Chapter 227 – My Count Down

Chapter 227 – My Count Down


Lucian

I woke up, it was morning. I remembered fainting last night after the curse took hold on me.

It was quiet.

Too quiet for my liking.

Without my father mocking voice.

My body was heavy, as if I was crushed. Then I feel the pain.

Burning slowly.

I looked down at my hands where the rune was, I noticed my palm had darkened overnight, the curse crawling toward my wrist.

“What’s this,” I whispered. “What’s happening to me?”

He answered, but his voice sounded differently. Tired. Weak. “That meas it has begun. The rune. The curse. It feeds on your soul now. And when it reaches your heart, your life will complete the cursed.”

“So, I’ll die.” I said.

A pause. Then softly.“Yes.”

I let out a shaky breath, my heart feel heaby, I run a hand over my face. My fingers were cold. But my heart was colder. “Good,” I muttered. “At least something ends with me.”

Shadowmere’s voice was serious now. “You think this is redemption?”

“No,” I said, standing slowly. Feeling dizzy. “It’s justice.”

I walked out of the ritual ground. And to Silvermoon.

It was a long deadly walk but soon I arrived. Warriors limped through Silvermoon pack grounds, some tending to the wounded, some clearing the debris. The smell of blood and healing herbs.

Keal lean by the fallen wall, his shirt was dirty, his hands stained with blood. By his side Ronan and Elias were helping out a group of healers lift a broken beam off a trapped soldier.

Keal noticed me immediately. His eyes ... sharp, tired, and lined with worry, he scanned me from head to toe. “You look worse than death, Lucian.”

“Feels like it,” I said, trying to match his sarcasm. My voice betraying me halfway.

He frowned. “What did you do?”

“Finished it.” I smiled faintly. “Marcus is gone.”

Keal’s jaw clenched. He didn’t ask how. Maybe he didn’t want to know.

“And Liora?” I asked.

“She’s alive,” he said. “But not improving.” his shoulders relaxed slightly. “She’s been asking for you.”

I nodded and walked past him, ignoring the bond pull in my chest. But every step was making my whole body aching.

I remembered Marcus’s laughter echoing across the ritual ground.

You can’t save what’s already dying....

I pushed the memory away.

Stay positive.

I entered Liora’s room, Eira was her side, pressing a damp cloth against Liora’s forehead.

She open h.

She was awake.

Her eyes — soft silver, half-lidded with pain — flickered toward me.

“Lucian…” Her voice was weak, but it was real.

I fell to my knees beside her. “Hey,” I whispered, forcing a smile. “You made it.”

She tried to return it, but her lips trembled. “You… look terrible.”

I laughed softly, a sound that came out more like a breath. “You too.”

Eira rose quietly, giving me a long, unreadable look before stepping outside. She knew. Somehow, she always knew when to leave us alone.

For a long moment, we just looked at each other. The silence between us was heavy, filled with everything we hadn’t said — the anger, the fear, the love buried beneath all of it.

Then she reached for my hand.

Her fingers brushed the mark on my palm. She flinched at its heat. “What did you do, Lucian?”

I froze. Her touch burned, but not because of the mark. Because of the guilt.

“Nothing you need to worry about,” I said, forcing the corners of my mouth upward.

Her brows knitted. “Don’t lie to me. I can feel it.”

I shook my head. “It’s just a mark. The spell’s done. You’re safe now.”

She frowned, her eyes shimmering. “Safe? I dreamed…” Her voice cracked. “I dreamed you were walking into the moonlight. You didn’t come back.”

I felt my chest tighten.

I wanted to tell her that her dream was real, that I'm absorbing her curse I'mgoingto die soon. But she looked so weak, lying there, so I didn’t.

Instead, I smiled. “You and your visions,” I chuckle. “Always dramatic.”

She didn’t smile back. “Lucian…”

Her fingers tightened weakly around mine. “Don’t do anything stupid. I didn’t forgive you yer. So don't do anything stupid.”

I gulped. “Too late for that.” I murmured making sure she didn't heard.

Her lips parted wanting to scold me more, but a coughing fit stole her words.

I steadied her, brushing her hair back, feeling how skiny she’d become. “Rest,” I whispered. “You’re going to be fine.”

She closed her eyes and I stayed with her until she fell asleep.

I stared at her lost in my thoughts, the good memories we had. I wanted to froze time and pretend death wasn’t sipping through the rune om my palm.

Keal entered quietly. “is she stable?”

I nodded.

He looked at me for a long time, his gaze flicking to the rune before I could hide it. “That’s not healing magic.”

“I know.”

“What is it?”

“Something old,” I said. “Something that shouldn’t exist.” I admit.

Keal’s jaw tightened. “And you took it?”

I didn’t answer. The silence said enough.

“You idiot,” he muttered, running a hand through his hair. “You think dying will fix what you did?”

“I know,” I said quietly. “I know.” I repeated. But at least she gets to live.

He stepped closer, lowering his voice. “Does she know?”

“No. And she won’t.”

Keal’s fists clenched at his sides. “You’re making her fall in love with a ghost.”

“I know its hard.” My throat felt dry. “But if it means she’ll live, I’ll gladly disappear.”

It was silence we didn't utter a word.

Keal finally sighed. “You always had a death wish.”

“Maybe,” I said. “But this time, it’s for her.”

He turned and walked out, muttering curses under his breath.

I followed him outside, survivors were gathering what remained of Silvermoon, burying their dead. And finding food. I join them helping out.

After a while, Elias called out, running to me, “Lucian! The southern barricade’s clear!”

I nodded weakly. My body was trembling now. The rune pulsed brighter with each heartbeat ... hot, alive, hungry.

Shadowmere’s voice came low, echoing through my mind. “You can still walk away.”

“No,” I whispered. “Not when I can protect her.”

His voice grew colder.“You understand the cost now?”

“I do.”

He was silent for a while then.“When the moon becomes full, she will live ...completely healed.”

I held my breath. “And me?”

“You will not.”

The words sank deep, colder even though i knew the consequences.

I looked up at the sky, the moon barely visible yet, a faint silver curve above the clouds.

“So that’s the price,” I murmured.

Shadowmere nodded. “It always was.”

The rune on my hand burned brighter, crawling higher toward my wrist. I clenched my fist, feeling it pulse grew louder.

“My life,” I whispered. “For hers.”

The wind howled softly through the ruins as Silvermoon get back to its feet.

But I'll pay the price.

And I knew… my countdown had begun.