Chapter 84
I remembered how Maddox and Quinn had once spoken highly of Vigan. How things had changed.
keep you informed of our progress, he continued. So you can change your mind and join us at any time
‘Did you attack that border village in Lakeside?‘ I asked suddenly.
Kieran’s expression darkened. “No. Why would Quinn insist it was me
“You tell me.”
“Maybe he should check for traitors among his own men, Kieran suggested, “Clifflands is good at infiltrating packs, turning them against each other. What happened in that region of Lakeside, so close to Clifflands… it was Nathanael’s tactic. Can’t say if Augustin is the same, but…” He shrugged. “Chip off the old block.”
“And you think you’d do better as Alpha King?”
I’m fighting for liberation,” Kieran said passionately. “I want to live in a world without fear and injustice, without bullies as Alpha Kings. I want people to be free. He leaned forward. “I don’t care if Augustin has royal blood. He bleeds the same as everyone else.”
I held his gaze for a long moment before saying, “I need time to think.”
Kieran nodded. “Take all the time you need. But remember, every day we wait, Juno remains in his clutches.”
“He said what?” Quinn demanded, his face reddening.
We sat in Maddox’s living room after Kieran had left. I’d told them about the meeting–most of it, anyway. I’d kept Juno’s connection to Kieran to myself. That wasn’t my secret to share.
“He promised he won’t force us to join,” I repeated.
Quinn scoffed. “And you believe him? He’s playing us, Matthew.”
“I agree,” Maddox said, “It’s tactical. He wants us to lower our guard so he can attack later.”
“He also mentioned wanting to be Alpha King,” I admitted. “Says he’ll do better than Augustin Levenston.*
Maddox shook his head. “The Alpha King comes from royal blood. There’s a difference.”
“What difference does blood make?” I asked.
“To take over Clifflands, Kieran would have to eliminate the entire Levenston family and the Elder Council. It’s impossible.” Maddox’s expression was grim. “Their warriors are forged from steel. They say they even train with silver.”
I frowned. “Train with silver?”
“To build resistance,” Maddox explained. “Why do you think none of our warriors came back alive when we attacked their manor? Even with our… advantage.”
“What advantage?”
Maddox and Quinn exchanged glances.
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Chapter 84
“We used poison, Quinn admitted reluctantly. “A mix of poison gas and silver vapor.”
I stared at them in shock. “You used chemical warfare against Clifflands?”
“We had no choice,” Maddox defended. “We were desperate.”
Suddenly, Augustin’s furious letter made perfect sense. “No wonder He was so angry. We’re lucky he has a thing for Juno, or we’d all be dead by now.”
“What do you mean?” Quinn asked.
“He sent me a letter,” I said, “with a warrior’s head. Said
pext
time w provoke them, they’ll attack, and he won’t accept surrender.”
The room fell silent.
“We need to be careful,” I said finally. “Both with Kieran and within our own ranks. If what he says about infiltration is true…”
“We’ll check,” Maddox promised. “But I still don’t trust him.”
“Neither do I, I agreed. “But we need to be smart about this.”
When I finally made it home that night, Isabelle rushed to embrace me.
“I was so worried,” she said, burying her face in my chest. “When you didn’t come back for dinner…”
“I’m fine,” I assured her, patting her back awkwardly. I still wasn’t used to these displays of affection from her.
She pulled back to look at me, “Will you… will you stay in my room tonight? Please?”
I hesitated. We’d been living in this strange limbo, with her in the guest room and me in the master bedroom–still surrounded by Juno’s things.
“Okay,” I said finally. I’d punished us both long enough.
Relief washed over her face. “Thank you.”
As I followed her down the hall, I made one thing clear to myself: I wasn’t ready to let her move into the room Juno and I had shared. Not yet. Maybe not ever.
But I could take this small step forward.
As I closed Isabelle’s bedroom door behind us, I wondered if Kieran was right. Was Junó truly happy in Clifflands? Or was she just another prisoner in a gilded cage?
Chapter Comments
TR
when did he ever see Juno with Augustine?
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The Broken Luna’s Sacrifice
