His Lycan Luna Queen novel Chapter 27

KYSON

I am beginning to get a headache from all this drama. But watching Azalea, I see she isn’t fearful or hesitant about asking questions. In fact, she demands them with my help. I am shocked to find I can actually touch her aura. I expected it to recoil and force me out.

If it did, I wouldn’t have been able to touch it, let alone manipulate it. She is a Landeena, and I may have some resistance to her being that I am her mate, but overall, she can make me beg at her feet once she is capable of controlling it. So I am ecstatic because it means her bond feels safe with me, that she trusts me entirely. It also means she must have forgiven me. Our bond is solid, and now it has let me in. I can feel her as if she is an extra limb.

“Take Tandi to Abbie,” I tell Damian, and he nods before I watch him wander out with her. She is no longer needed here. Yet as I turn my gaze back to Larkin, he watches her go as if he wants to follow. He remains seated and rubs a hand down his face, looking as tired as I feel.

“The missing rogue children? The ones that turned up dead?” Azalea asks, her sadness bleeding into me through the bond for them.

“I swear I had nothing to do with it or the Council that I know of. Whatever Crux was up to with the secret meetings. I was kept out of it. I had no idea,” Larkin says.

“What do you think of Crux?” Azalea asks. Larkin grits his teeth, resisting her command, and I force it over him harder, his eyes bulging from his head.

“Answer me!” Azalea demands.

“I can’t stand him! He is power hungry, and I don’t like how he handles the rogue women. I don’t like his side dealings. We are supposed to uphold the law, not dabble in the shady parts of it,” he growls, making my brows raise.

“So you know he is trafficking rogues?”

“Yes, that isn’t illegal under the Lycan laws. You said the packs decided. That doesn’t mean I like what he does with them.”

“That law will be changing,” Azalea growls, her anger blistering hot as she glares at me. It is my fault. I never should have given them a choice, yet I didn’t think the Council would abuse it. I nod, telling her I agree.

“Do you believe Crux is helping the hunters?” Azalea asks him.

“No! He is a council member,” Larkin answers quickly.

“Is that the only reason you believe that? Because he is a council member?” Azalea asks.

“Well, yes. He would be breaking the law we promised to protect.”

“Is there a chance you could be wrong?” she asks, changing the question slightly.

“Well, yeah, a chance. But he wouldn’t. I don’t have to like him, but he is a good council member,” Larkin says.

“He knows nothing,” I breathe out, annoyed. Whatever is going on with Crux and the hunters. Larkin isn’t a part of it. That much is clear. That doesn’t rule out Crux, though.

“So I can see my son?” Larkin asks.

“I’m leaving that decision to my Beta,” I tell him. Tandi is his mate, although I don’t think he is a threat to her or her son. Larkin nods and sighs, folding his arms across his chest and staring up at the ceiling.

“This is ridiculous,” he mutters to himself.

“The council keeps track of the missing rogue children, right?” Azalea asks, and Larkin nods, turning his attention to her again.

“We have those files here,” I tell Azalea.

“And there were no patterns in any of the deaths?” she continues. Larkin shrugs.

“None we could find. Only that it was mostly females, but the ages ranged, and sometimes entire families,” Larkin says.

Azalea, I can tell, is thinking hard about something, something that is really bothering her, and I know she is eager to speak to Cedric about whatever it was she dreamed.

“Can you get a diary or something of Crux’s track records?”

“Of course, we have to log everything, even the kilometers on the cars. They have GPS built into them. They track our every move,” Larkin says.

“Wait, so Crux knows you’re here?” I ask him.

“If he looked into it, well, yes, he could track me here. My brother set it up. He didn’t trust the newer council members Crux was recruiting. They handle the smaller packs, about five or six of them.”

“Can you get Crux’s records?”

“If you have a computer. I can log in and do it now, but it will only go back since technology advanced, not back to your parent’s deaths, my Queen. Tech wasn’t that advanced back then,” he says.

“I don’t need it to go back that far. I want to cross-reference it with the missing rogue children.”

“What about my parent’s records? Did the Council keep tabs on them?”

“No, we couldn’t get close to the Kingdom, only Crux. Your father had a soft spot for him. He felt bad that his father wanted nothing to do with him,” Larkin says with a shrug.

“Did Crux know of my existence?” Azalea asks Larkin.

“No one did, not even Crux,” Cedric answers.

“You never left the castle or stepped out of the castle walls. Only a select few knew of you until after their deaths,” Cedric adds.

“So there is no chance Crux knew of my existence?” Azalea asks. My brows furrow at her question.

“Not unless someone inside told him,” Cedric answers. “Why?”

“It’s probably nothing,” she says, though I can tell it really bothers her.

“Speak,” I whisper, nudging her.

“What if the children are dead because of me? Most of the women who have been killed recently are around my age. What if the children were just caught up in it, and saw too much?”

“Larkin sometimes said, entire families. What if the recent missing children weren’t the targets but their mothers or sisters? They only had an approximate age, right?” Azalea asks.

“But the hunters never knew of your existence. Everyone thought you were dead,” Cedric says.

“But what if they knew I was alive when I was a kid? My mother, I mean Marrissa, was on the run. She was hiding from something. It is obvious to me now with how we never stayed in one place long, and that leads me back to my dream.”

“Your dream?” Cedric answers.

“Yes, my mother told Marrissa to run with me, to give me to my mate,” Azalea says, looking at me.

“But I didn’t know you were my mate back then. I didn’t even know you existed,” I tell her.

“Doesn’t mean Queen Tatiana didn’t know. Your mother sometimes saw things and got strange senses. Your father tried to say she dabbled in the dark arts and banned her from using some of her particular gifts,” Cedric explains, and Trey nods behind him.

“Yeah, gifts that would catch him out cheating, not that she couldn’t feel his infidelity, the prick,” Trey growls. I smile sadly, knowing that it must have been terrible to watch his mate in agony because her husband was unfaithful.

“So my mother could see the future?” Azalea asks Cedric.

“Not exactly, more like intuition. Sometimes when she touches someone or first meets them. She didn’t have full visions,” Trey says.

I hum thoughtfully, thinking back to all the times I had met Tatiana and how she was always so welcoming. Was that why? “Although that would explain when King Garret always tried to sabotage the trials, why your mother always made me sabotage him,” Cedric says.

“My mother sabotaged him?” Azalea asks.

Her words hang in the air, drawing confused glances from everyone present.

“What do you mean, ‘the ballerina is key’?” I ask, my curiosity piqued.

Azalea lifts her gaze to meet mine, her expression one of sudden clarity. “In my dream… my mother said if she didn’t return, the ballerina was the key. I….,” she trails off for a second when I feel clarity wash over her and excite her through the bond while I remain confused still about what it is she is talking about. “The jewelry box,” she gasps.

I waste no time. Concentrating, I mindlink Damian. ‘Bring the Landeena jewelry box from our room, now,’ I command. Minutes later, Damian enters, carrying the small, ornate box. He sets it on the desk with care.

Azalea reaches for the box, her hands trembling slightly. She lifts the lid, and the tiny silver ballerina twirls gracefully, a haunting melody filling the room. Her fingers hover over it, then gently she presses down on the ballerina and twists and at first I think she breaks it. Suddenly the music cuts off and a soft click sounds, causing a false bottom to pop open, revealing what lies beneath.

Inside, nestled within a velvet lining, is an oversized pendant. To the untrained eye, it appears to be a simple Moonstone, but as Azalea lifts it to the light, a crest of vines becomes visible within its crystalline depths. Cedric gasps and Trey leans forward. The room falls silent as she slips the chain around her neck, the pendant resting against her heart.

Cedric steps forward, his voice filled with awe. “That Azalea, is the Azure Eclipsarian. A fragment of the original sword, used to forge the Lycan bloodlines. It represents the gifts of your mother and the strength of your father. Separately, they maintain balance—truth against deceit, love against war. Together, they hold infinite power.”

“Power?” I question.

“Yes, which is why Tatiana kept it hidden. No one knows the strength it has when reunited with the sword.”

Azalea’s fingers trace the vines within the talisman, her eyes wide with realization. “So, this was what my father was searching for. He believed it was with my mother… and he was right.”

Cedric clears his throat, capturing everyone’s attention in the room. He motions towards the pendant now resting against Azalea’s chest.

“The Eclipsarian you hold is not merely an artifact; it is a relic of profound power,” he begins, his voice imbued with a reverence that silences the room. “Forged from the celestial storm unleashed by the moon goddess herself when creating the Lycan race, this talisman embodies the core essence of the goddess herself.”

He leans forward, pointing gently towards the pendant. “This talisman—Eclipsarian as we’ve come to call it—holds within it the potential to balance the intrinsic forces of nature that govern our world. Its creation marked a pivotal moment in Lycan creation.”

Cedric pauses, ensuring Azalea understands the gravity of his words. “When your parents’ powers collided, it wasn’t just a battle of two Lycans; it was a convergence of their deepest strengths. The Azure and Landeena bloodlines were fierce, each capable of immense destruction and profound creation. The Eclipsarian was born from that paradox.”

He looks intently at Azalea, ensuring she grasps the full scope of the talisman’s significance. “It is said that whoever wields the Eclipsarian not only holds the power to summon the protective energies of the moon, but also the raw force of the earth itself. It can bring forth the most nurturing calm or unleash the most destructive storm, mirroring the emotional state of its bearer.”

Drawing a deep breath, Cedric continues, “Garret knew of its potential, which is why he so desperately sought it. He believed that with the Eclipsarian, he could dominate not just the Landeena and Azure kingdoms but all kingdoms. Your mother, Tatiana, understood this. She hid it, not just to protect the talisman, but to preserve the balance it was meant to uphold.”

“Then why didn’t my mother use it to protect her kingdom?”

This time Trey answers. “Because it scared her, I knew of it, but this is the first time I’ve laid eyes on it.” he admits. “Your mother told me that it has to merge with her for her to use it, but her power had already awoken since she was moon blessed therefore made it hard for her to control.” Trey tells us, causing Azalea to shiver where she sits.

“The Eclipsarion is not simply a talisman; it’s said to be crafted from a fragment of the moon itself, its core is made of a rare mineral known as the Lunaris Heart,” Cedric explains with a tone of awe. “This core emits an enchanting azure light, akin to the tranquil glow of our moon on a clear, starlit night when the stone is awoken.”

He carefully leans forward and adjusts the talisman, allowing the light to catch its intricate designs. “This heart is encased in a frame crafted from the same heavenly material, forming a perfect circle that symbolizes unity and the endless cycle of life. The surface of the Eclipsarion is adorned with patterns made of stardust, which trace ancient symbols representing the elements and the cosmic balance they maintain and also the Azure emblem.”

Cedric’s voice deepens, reflecting the profound power of the talisman. “Upon wearing it, the Eclipsarion pulses softly with the wearer’s heartbeat, as if it’s alive and responsive to their emotions once merged. In moments of intense feelings, such as deep rage or immense love, the Lunaris Heart awakens, intensifying its glow and enveloping the bearer in a serene yet powerful light.”

He leans in closer, ensuring each word carries its full weight. “This talisman holds the power to command the elements in their most fundamental form. It can communicate directly with the forces of nature and enhance the wearer’s inherent abilities to levels far beyond the ordinary.”

Pausing, Cedric’s eyes sweep across the faces before him, ensuring they grasp the significance. “Its protective power can forge shields as steadfast as the night sky itself. Moreover, it serves as a conduit for the bearer’s will, allowing them to unleash the elements’ wrath upon their adversaries.”

“That’s why my mother was trying to get to it, she was going to try to use it to shield everyone,” Azalea murmurs, and Cedric peers down at the desk.

Trey’s eyes turn glassy as he looks away. “She was selfless, she sacrificed everything for everyone, yet he couldn’t even sacrifice his whores for her,” Trey says bitterly.

“She died trying to save the very kingdom that enslaved her.” Trey swallows thickly and lets those words sink in before he gets up and so does Cedric. Azalea peers down at the pendant around her neck.

Finally, Cedric concludes with a solemn nod, “This talisman, Azalea, is not just a link to your past but a key to the future. In the right hands, it can restore balance and peace; in the wrong ones, it could bring about an era of ruin. The weight of this legacy is now yours to bear, not just as a keeper but as that stone’s guardian.”