Chapter 71

Luna’s breath hitched as the car passed through the shimmering boundary of the Fairy Kingdom. The air around her seemed to hum with an ancient energy, thick with magic. Adrian, sitting quietly beside her, had been unusually silent since they’d crossed over into the kingdom’s lands, his eyes fixed on the road ahead. Luna knew better than to disturb him when he was in this kind of mood, so she focused on the passing scenery instead.

The fairy kingdom had always seemed like a dream—a place out of reach, a distant memory from a time before Luna had even been born. Yet, here she was, crossing into its borders, not knowing what to expect or what to find. What was waiting for her on the other side?

She glanced at Adrian, his jaw tight, his hands gripping the steering wheel with an intensity she hadn’t seen before. He wasn’t a man to show his emotions easily, but this was different. This was fear, uncertainty, something deeper than anything she’d seen in him before.

“Are you alright?” she asked, her voice soft, trying to break the silence.

Adrian turned his head slightly, his gaze softening as he looked at her. “I’m fine,” he said, though Luna could tell by the slight tremor in his voice that he was lying. “It’s just… this place. It feels like stepping into another world. The air is different.”

Luna nodded. She could feel it too—like stepping into the heart of the unknown. The air was alive here, humming with magic that she couldn’t begin to comprehend. It felt like something ancient, like the world itself had been shaped by these lands. She could feel it in her bones, an energy that stirred her senses. A deep pull, like gravity, drawing her toward the heart of this kingdom, toward the answers she needed to find.

They approached the gates of the kingdom, a massive structure carved from shimmering stone and adorned with intricate runes. It was as though the very walls themselves were alive, pulsating with magic, almost as if they recognized Luna’s presence. The guards, clad in silver armor that seemed to glint with starlight, stepped forward to stop them.

“Name?” one of the guards asked, his gaze sharp as he looked Luna and Adrian over.

“I am Luna Elowen Ashryn, Daughter of Queen Aeloria. I have returned,” Luna said, her voice unwavering, though her heart hammered in her chest. She was not sure what to expect in this place, but the mention of her mother’s name had an immediate effect on the guards. Their stoic expressions faltered, and Luna felt the weight of their gaze shift.

After a tense moment, the taller of the two guards nodded, stepping aside. “We’ve been told you might come,” he said. “Your mother is expecting you.”

Luna’s breath caught in her throat. She had no idea what her mother would be like now, what she had become since the time they were separated. How much had changed? How much had she changed?

Adrian didn’t say anything, but Luna could feel his presence beside her, steadying her as they passed through the gates. The air shifted, becoming even thicker with magic, and Luna’s senses tingled with the power that lay beneath her feet.

They walked along a cobblestone path that led them deeper into the kingdom, past towering trees that seemed to whisper in a language Luna didn’t recognize. The flora here was unlike anything she had ever seen—flowers that shimmered with an ethereal glow and trees with silver leaves that rustled without wind.

Luna couldn’t help but feel a mixture of awe and apprehension as she followed the guards toward the heart of the kingdom. Her heart was racing, her thoughts swirling with questions she couldn’t answer. What had her mother become in her absence? Would she recognize her? Would she even want to?

The journey through the kingdom was long, and Luna kept her eyes fixed ahead, trying not to let her nerves get the best of her. She glanced at Adrian, whose expression remained unreadable, though she could sense the tension in his body. He was as ready for this as she was, but even he didn’t know what was waiting for them on the other side.

They finally arrived at the grand hall of the palace, a majestic structure made of white crystal and encased in living vines that pulsed with magical energy. The building seemed to glow softly in the twilight, a beacon in the heart of the kingdom.

As they entered the hall, Luna’s breath caught in her throat. The ceiling opened to the night sky, and moonlight poured in, bathing the room in silvery light. It was beautiful—too beautiful to be real, like something out of a dream.

At the far end of the hall stood a figure—tall, regal, and draped in an elegant gown made of shimmering fabric. Her golden-white hair cascaded down her back, glowing with the same ethereal light that filled the room. Luna didn’t need to be told who she was. She knew without question.

Her mother.

Queen Aeloria.

Luna’s heart thudded in her chest as she stepped forward, her feet moving on their own, the rest of the world fading away until there was only the woman who had given her life. Her mother turned slowly, her gaze locking onto Luna’s with an intensity that nearly took Luna’s breath away.

“You’ve grown,” Aeloria said, her voice soft but carrying an undeniable authority. “You have your father’s fire.”

Luna stood frozen for a moment, the weight of her words settling in. For a long time, she had wondered what it would feel like to see her mother again. But now that the moment had arrived, she was at a loss for words.

“I didn’t know if you were alive,” Luna admitted quietly, her voice trembling slightly.

“None of us did,” Adrian said gently from behind her. His hand was a reassuring presence at her back, but Luna could feel his tension, too.

Aeloria’s gaze flicked to Adrian, her expression unreadable for a moment before a faint smile tugged at her lips. “I see your protector is still stubborn,” she remarked with a hint of fondness. “Come. We have much to discuss.”

As Luna walked toward her mother, a sense of unease settled over her. This was it. The moment she had longed for, and yet, it didn’t feel like the reunion she had imagined. There was something else—something off in the air, something that made her uneasy. But she didn’t have the time to dwell on it now.

Adrian stepped silently at her side, the two of them following Aeloria down the corridor. They entered a large chamber with two thrones—one empty, the other occupied by Aeloria. The room was filled with a soft, golden glow that seemed to come from the very walls themselves.

“Your sister is waiting,” Aeloria said, her tone heavy with meaning. “She has questions.”

“Kinsey?” Luna said, startled. She hadn’t realized her sister had made it this far.

Aeloria nodded slowly, her eyes flicking to Luna. “You still don’t remember everything, do you?”

Luna’s heart skipped a beat. What did she mean?

“What do you mean?” Luna asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Your memories were locked away…” Aeloria’s voice trailed off. “To protect you.”

Luna felt a strange sense of dread fill her. “From what?”

Aeloria’s eyes darkened slightly. She reached out, placing a cool hand gently on Luna’s forehead. A jolt of warmth surged through her, and suddenly, everything changed. The world around Luna seemed to twist and shift, and for a moment, it felt like she was floating, lost in an endless void.

“From yourself,” Aeloria whispered, her voice barely audible.

And then, everything went dark.