Chapter 57

Twila's POV Cont’d

“Good morning,” I replied, forcing a smile as I took my seat across from him.

For a few moments, we ate in silence. The soft clinking of cutlery sounded louder than it should have. I studied him from beneath my lashes, searching for any sign that he remembered the night, that he had been at the training grounds, that he had seen Natalia.

“Did you sleep well?” he asked casually.

I hesitated. “I… don’t know.”

His brow furrowed. “What do you mean?”

“I had a strange dream,” I said slowly, choosing my words carefully. “It felt like the Moonstone was pulling me, but… differently.”

Orion’s hand stilled midair. Only for a second, but I noticed.

“Differently how?” he asked.

“Like it wasn’t calling me to help,” I said. “It felt disturbed. Almost threatened.”

Something unreadable passed through his eyes before he masked it.

“You’re safe here,” he said gently. “Nothing will harm you.”

I nodded, though unease still curled in my stomach.

As breakfast continued, I couldn’t shake the feeling that whatever I had seen was not just a dream. It felt like a warning, and somewhere in this castle, something had already been set into motion.

Soon, Thane walked in and whispered something into Orion’s ear. Orion glanced at him, then at me.

“Excuse me, Twila, but there is something I must attend to,” he said.

I nodded and watched him leave the dining hall, Thane trailing behind him.

“I really wish I could get a break,” I muttered to myself before turning back to my food.

Authoress’s POV

The triplet priestesses sat within their coven, facing one another with identical frowns etched across their faces.

“This is all your fault,” Nisha, the Second, said, pointing accusingly at the First. “The girl is growing stronger and getting in our way.”

“Good things come to those who wait, my dear sister. Good things,” Resha, the First, replied calmly.

“How long must we wait?” Nisha demanded, while Laysha, the Third, nodded in agreement.

“Patience, sisters,” Resha said, a knowing smile touching her lips. “It may not seem so, but she is walking directly along the path I laid out for her.”

Her sisters exchanged pleased smiles.

After breakfast, Twila decided to return to her room. Her thoughts were heavy and tangled, and she needed silence to sort through them. As she turned a corner, Natalia suddenly grabbed her and shoved her against the wall.

“For heaven’s sake!” Twila snapped, pushing her away. “What do you want?”

“Do not play games with me, Twila,” Natalia hissed. “Orion is mine. The Luna title is mine. Do not even think of taking it from me.”

“I see no reason to fight if it truly belongs to you,” Twila replied with a faint smirk. “And for the record, Orion is not a possession.”

“Mind your tongue, peasant!” Natalia spat. “I blame Thane for bringing you into this Kingdom. You are not a saviour, you are a curse. It is only a matter of time before everyone sees your true nature.”

“It is hardly my fault I can do things beyond your understanding. You should learn to live with it,” Twila said, turning to leave before pausing. “And whatever stunt you are planning with Orion… do not.”

She walked away, leaving Natalia standing there, burning with anger and confusion.

What did Twila know?

Natalia clenched her fists. She would have to be extremely careful when she activated the potion that night.

Elsewhere, Ryker pulled a parchment from its case and studied the strange symbols written across it. The language was unfamiliar, the meaning beyond his grasp.

For a moment, he considered discarding it and focusing solely on finding the Moonstone. Instead, he returned it carefully to its case and continued on his journey.

He had a new purpose now.

He would find the Moonstone, kill his father, Alpha Zareth, and claim his rightful place as the Alpha of the Western Kingdom.

Twila's POV

I barely slept that night.

Every time I closed my eyes, I saw that strange vision again.

A woman standing beside Orion. Natalia. And the strange feeling that had surrounded her.

Then the warmth that had stirred inside me afterward, as though my body had been responding to something I could not see.

I turned onto my side and stared at the window.

Moonlight slipped through the curtains and painted faint patterns across the floor.

Something was happening. I could feel it. But I didn't know what.

That was the part that frustrated me most.

For so long, I had been afraid of my powers because I didn't understand them. Now that I knew more about who I was, I had thought things would become clearer. Instead, I had more questions than ever.

I pushed the blankets aside and sat up.

Perhaps I needed fresh air.

I quietly left my room and made my way through the castle.

The corridors were mostly empty. The few servants I passed bowed respectfully before continuing with their duties.

When I reached the training grounds, I stopped. This was where my strange vision had taken me. The place looked completely ordinary.

Wooden training posts stood in neat rows. A few weapons had been left on the racks, and the morning breeze moved gently through the surrounding trees.

I walked toward the centre of the grounds.

I felt nothing, then, I closed my eyes.

For a moment, I tried to remember exactly what I had seen.

Natalia. Orion. The strange energy.

Then the sensation returned. A faint warmth travelled through my body.

I opened my eyes immediately. My breathing quickened.

I looked at my hands, nothing unusual happened.

“Why are you doing this to me?” I whispered. I wasn't sure whether I was speaking to my powers or to myself.

“Because you're trying too hard.”

I spun around, Orion stood several feet away.

I frowned. “How long have you been standing there?”

“Long enough.”

I folded my arms. “And you didn't think to announce yourself?”

A faint smile appeared on his face.

“You looked like you were having a conversation with the air.”

“I wasn't.”

“You were.”

I rolled my eyes. “Maybe the air was being more helpful than everyone else.”

He laughed so

ftly. I hadn't expected it.

For a few seconds, the tension inside me disappeared.