Chapter 228 – He's Dying...For me to live.

Chapter 228 – He's Dying...For me to live.


Liora

It had been seven days since the battle with Marcus.

After three long, sleepless days of fighting with Marcus until he fell and went to dust … now Silvermoon can breathe again.

The air no longer smelled of blood. Healersvhad been doing their thing, saving people. Even the children started to laugh again.

Even though the curse id fading, something felt wrong. There was an emptiness deep inside me that nothing could fill.

I was standing by the broken, Snowfall nuzzled inside me, her voice barely a whisper.

“You still feel it, don’t you?”

“Yes,” I murmured under my breath, staring at the dark hills. “The curse hasn’t left completely. It’s… shifting.”

“Because someone else carries it.”

Her words struck like a blade to the chest. My heartbeat stuttered. “What do you mean?”

“You already know.”

She was right.

I didn’t want to believe her....

I didn’t want to think that Lucian, my mate, the man who had fought beside me, bled for me was one who absorbing the curse.

I touched my chest with my hand. “No… he wouldn’t.”

But deep down, I knew. He would.

I rubbed my head, exhusted. I needed air.

So I walked out, pass the recovering soldiers, the smell of cooking food and smoke filled the air.

I walked as my legs led me toward the Moon Garden or the ruins that was left of it.

I brushed my fingers along a wilted flower, and for a second, I swear I hear my mother’s laughter.

Elara loved this place. She used to say the moonlight made everything look pure, even when you're depressed.

Snowfall’s nuzzled “She would have been proud of you.”

“I’m not sure,” I whispered. “Not yet.”

I nearly reached the garden then, I heard voices ahead. Low, serious, familiar.

It was Keal. And Ronan.

I slowed my steps, staying hidden behind a fallen tree.

“…he’s getting worse,” Keal said his voice was rough, heavy.

Ronan’s answered “He won’t admit it. But the curse is eating him alive.”

My breath caught.

Keal cursed softly. “He knew it would kill him, and he did it anyway.”

The world tilted around me. The ground felt too soft, the air too thin. I gripped the edge of the stone for balance.

No.

No, he didn’t.

He couldn’t have.

“He said it was worth it,” Ronan murmured. “He said as long as she lived, it didn’t matter.”

I couldn’t believe my ears. Even though I suspect lucian was hiding form me.

Lucian…

Snowfall’s nuzzled. “He took your curse, Liora. Your pain became his. Thats how he's showing you he regret it.”

I started walking following the faint mate bond. Then faster. My heart was pounding hard. Walking deeper in Moon garden, the same place where my mother died, where silver blood once stained the beautiful flowers.

And I saw him. Sitting alone.

He had his back to me, his dark hair falling below his shoulders. The moonlight caught the silver veins crawling up his arm from his palm. The curse is spreading fast. The same curse that used to burn inside me.

“Lucian.” I called.

He didn’t turn to know it was me. “You shouldn’t be here.”

“I had to see you.” My voice was shaking, but I tried and steady it. “Is it true?”

He exhaled, it was slow, exhausted. “What did Keal tell you?”

“That you’re dying.”

Silence.

Then he laughed softly, like he brushing off a stupid joke. “He talks too much.”

My stomach did a little flip. “So it’s true.”

He finally turned. And not seeing him for two days, i was shocked. His skin was pale, his lips dried off, and his eyes ... the goddess, his eyes... were dying.

“Don't give me that look,” he sighed, his smile. “I’ve wanted this.”

I walked closer, slowly. “Peace? You call that peace? You’re killing yourself, Lucian!”

“But I’m saving you,” he cut me off.

I shook my head, hands kn my air. The tears sliding down. “You think I want that? You think I can live knowing you died for me?”

He looked away, runninga hand in his hair. “You were always meant to live. And I was meant to put things right end them if I had to.. my mother’s legacy, Marcus’s curse, My betrayal.... all of it. If my death wipe them, then it’s worth it.”

I feel anger boiling inside me. I stop in front of him and hitting him hard on the chest. I don't know what to do. Or how to take my anger out.

“You think this is noble?” I shouted, my voice trembling. “You think dying will fix what you did?”

Not trying to admit him leaving me would be the last thing I need.

He didn’t move. As if it didn't hurt.

Well maybe it does nothing till the pain he's feeling inside.

“Our plan with Marcus was supposed to destroy you… but you destroyed me instead.” He uttered woth a painful smile.

My heart stopped.

“That’s because you helped Marcus kill my mother,” I whispered, my voice shaking. “I didn’t destroy you I destroy Marcus. But your plan ruined everything. Take my mother away, put my father in coma. Killed my mate. And destroy Silvermoon.”

He closed his eyes, embarrassed, I know he regretted all that. “I know." He said with a sigh.

"I regret all this and I that why I'm willing to trade my every breath to undo it.”

The world went still.

No... that not how its supposed to be.

My hands were trembling. I wanted to hit him again and again. Toet the anger out... but it stopped midway… and fell uselessly to my side.

The tears came before I could stop them.

“I won’t become like Marcus,” I whispered. “ And I won’t live with hate or regrets anymore.”

He looked at me amazed by my words.

“I forgive you,” I said softly. “But forgiveness doesn’t mean freedom. You have to live. Do you understand me? You will undo that spell and live long enough to fix what you’ve broken.”

He laughed quietly... the kind of laugh that hurt to hear. That said its too late for that.

“Liora…” He put his head on my shoulder, smiling through his tears. “Thank you.”

I put my head on his head that was on my shoulder. His skin was hot, burning under my skin. “Don’t thank me yet. You’re not free. Untill the curse fade out.”

We stare at the stars, neither of us spoke. The moon was full. Moin goddess watching us.

Then suddenly the ground shaked a little.

We jolted at ones.

What was that?

The air was heavy, “Lucian whats that?”

He stiffened. “I… I dont... know.”

But the mark on his arm flared, glowing like molten silver. He gasped, clutching his chest as the curse was beating like a secong heart. Alive.

“Lucian!” I held him, even while the heat burn me.

I heard Ronan’s voice from the distance. “Liora! Come quick!”

He was running towards us.

“Aurelie!” Ronan shouted, "Aurelie and Keal fainted."

“What’s... whats happening?!” I screamed.

Lucian’s shaky voice make me turn to look at him pressingon the silver veins. “It’s the curse… it’s spreading! It seems like its not only bound to you ... it's in the whole Elara's bloodline."

I gasped...." No...no no"

“Lucian, it cant be!” I shouted again, grabbing his hand even as the heat burned through my palm. “We have to find a way to fight it!”

He looked at me with hopeful eyes.

And for one moment, the world went still.

"I hope we can.”

“we’ll fight together!”

But before I could finished I heard a sound like something explode. The last thing I heard was his whisper...

“Liora… run.”