"The bloodsuckers are not your people," Kyllian retorted. His eyes darted briefly to Damien, rage and jealousy burning so hot they threatened to consume him.
"But they are." Luna stepped closer to Kyllian, her hand brushing his arm lightly. "Kyllian, I have a son now." Her lips trembled as she said it. "If I can’t make Blood City safe for him, what kind of mother does that make me?"
Kyllian went silent at that. His throat worked, his jaw tightening as though he were physically swallowing his retort. The mighty wolf king bowed silently to her truth. He turned away briefly, his fists clenched at his sides, then slowly faced her again. He glared briefly at Damien—a glare that promised the fight wasn’t over, that this truce was only temporary—before softening as he looked back at Luna. "I will always protect you," he said finally. "But only if you let me. I cannot protect you when you are not here."
"Isn’t that why you loaned me Talon?" Luna asked, her lips curving into a teasing smile. Her eyes glittered with mischief as she tilted her head, daring Kyllian to argue with her logic.
Kyllian huffed, the corner of his mouth twitching despite himself. "Well, you convinced me," he admitted. His broad shoulders eased slightly, though his gaze flicked to Damien with a trace of protectiveness. "Now you just have to convince the Queen Mother."
"You call her Queen Mother?" Luna raised an eyebrow, genuine surprise softening her expression.
"Well, she is the closest thing I have to a mother, so... yeah." Kyllian shrugged. For a heartbeat, the alpha king looked younger, stripped of the mantle of duty and rage, just a boy who had needed someone to fill the void their own mother had left.
Luna’s smile widened, warmer this time, as her chest ached with tenderness. She stepped forward and pulled him into a firm embrace. His body was stiff at first, as though unsure how to accept her touch, then slowly he melted into it. She whispered against his ear, her voice trembling with love: "I wish I could make the Moon Goddess give you the happiness you so deserve."
Kyllian chuckled. "I was happy," he said, his hand lingering briefly at her back before falling away. His eyes flicked toward Damien then, a glint of steel flashing there. "Well... until you-know-who butted into our lives."
Luna pulled back, shaking her head with an exasperated sigh. "Your stubbornness is legendary."
Kyllian shrugged. "So what’s the plan now? Do you need my help with anything?" His gaze turned toward Damien, sharp and assessing.
"I haven’t been able to do much," he admitted, his fingers brushing along Luna’s arm briefly, a subtle claim, a reminder of who she belonged to. "I merely just got out of bed recently. And I..." His gaze softened as it fell on Luna. "I came here. But I do think you can help, Kyllian." He inhaled deeply, as though choosing his words carefully, knowing how precarious this alliance was. "Is it possible that you have some of your men search the Blood City borders and maybe around your borders too?"
"Why?" Kyllian asked, eyes narrowing as if Damien’s request carried a hidden agenda. His arms folded across his chest, posture rigid, every inch the territorial king unwilling to bow easily.
"Well, the first sightings were in werewolf territory. Their first attack was here. The second was in the middle of Blood City and here again." He exhaled, frustration bleeding into his words as his hand brushed through his hair. "I feel like werewolves are their targets. That’s the common denominator."
Luna shifted. Her eyes darted between the two kings.
"Which means they may be close by our own borders or in between," Kyllian reasoned aloud. He paced a few steps, then turned abruptly. "Why can’t your people do the search?" The challenge in his tone was about trust and the unspoken sting of losing Luna to Damien.
"Because honestly, from one king to another...I don’t know who I can trust. But I do believe they have an insider in Blood City." His hand tightened briefly around Luna’s, unconsciously seeking both her grounding touch and reminding Kyllian that she stood beside him. "That’s the only way they could have known you were transporting the queen from Blood City."
"You mean Lord Gabriel."
"Yes." Damien’s reply was firm as though he’d already spent countless sleepless nights unraveling the threads. His gaze flicked away for the briefest moment, shadows crossing his face. "But targeting Luna?" He shook his head. "I don’t think that was Gabriel’s doing. He knows what it would look like should something happen to her. But I do think Gabriel knows something."
Finally, Kyllian gave a short nod, though the tension in his shoulders didn’t ease. "Okay. I will disperse some men." His loyalty was to Luna, and that was the only reason the words left his lips.
Luna, sensing the fragile truce, cut in quickly. "Wait. Where is Talon?"
"Resting," Kyllian answered after a pause.
Luna’s expression tightened, a flicker of worry flashing across her eyes. "He needs to go back to Blood City. He needs to check the drop point for any messages."
"Drop point?" Damien asked, his brow furrowing. His tall frame shifted closer to Luna.
"I cannot tell you about it." Luna’s reply was quiet, but unyielding. She held his gaze steadily. A queen could not falter, even in front of her king. The knowledge burned her tongue, but she couldn’t risk it—not yet.
"You have been in contact with Sage Veyron’s order, haven’t you?" His eyes darkened, pupils flaring. It was a confirmation of what he already knew.
Luna nodded sheepishly, lowering her gaze for the first time in the conversation. A flush crept across her cheeks. She knew the risk of reaching out to the Order. But what choice had she had?
Damien exhaled slowly, his shoulders loosening as if releasing a held breath. "Fine. I don’t want to know. I trust you." He reached out, brushing his fingers against her cheek briefly, as though to remind them both of the bond that tethered them. "Talon can go back with me then."