us. That was the first thing I noticed when she looked at the doctor and asked him to repeat himself.He did, She shook her head.Again, nothing came. Her fingers curled against the edge of the bed.I stepped toward her.“Don’t panic.”She looked at my mouth.Then at my eyes.“I’m not.”I knew she was lying. She hated appearing vulnerable.Even now. The doctor checked her again.“Your hearing should return.”“How long?”“Several hours.”Merryn’s eyebrows pulled together.“You said that already.”“I know.”“Then stop repeating yourself.”The doctor looked at me. I gave him a warning glance. He closed his mouth. Merryn noticed.“What?”“Nothing.”She pointed toward the door.“I want the records.”“You’ve just healed a patient,” the doctor said.“I know.”“You need rest.”“I’ll rest after I get the records.”“You don’t know what your condition—”“Enough.”Her voice was sharp.I stepped between them.“She said enough.”The doctor immediately stopped.Merryn

   MERRYN I called Cressida before I reached the carriage. My hand shook once. Only once. Then I tightened my grip around the phone. She answered on the fourth ring. “Merryn?” Her voice was familiar enough to hurt. For a moment, I was eight years old again, sitting beside her in the kitchen while she braided my hair. Then I looked at the photograph in my hand. That feeling disappeared. “Aunt Cressida.” 

RHYDIAN The soldier was taken below the medical center. I followed. Merryn didn’t.She had wanted answers, but after what the soldier had said, I could see the questions building behind her eyes.She didn’t trust me. She shouldn’t, not completely. But if Crispin truly knew about her before the bracelet broke, then every hour I spent keeping her in the dark made my own position harder to defend.The interrogation room door shut behind me. The soldier sat with his hands restrained against the table. Tavish stood behind him.“Name,” I said.The soldier said nothing. I pulled out the chair opposite him.“Let’s try again.”He smiled.“You’re wasting your time.”“Who is Crispin Halloway?”His smile disappeared.“You know exactly who he is.”“I want you to tell me.”“He&rsq

RHYDIANI crouched beside the black symbol on the floor.Tavish stopped beside me.“Recognize it?”“Yes.”He frowned, “It’s not graffiti.”“I know.”Tavish reached into his coat and pulled out a thin metal plate. He held it beside the mark. The symbols matched.“Dominion identification mark,” he said.I looked at the open doorway.“They wanted us to find it.”Tavish nodded.“That means they weren’t trying to hide their presence.”“They were sending a message.”“To you?”I stood.“To everyone.”Merryn stepped closer.“What kind of message?”I looked at her.“That they can enter my palace whenever they want.”Her expression hardened.“That’s comforting.”“It wasn’t meant to be.”I turned to the guards.“Seal every entrance.”“Yes, Your Majesty.”“Check every communication system.”Another guard stepped forward.“And the palace staff?”“Question everyone who had access to this corridor.”Tavish nodded.“Servants too?”“Everyone.”A guard hesitated.“What about the restricted staff?”“Tem