His Silent Luna (Verity and Felicity) novel Chapter 25

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE: THE ENVELOPE

Cassian’s Perspective

That afternoon, the council chamber felt unbearably heavy, as though the very air inside had thickened with the weight of unspoken fears. The walls seemed to lean inward, bearing silent witness to the tension that hung over us like a suffocating shroud. Every word spoken pressed down on the room, making it difficult to breathe amid the mounting unease.

This was a particularly trying time for my kingdom.

To my right, Kin sat rigid and poised, his posture exuding authority. His hawk-like eyes scanned every face in the chamber with a piercing intensity, as if sheer willpower could unmask even the slightest flicker of doubt or weakness. On my left, Caleb was quieter, his calm exterior hiding a restless mind that churned behind those thoughtful eyes. Across from us, the other royal advisors—veterans who had served loyally under my father and now stood by me—each carried their own hidden agendas and loyalties, veiled beneath careful expressions.

Our debate had circled the same troubling issue for more than an hour: the alliance between Valcaryn and Duskwatch.

The pace at which these two kingdoms were drawing closer unnerved everyone present. The clipped tones and furrowed brows made it clear just how seriously we regarded the threat. Felicity, Queen of Valcaryn, and Theron, King of Duskwatch—while their combined forces might not yet surpass Shadow Fang outright, their strategic partnership had the potential to grow into a slow-burning danger. A threat that crept forward with quiet inevitability.

“What concerns me most,” Advisor Harlen said, his voice taut with worry, “is that our spies have gone completely dark. No reports for weeks. Either they’ve been compromised, or our enemies are expertly hiding their movements.”

Kin’s jaw tightened, the muscles clenching visibly. “If they’d been captured, we’d have heard something by now. At least one of them would have managed to send a warning before being taken.”

“Not necessarily,” Caleb responded, his tone measured but sharp. “If Felicity or Theron want to send a message, they might be keeping our spies alive—using them as pawns to feed us false information later.”

I leaned back slightly in my chair, my fingers drumming lightly against the polished wood of the table. The thought that my own eyes and ears might be turned against me was frustrating, but far from impossible.

Still, I trusted the loyalty of my men. Each carried a tiny, lethal pill hidden between their teeth—something they could bite down on to avoid torture and protect the kingdom’s secrets at all costs.

They were bound by blood and oath, ready to sacrifice themselves rather than betray us.

The conversation soon shifted toward the rogues.

Since their last minor attack on the southern border, they had fallen eerily silent. No raids, no sightings. The tension that had been building for years, inching toward a breaking point, had suddenly evaporated. Just like that.

And that was exactly what made my skin crawl.

Rogues never simply vanished. They scattered like smoke—always reforming somewhere else. And smoke always meant fire was still burning nearby.

“Something’s off,” Kin muttered, his voice low but sharp, echoing the unease I felt deep in my gut. “If they’re silent, it means they’re planning something.”

“Or they’ve fled,” Advisor Nareen offered cautiously.

Kin’s glare was cold enough to crack stone. “They never truly disappear.”

I pushed my chair back with a harsh scrape that shattered the heavy silence. “Kin, I want the southern border secured tighter than ever before. Double the patrols. Watch the fog banks, the ravines—any place they might be hiding. And the new recruits need to be drilled harder than ever. Day and night if necessary.”

He nodded sharply, already running mental checklists.

“Also, inspect every supply point across the kingdom,” I continued. “If the rogues are planning an attack, they might target our resources first. Send word to every alpha—tell them to keep their packs on high alert. Anyone crossing into our territory without permission is to be detained immediately.”

“Yes, my king,” Kin said, rising slightly as if ready to move at once.

Black wax sealed it, stamped with a crest I didn’t recognize.

I didn’t dare touch it yet.

“Was there anything else?” I asked, my tone sharper than I intended.

The scout bowed again. “No, my king.” He hesitated, then added quietly, “But… whatever this is, it feels wrong.”

With that, he turned and left, the door clicking softly behind him.

For a long moment, I sat frozen.

Kin’s eyes flicked between me and the envelope. “This isn’t just a message.”

Caleb remained silent, his gaze fixed on the seal, clearly running through countless possibilities in his mind.

Finally, I looked down at the ominous object before me.

A black envelope. Black wax. Found beside a dead pup on my border.

I exchanged a tense, wary glance first with Kin, then with Caleb.

No words were needed to grasp just how dangerous this could be.