<b>Chapter </b><b>121 </b>
The road toward the kingdom had never felt this long before.
The sun climbed steadily above the trees, casting long shadows on the path where carriages, horses, and warriors moved in tense formation<b>. </b>Birds chirped overhead, but their songs were dulled by the thick anxiety lingering in the air. Eine sat quietly inside the main carriage, eyes unfocused, <b>hands </b>trembling in herp beneath her cloak.
It began subtly–a strange warmth behind her ribcage, pulsing slowly like a heartbeat not her own.
At first, she thought it was her nerves or maybe the memory fragments she couldn’t ce. But then the warmth intensified. It climbed her spine, licked at her neck, and crawled into her skull. Her breath caught. Her vision blurred. Every hoofbeat on the ground outside echoed in her ears like thunder.
Every breath she took felt shallow and scorched.
She pressed a hand to her chest, trying to calm the fire blooming inside. It didn’t help.
‘What’s wrong with me?‘ Eine chant silently.
Francesco had checked on her earlier. He had leaned in through the small window, his face etched with worry. She had forced a smile then<b>, </b>told him she was just tired. And he–gods bless his patience–had epted it without pressing further, though his golden eyes lingered too long on her face.
Around midday, they paused to rest beside a shallow stream that glistened under the sun. Horses drank. Warriors rotated shifts. Lira remained close to her saddle, preparing a light tonic for energy. Eine knew she should stay seated. But the heat was unbearable.
She needed air.
With unsteady hands, she pushed open the carriage door and stepped down slowly. Her legs wobbled, knees nearly giving out. Every motion sent sparks dancing under her skin. The world tilted. Her stomach twisted. Still, she walked–slow, uncertain steps toward the shade of a nearby tree<b>. </b>
That’s when Lira turned.
The healer’s gazended on her, and the change in her expression was instant.
Shock.
Panic.
Fear.
“My King Alpha!!” Lira’s voice cracked through the air like lightning. “The Luna–look at the Lupa!”
The warriors snapped to attention. Francesco appeared from behind a tent, eyes scanning until they locked on Eine.
And he froze.
She stood like a ghost in the sunlight, her white hair caught in a breeze that hadn’t existed moments before. Her <b>cloak </b><b>billowed </b><b>behind </b>her, <b>and </b><b>her </b>hands were raised, wing at her temples. But it was her eyes that brought silence to the camp.
They glowed.
Red.
Not crimson like blood, but deep molten ruby/swirling like liquid fire. Ancient. Unfamiliar<b>. </b><b>Wrong </b>and <b>right </b><b>all </b>at once.
Audrey was the first <b>to </b>move, sprinting toward her. She drew her de instinctively, <b>cing </b>herself between Eine and <b>any </b><b>potential </b><b>threat </b><b>“</b><b>Luna</b><b>, </b>can,
you hear me<b>?</b><b>” </b>
<b>1/4 </b>
<b>16:23 </b>Tue, <b>29 </b>Jul
Eine didn’t respond. Her lips moved, soft and barely audible.
“Noise… too much noise…”
She sank to her knees.
Francesco was at her side in two strides, kneeling beside her but careful not to touch. “Eine,” he whispered, voice low and steady. “It’s me. <b>I’m </b>here.
She whimpered. Her body trembled violently, like something inside was trying to w its way out.
“Lira!” Francesco barked. “What’s happening to her?!”
The healer reached them quickly, her eyes wide with disbelief. “She’s awakening,” she breathed. “The magic in her–it’s tied to thisnd, to the Kingdom. The closer we get, the more unstable it bes. She was sealed before, but now… it’s unraveling.”
“Unraveling?” Audrey echoed. “What does that mean?”
“It means she can’t control it,” Lira snapped. “And if it continues like this, she might burn herself from the inside.”
Francesco gritted his teeth. “We need to get her to safety.”
Then it happened.
A howl.
Low. Sharp. Near.
Another followed.
Then two more.
Rogues.
Marlow appeared at Francesco’s side, sword already drawn. “My king, movement in the south woods. We’re surrounded. At least a dozen, maybe more.”
“Fuck,” Francesco growled.
His golden eyes shifted as his beast surged forward, fighting to protect. He turned, torn between battle and his mate writhing beside him.
“Marlow,” he barked. “Split the men. Hold them off. Do not let them near her.”
Marlow saluted and shoutedmands. The warriors moved swiftly into formation.
Francesco turned back to Eine. She was glowing now. Not just her eyes, but her entire body shimmered with a faint red hue, like embers under skin. The grass beneath her browned. The air warped with heat.
He reached out and cupped her cheek.
“Eine,” he whispered again. “<i>Come </i>back to me.”
Her eyes flickered, briefly turning silver. Recognition. Fear. <i>And </i>then red again.
“Too much…” she gasped. “Too loud… too many…”
Suddenly, she screamed. “AAAAAAAAARRRRGHHHHHHHH…..!!!!!!”
Not a normal scream..
It was silence made thunder. A st of energy rippled from her body, invisible but felt in every bone. It knocked over tents. Horses <b>neighed </b>and <b>bucked</b>.
<b>16:23 </b><b>Tue</b><b>, </b><b>29 </b><b>Jul </b>G
Trees swayed.
Lira was thrown backward. Audrey dropped to one knee. Marlow stumbled.
Only Francesco remained.
He endured it.
He bore the full weight of her magic and stayed.
When the shockwave faded, Eine copsed.
Francesco caught her.
Her skin burned, but he didn’t let go.
“Lira!” he shouted, eyes never leaving Eine. “Help her. Now.”
The healer crawled over, coughing. She ced her hands above Eine’s chest, muttering a spell.
“Her magic is wild,” she whispered. “We need to sedate her power. I can bind it temporarily, but we must get her to the kingdom before nightfall”
Another howl pierced the air.
Francesco stood slowly, cradling Eine in his arms.
His golden <i>eyes </i>turned to Audrey. “Form the perimeter. Kill anything that gets close.”
Audrey nodded and vanished.
Francesco looked to Marlow. “Prepare the backup horses. We ride now.”
“But the rogues-”
“I will handle the rogues<i>,</i><i>” </i>he growled. “Go!”
Lira stayed close to Eine, whispering chants, weaving small protective runes across her forehead and chest. Francesco looked down at her again.
Even in this state, she looked like fire made flesh. Beautiful. Untouchable.
He kissed <i>her </i>forehead.
“Hoid on, my moon<i>,</i><i>” </i>he murmured. “You’re almost home.”
And with that, the convoy <i>moved</i>.
The forest around them burned with <i>tension</i><i>. </i>
<i>And </i>in the distance, shadows stalked the trees.
But none would reach her<b>. </b>
Not while he lived.