Chapter 50: Blood And Betrayal
The room was way too silent. The kind that pressed against your skin like cold iron.
Only three of us stood in the ritual chamber beneath the palace: the King in his ceremonial robes of obsidian and gold, Lucas standing quietly to my right with his eyes on the floor, and me, clutching my hands behind my back to stop them from trembling.
The chamber itself was carved from black stone, etched with glowing runes that pulsed with a silver hue. A basin stood at the center, filled with shimmering water that reflected no face. It was said to show only the truth. The ceiling above was open to the sky, and tonight, the full moon blazed down on us like a silent witness.
I turned to the King, my voice steady despite the way my heart raced. "Are you sure there’s no other way?"
He didn’t look at me at first. His gaze was fixed on the basin. "There is no other path. The final fragment lies within Jesse’s heart physically and spiritually. It was placed there by the Moon Goddess herself. It cannot be separated from him unless it is offered willingly."
I took a slow breath. "Willingly... yes I know..."
The King nodded solemnly. " That is the only way the Moon Goddess can be restored fully. Otherwise... the last piece dies with him. And she dies with it."
My throat tightened. I looked at Lucas, hoping for a sign of protest, an argument, anything. But he only looked at me, calm and resolved. "We all have our roles in life, Bella," he said quietly. "This one is his."
I didn’t speak. I couldn’t. Footsteps echoed from the hallway, slow and heavy. Jesse emerged through the stone arch, dressed simply in dark tunic and trousers, no royal embellishment or armor. Just him. His eyes went straight to mine.
I expected defiance. Maybe even regret. But all I saw in him was... peace. Tired, but certain.
"Jesse," I breathed.