Chapter 63 Let Her Go
Chapter 63 Let Her Go
Aria did not wake up.
Hours has passed, and the pack members paced around in restlessness as they do not know what to do because they were all afraid.
Bookthorn Kingdom held its breath and it's balanced on a thin line between survival and collapse.
Lucian has never left Aria's side.
He sat on the edge of the bed in the eastern chamber with one hand wrapped around Aria’s cold fingers and the other resting protectively over her stomach. Her chest rose and fell barely, but it was enough to keep him tethered to hope.
Maeve had drawn circles of protection around the room of salt and ash mixed with moonwater. Even then, she stood in the corner of the room with her eyes closed, murmuring protective spells constantly under her breath.
“The bond is still under attack,” Maeve said quietly without opening her eyes. “Not forcefully but carefully.”
Lucian looked up at her sharply. “Meaning?”
“It’s waiting,” she replied grimly. “Ancient powers don’t rush. They erode.”
Lucian’s jaw tightened. “I won’t let it come near her.”
Maeve opened her eyes then, exhaustion and fear was plain on her face. “Lucian... this isn’t something you can fight with strength alone.”
Lucian brushed his thumb over Aria’s knuckles, his voice was low and fierce. “Then tell me what I can do.”
Maeve hesitated shortly and then spoke carefully. “Aria’s soul is not fully anchored right now. Part of her is… elsewhere.”
Lucian felt his heart lurch. “Where?”
“Between realms,” Maeve said. “Between the living world and the ancient place where the Sovereign power resides. That’s where it’s trying to claim the child.”
Lucian stood abruptly. “Then that’s where I’ll go.”
Maeve stared at him in horror. “Absolutely not.”
“I don’t care,” he snapped at her. “She’s my mate. That’s my child. I’m not sitting here while something tries to steal them away from me.”
Maeve stepped forward urgently. “Lucian, crossing that boundary could kill you or worse. You might not come back the same.”
Lucian turned to her slowly, his eyes were burning. “If I don’t try, she won’t come back at all.”
The room fell silent.
Then finally, Maeve exhaled shakily. “There... may be a way.”
Lucian’s head snapped toward her. “Then say it.”
Maeve walked to the foot of the bed and placed a trembling hand on the stone. “The mating bond between you and Aria is stronger than magic. Stronger than bloodlines. If you willingly open it fully, you might be able to reach her in where she is.”
Lucian frowned. “How do I open it?”
Maeve met his eyes. “By surrendering to it completely. No Alpha walls. No dominance. No control.”
Lucian stiffened. “That kind of vulnerability...”
“Is the only thing that could pull her back,” Maeve interrupted softly.
Lucian looked down at Aria again. Her face was pale with her lashes dark against her skin and her lips parted slightly as if she were trying to breathe through a dream she could not escape.
“I’ll do it,” Lucian said without hesitation.
Maeve swallowed. “Then sit with her. Hold her. And when I tell you to, you have to let go of everything you are except what you feel for her.”
Lucian sat down back and carefully gathered Aria into his arms. Her head rested against his chest, her body was limp and fragile. Fear surged through him at how light she suddenly felt.
Maeve began chanting, her voice was low and rhythmic. The runes around the room glowed faintly.
“Lucian,” Maeve said quietly, “now.”
He closed his eyes.
And let go of everything.
The Alpha crown he carried, the weight of his command, the instinct of dominate, the walls he had built since childhood, he tore them down one by one.
All that remained in him was his love for her. It was raw and terrifying. All-consuming.
The bond between them flared open like a wound, and like a beacon.
Lucian gasped as the world tilted violently. Suddenly, he was no longer in the chamber. He stood in a vast of endless plane of shadow and silver light. The ground beneath him rippled like water, reflecting fractured images of the past, of wolves running, blood spilled, crowns falling.
And in the distance... was Aria.
She knelt on a cracked stone platform with her body glowing faintly and one hand was protectively over her stomach. Chains of dark light wrapped around her wrists and ankles, tethering her to a towering presence behind her.
The Sovereign.
It loomed like a living abyss, it's eyes burning with ancient hunger.
"You again," it rumbled.
Lucian bared his teeth to show his fangs while stepping forward. “Let her go.”
The Sovereign laughed, the sound shaking the realm. "You are nothing here, Alpha."
Lucian didn’t stop. “She’s not yours.”
"The child is," it corrected coldly. "All moonblood life belongs to me."
Lucian reached where Aria was kneeling and dropped to his knees beside her. She lifted her head weakly, her eyes widening in disbelief.
“Lucian?” she whispered. “You shouldn’t be here.”
“I go wherever you are,” he said fiercely, while cupping her face. “I always will.”
Tears spilled down her cheeks. “It’s killing me. It’s draining everything I have.”
Lucian pressed his forehead to hers. “Then take mine.”
The Sovereign stiffened. "You would offer your life?" it asked, intrigued.
Lucian looked up at it, unwavering. “If that’s the price.”
Aria shook her head desperately. “No Lucian, I won’t...”
He silenced her with a gentle kiss, pouring everything he was into the bond. His strength. His warmth. His will to live.
Silver and gold light erupted around them.
The chains binding Aria cracked.
The Sovereign roared in fury. "You cannot..."
Lucian stood, his power no longer that of a single Alpha but of a mate bonded to Moonblood and life itself.
“You don’t get to take what we choose to protect,” Lucian growled.
With a final surge, he pulled Aria into his arms...
And the realm shattered.
Lucian woke with a strangled gasp.
He was back in the chamber, collapsed over Aria’s body. Maeve cried out in relief as silver light burst from Aria’s chest.
She inhaled sharply.
Color rushed back into her skin. Her heartbeat strengthened beneath Lucian’s ear, steady and strong.
“Aria!” Lucian whispered hoarsely.
Her eyes fluttered open.
“Lucian,” she breathed weakly.
He laughed shakily, pressing kisses to her face, her hair, her hands. “You’re here. You’re safe.”
Maeve sank to her knees, tears streaming down her face freely. “The bond held,” she whispered in awe. “By the goddess… it held.”
But before relief could settle... Aria gasped, clutching her stomach.
Lucian stiffened. “What is it?”
Her eyes widened in horror. “It didn’t lose,” she whispered. “It marked the child.”
Maeve froze. “What do you mean?”
Aria swallowed hard. “There’s a trace. A seed. It couldn’t take the baby, but it touched it.”
The room grew colder.
And far beneath the kingdom, something ancient stirred again, it was not angry this time. It was amused.
Because the heir had survived.
And now...
It was connected.