~ Rayel’s POVThe soft fabric of my clothes brushed against my skin as I pulled them on. Stepping out of my room, I paused for a moment, a newfound awareness blooming within me. My body felt different. A content smile curved my lips. The feeling of well-being, the surge of energy, it had to be thanks to Elara and my little baby.Heading towards the training grounds, my thoughts drifted to what would happen when I meet my child. Soon, there would be a baby’s voice echoing in my palace, another face to light up your days. I felt excitement bubbling over. I needed a name, the perfect name, for this little baby who would change my world forever.Names flitted through my mind, ones I had loved since childhood. But none of them felt quite right yet. The search continued, a delightful puzzle waiting to be solved. I quickened your pace, eager to reach the training grounds and see what Boris was up to, hoping maybe he'd have some brilliant ideas. After all, you were in this together.A flurry
Rayel’s POVThe soldiers filed out of the training grounds, their boots crunching on the gravel. They were leaving to follow my command. Boris lingered behind a moment, a furrow in his brow. He leaned in and spoke quietly, "Your Majesty, why are we heading back to the lake forest? We combed that place high and low months ago."I met his gaze. “We found a scrap of Elara's clothing there. It has to be connected somehow. Maybe another search will jog to uncover something we missed before." A flicker of worry crossed my face.He nodded his head and then asked me what I was going to do next after finding Elara and her child."Bring them back here, to the palace," I said, my voice firm but my heart heavy. "And I will make sure I keep them safe."Boris studied me for a long moment, then let out a sigh. "That's all well and good, Your Majesty," he said, "but have you thought about Luna Hazel? How's she going to take all this?"A knot formed in my stomach. The truth was, I hadn't. Elara's sudd
~ Elara’s POV I finally left to hide with Dolph when I heard the approaching footsteps again and they were almost close to where we were. I thanked Rufus before jumping out of his training ground and I went into the house to carry my baby. Ducking behind the massive oak tree, I peeked out, heart hammering a frantic rhythm against my ribs. The approaching footsteps were getting closer. Then, through the trees, I spotted Rufus. But he wasn't running. He stood stock still, facing where I and Dolph were hiding. He wasn't just standing there, though. He was humming. Not a tune, but actual words.Curiosity, sharp and hot, pricked through my fear. I squeezed my eyes shut, straining to hear over the pounding of my own blood. The humming grew louder, resolving into a rhythmic chant. It wasn't gibberish, the way some movies portrayed magic. This sounded…ancient, powerful. Like an old poem or a secret language. A shiver ran down my spine. Then, it hit me.Rufus was creating a shield, a magical
~ Elara’s POVMy heart overflowed with gratitude for Rufus. He'd just saved our lives! I rushed inside to lay Dolph carefully on the bed. I needed to get him safe so I could help Rufus. But the sight that greeted me stopped me cold. The room was trashed, a complete disaster zone. Panic surged through me.Spotting a large cloth, I grabbed it and in a flash, I secured Dolph onto my back. Bursting out of the room, I scanned desperately for Rufus. But he was nowhere to be seen. Fear twisted in my gut. Where had he gone? I spun around, searching frantically, until I spotted him.There he was, in the middle of the chaos, but not doing what I expected. Instead of running away, he was focused on the aftermath of the fight. He was trying to clear away the bodies of the men who had attacked us. Relief washed over me like a wave. I hurried over to Rufus, my voice shaky with concern. "Are you sure you're alright? Shouldn't you be resting after all that?"Rufus straightened up, his brow furrowe
~ Elara’s POV Rufus knelt down, and a moment later I heard the happy gurgling of my son. Rufus had brought him out, a tiny scrap of peaceful normalcy in the midst of the chaos. Dolph munched on his food with a single-minded focus that mirrored my own training sessions. It was almost comical, the way he would get so engrossed in eating he'd fall asleep right after, as if sensing the importance of the task at hand.A surge of fierce love washed over me. I would find my father. Not just for myself, but for Dolph, to create a safe and secure future for both of us. Fueled by this newfound determination, I devoured my food, ready to tackle another grueling training session. The road ahead was long, but with each passing day, I felt myself getting closer, not just to unlocking my powers, but to reuniting with my father.Days bled into weeks as I trained relentlessly. Rufus pushed me hard, but I never faltered. Then, one day, it happened. With a final, grueling exercise, Rufus finally manage
~ Rayel’s POV A memory surfaced. My father had once mentioned a room that belonged to his grandfather. They hadn't gotten along, and after my grandfather's passing, my father had ordered the room sealed and untouched. This, I realized, was the very same room.The room's pristine condition was a stark contrast to the dust and neglect I had expected. Curiosity gnawed at me. I crept closer, reaching out to push on the doorknob. It wouldn't budge, it was locked. But from the inside!Confused, I rapped on the door. "Hello? Is anyone there?"A woman's voice, laced with surprise, echoed back. "Who is it? Are you Luna Hazel?"I heard her footsteps approaching the door, but it remained firmly shut. When I didn't answer, the footsteps stopped.Something wasn't right. I pushed against the door with all my strength. It creaked open a sliver, revealing a glimpse of a cluttered room and... a woman.The sight that greeted me was a shock. A heavily pregnant woman stood there, her eyes wide with alar
~ Rayel’s POVMy jaw clenched as I spotted the woman. She was heavily pregnant, her face pale with exhaustion. As soon as she saw me, her eyes widened and she immediately dropped to her knees."Who are you?!" I demanded, my voice firm but not angry.Her voice trembled as she stammered, "Y-Your Majesty... I'm..." Sweat beaded on her forehead despite the cool air.She took a shaky breath, finally calming down a bit. "My name is Ares," she revealed in a small voice."Ares," I repeated, trying to place the name. It didn't ring a bell. My gaze swept across the room again, taking in the changes. Gone was the bare and dusty space I remembered. Now, comfortable furniture filled the space, along with a surprising amount of good food stocked in a nearby cupboard. My eyebrows furrowed. "And why are you here, Ares?!”My tone was accusatory and it was clear I wanted answers.“Ares! Who exactly are you and what are you doing here?!” I asked again.“Luna Hazel… can explain… that,” she stammered.“Wh
~ Rayel’s POV I was speechless, staring at Hazel. She wasn't making things easier. Hazel got up and walked closer to me, clearly frustrated."You're being such a jerk, Rayel! Why are you acting so mad? I told you I was pregnant, and you believed it even though you knew I can't have kids. Why are you getting mad at me now?” Hazel demanded, her voice laced with anger.Frustration bubbled over. "Seriously, Hazel? You can't even apologize?" I exclaimed.Hazel scoffed. "Why would I? I bent over backwards for you, remember? You should be thanking me, not throwing a tantrum."Her lack of regret made my blood boil. "That's unbelievable, Hazel! You don't get to play innocent here. Taking responsibility is grown-up stuff, and you're failing miserably! I hate it when people don’t take responsibility for their actions!” I said. The air hung heavy with accusation after Hazel's scoff. "Take responsibility for my actions!" she spat, her words dripping with misplaced blame. I managed a smile, thin