“Aria.”
The voice came again.
“My daughter.”
Aria couldn’t move.
For eighteen years, she had wondered what her father sounded like.
She had imagined it countless times.
A deep voice.
A gentle voice.
A voice that would call her beautiful.
A voice that would tell her he had never abandoned her.
But the voice coming from beyond the Moon Gate was nothing like the voice she had imagined.
It was cold.
Powerful.
And filled with something that frightened her.
Possession.
Kael stepped in front of her.
“Don’t answer him.”
Aria stared at the darkness beyond the gate.
“That’s my father.”
“That thing isn’t the father you remember.”
“I’ve never met him.”
Kael’s expression tightened.
“Exactly.”
Elena stood several feet away, watching them.
Her silver eyes were strangely calm.
“Still protecting her, Kael?”
Kael’s gaze hardened.
“You’re not Elena.”
Elena smiled.
“I am.”
“No.”
“You should know better than anyone.”
She touched the black symbol on her forehead.
“This is what remains.”
Aria looked at her mother.
“What happened to you?”
Elena’s expression softened.
“Your father happened.”
Kael shook his head.
“Don’t manipulate her.”
Elena laughed.
“You’ve been manipulating her for eighteen years.”
Aria looked at Kael.
“Is that true?”
“Aria—”
“Answer me.”
Kael remained silent.
Elena stepped closer.
“Ask him what he did after I died.”
Aria’s chest tightened.
“What did you do?”
Kael looked at Elena.
“I buried you.”
Elena’s smile disappeared.
“No.”
Kael’s jaw tightened.
“I carried your body out of the battlefield.”
“You left me.”
“I had no choice.”
“You always have a choice.”
The room grew colder.
Aria looked between them.
“What battlefield?”
Elena answered.
“The Night of the Black Moon.”
Kael closed his eyes.
Aria waited.
“What happened?”
Elena looked at Kael.
“Tell her.”
Kael finally spoke.
“Your father attacked the capital.”
Aria’s eyes widened.
“Why?”
“He wanted the Moon Gate opened.”
“And my mother?”
“She tried to stop him.”
Elena nodded.
“I did.”
“What happened?”
Kael’s voice became quiet.
“Lucian won.”
Aria stared at him.
“You said he disappeared.”
“He did.”
“After attacking the kingdom?”
Kael nodded.
“He vanished into the Moon Realm.”
Aria’s heart raced.
“So he’s been there all this time?”
“Yes.”
“Alive?”
Kael hesitated.
“Something like that.”
Aria frowned.
“What does that mean?”
Elena answered.
“Your father is no longer human.”
A chill ran through Aria.
“What is he?”
Elena looked toward the gate.
“A king.”
Kael’s expression darkened.
“Don’t call him that.”
“He calls himself the King of the Moon Realm.”
Aria whispered:
“Why?”
“Because he believes the world belongs to him.”
The voice beyond the gate suddenly laughed.
“Not the world.”
The darkness moved.
“I want my daughter.”
Aria’s heart pounded.
“Why?”
Silence.
Then Lucian answered.
“Because she is mine.”
Kael raised his sword.
“She belongs to no one.”
Lucian’s voice became colder.
“You stole her from me.”
Kael’s eyes flashed.
“Your daughter was never yours to claim.”
“She was born from my blood.”
“And Elena’s.”
A deep laugh echoed through the chamber.
“You still don’t understand.”
Lucian’s voice lowered.
“Aria was never supposed to be born.”
Aria froze.
“What?”
Elena looked away.
Kael said nothing.
Aria stepped forward.
“Explain.”
Lucian answered.
“Everyone thought that meant reincarnation.”
“But Elena discovered the truth.”
Aria looked at her mother.
“What truth?”
Elena’s expression became sad.
“The Queen couldn’t be reborn.”
“Why?”
“Because her soul had already been divided.”
Aria touched her chest.
“So how did I happen?”
Elena whispered:
“Your father and I created a vessel.”
Aria stared.
“A vessel?”
“For the Queen’s soul.”
The words echoed in Aria’s mind.
“I was created?”
Elena shook her head.
“You were born.”
“Then what’s the difference?”
“You were our daughter first.”
Her eyes filled with tears.
“The Queen’s soul came later.”
Aria didn’t understand.
“How?”
“The night you were born, the Moon Realm opened.”
Kael looked away.
Elena continued.
“The Queen’s soul entered you.”
“And that’s why my wolf was sealed.”
“Yes.”
Aria’s breathing became unsteady.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because if anyone discovered the Queen was inside you, they would come for you.”
“They did anyway.”
“I know.”
“You lied to me.”
“I did.”
Aria’s voice broke.
“You made me believe I was ordinary.”
Elena’s eyes filled with tears.
“I wanted you to have a normal life.”
“I never had one.”
“I know.”
“You let me grow up without knowing my father.”
Elena looked toward the gate.
“Because your father wanted to use you.”
Aria froze.
“Use me for what?”
Lucian answered.
“To restore the Moon Throne.”
Aria turned toward the darkness.
“What is the Moon Throne?”
“The throne that controls the gates between worlds.”
Kael stepped forward.
“If Lucian takes you to the throne, he can use your blood to open every gate.”
Aria’s eyes widened.
“Every gate?”
“Every gate.”
Damon spoke from behind them.
“Human world.
Lycan world.
Shadow Realm.
Moon Realm.”
Kael nodded.
“All of them.”
Damon looked at Aria.
“If he opens them…”
“The creatures trapped there will cross over.”
Aria felt cold.
“And you think my father wants that?”
Kael answered.
“He does.”
Lucian laughed.
“You speak as though I’m a monster.”
Kael stared into the darkness.
“You are.”
“Then why don’t you tell her what you are?”
Kael’s expression changed.
Aria immediately noticed.
“What does he mean?”
Lucian laughed again.
“Tell her, Kael.”
“Tell her what happened after the Black Moon.”
Kael remained silent.
Aria’s patience snapped.
“Tell me!”
Kael slowly lowered his sword.
“I made a deal.”
Elena’s expression became bitter.
“Yes.”
Aria looked at him.
“What kind of deal?”
Kael swallowed.
“With the Moon Goddess.”
Aria froze.
“What did you promise?”
“Your life.”
Silence.
Aria stared at him.
“My life?”
“I promised that if you survived, I would protect you until you awakened.”
“Why would the Moon Goddess care about me?”
“Because you carried the Queen’s soul.”
Aria stepped backward.
“And what did she want in return?”
Kael didn’t answer.
“Kael.”
His voice was quiet.
“She wanted my crown.”
Aria frowned.
“What?”
“The Moon Goddess promised to keep you hidden if I surrendered my throne when the time came.”
Elena looked at him.
“You agreed.”
“I had no choice.”
“There is always a choice.”
Kael looked at Aria.
“I chose you.”
Aria didn’t know what to say.
For the first time, she saw something different in him.
Not the ruthless king.
Not the terrifying Lycan.
Just a man who had spent eighteen years protecting a promise.
But before she could speak, Lucian’s voice returned.
“He’s lying.”
Kael’s eyes narrowed.
“Enough.”
“You want to know why he really protected you?”
Aria looked toward the gate.
“Tell me.”
Kael stepped forward.
“Don’t listen.”
Lucian laughed.
“Because he needs you.”
Aria frowned.
“For what?” Get faster updates on g.com.
Lucian’s voice became softer.
“To break the curse.”
Kael went still.
Aria turned toward him.
“What curse?”
Kael said nothing.
Lucian continued.
“The Lycan King is dying.”
Aria’s heart stopped.
“What?”
Damon looked at Kael.
“Is that true?”
Kael remained silent.
Aria stepped toward him.
“You’re dying?”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“How long?”
“Aria.”
“How long?”
Kael looked at her.
“Not long.”
Her chest tightened.
“How long?”
“Months.”
Silence.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because it changes nothing.”
“It changes everything!”
Kael looked away.
Lucian laughed.
“The curse can only be broken by the Queen’s blood.”
Aria stared at Kael.
“Is that why you protected me?”
“No.”
“Then why?”
Kael’s eyes met hers.
“Because your mother asked me.”
Aria felt tears forming.
“Only because of her?”
Kael didn’t answer immediately.
Then he said:
“No.”
Aria’s heart skipped.
Before she could ask what he meant, the ground shook.
The Moon Gate began opening.
Kael immediately raised his sword.
“Everyone back.”
Elena turned toward the gate.
“He’s coming.”
Aria stared.
“Who?”
Elena’s eyes filled with fear.
“Your father.”
A shadow appeared behind the gate.
A tall man stepped through.
He wore a black crown.
His long silver hair fell over his shoulders.
His eyes were the same silver as Aria’s.
And on his wrist was a crescent-shaped scar.
Aria couldn’t breathe.
The man looked at her.
For a moment, his expression softened.
“My daughter.”
Aria stared at him.
“Father?”
He smiled.
“Yes.”
Kael stepped between them.
Lucian’s smile disappeared.
“You.”
Kael raised his sword.
Lucian’s eyes flashed.
“You’ve kept her from me for eighteen years.”
“And I’ll keep doing it.”
Lucian laughed.
“You think you can stop me?”
Kael’s eyes turned crimson.
“I don’t have to.”
He looked at Aria.
“She does.”
Lucian’s gaze returned to Aria.
“Come to me.”
Aria remained still.
“I won’t hurt you.”
She shook her head.
“I don’t know you.”
Pain flashed across his face.
“I am your father.”
“You abandoned me.”
“I was imprisoned.”
“You never came for me.”
“I couldn’t.”
“You wanted my blood.”
Lucian’s expression changed.
“Who told you that?”
“Everyone.”
He looked at Kael.
“Of course.”
Aria’s silver eyes began glowing.
Lucian stepped closer.
“Listen to me.”
“No.”
“Aria.”
“No!”
Silver energy exploded from her body.
Lucian stopped.
His eyes widened.
For the first time, he looked afraid.
“The Queen…”
Aria’s wolf appeared behind her.
Lyra growled.
Lucian whispered:
“She’s fully awake.”
Kael looked at Aria.
“Run.”
Aria frowned.
“Why?”
Kael’s eyes locked with hers.
“Because your father isn’t the only thing that came through the gate.”
A terrifying roar sounded behind Lucian.
Lucian turned.
His expression changed.
“No.”
Something enormous moved in the darkness.
Another creature stepped through.
Then another.
Then dozens of glowing eyes appeared beyond the gate.
Lucian looked at Aria.
“Run, daughter.”
His voice was no longer threatening.
It was afraid.
“Run before they see you.”
Aria stared.
“Who are they?”
Lucian’s face became pale.
“The armies of the Shadow Realm.”
The gate shattered.
And the war began.