His Silent Luna (Verity and Felicity) novel Chapter 26

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX: RETURN WHAT’S OURS

Cassian’s perspective

Under my thumb, the seal cracked with a faint, crisp snap, releasing a faintly unsettling aroma—a strange blend of aged wax mingled with something far more sinister. I unfolded the thick, yellowed parchment with deliberate care, my eyes immediately catching on the chaotic black scrawl that defaced its surface.

The letter was signed by someone calling themselves Veyran the Hollow—a name completely unknown to me until this moment. Despite my unfamiliarity, I etched the name into my memory, because at last, my enemy had revealed himself.

The message was brief, but every line was designed to cut deep, to unsettle and provoke.

“To the King of Shadow Fang,

You hold something that rightfully belongs to me. The girl. The Moon-Blessed one you hide behind your walls.

You will deliver her alone to the southern border within three days.

Fail, and rivers will run red with the blood of your people. Your packs will be reduced to ashes. Your youngest will wail from the funeral pyres, and your warriors will serve as kindling.

There will be no warning before the carnage.

I have no interest in your kingdom—only in the girl. But if you test me, I will take both.

– Veyran the Hollow

P.S. Do not fool yourself into thinking you can hide her. I see more than you realize.

I always see her.”

Moon-Blessed?

The phrase echoed sharply in my mind, stubborn and piercing, like a thorn that burrows deeper the longer I fixated on it.

The handwriting itself—messy, cruel, as if reflecting the twisted nature of its author—seemed almost alive on the page. The words writhed and twisted, as if reaching out to strangle me.

My vision narrowed; the edges of the parchment blurred as I clenched it tighter, crushing the paper in my grasp.

Mine.

That word reverberated through me—not just a thought, but a raw, primal certainty that shook my very bones. Deep inside, my wolf’s voice rumbled, a guttural growl vibrating beneath my skin.

“Who dares hunt what belongs to us? Who dares stain her name with their foul scent?”

Suddenly, the table before me felt fragile, as if the wood were too thin to support the weight of my fury. My breathing grew heavy, each inhale stoking the fire blazing inside my chest.

“She belongs to us, Cassian. Ours. I will tear them limb from limb. I will crush their throats with my teeth. I will—”

“Enough.”

“No. It’s not enough. They think they can just take her away. We haven’t even—”

“I said enough.”

Caleb leaned back, his voice steady but edged with iron. “She’s under my protection. I won’t let a hair on her head be harmed. If you had even half a brain, instead of handing her over to our enemies, you’d be focusing on why they want her in the first place.”

His words hit Kin like a gut punch. I felt a surge of pride hearing Caleb stand up for her—that fierce, protective streak—but beneath it was something darker, something possessive. The thought of Caleb standing between her and danger ignited a fierce, almost irrational fire deep in my chest.

Standing where I should be.

Kin’s face flushed red, his lips parting in a snarl, but he swallowed whatever retort was about to escape. He knew better than to push Caleb too far. Everyone here remembered what happened the last time someone made that mistake.

I refused to dwell on it.

Instead, I studied Caleb. His calm was a powerful shield, bolstered by the unwavering authority in his gaze. He wasn’t simply protecting her; he was issuing a clear warning to anyone who dared cross the line.

Caleb turned his sharp eyes to me. “What’s our move?”

His question yanked me back from the edge of spiraling thoughts. My wolf still prowled inside, muttering dark threats under his breath, but I forced him down just enough to think clearly.

“We wait,” I said at last.

Kin frowned, disbelief clear in his voice. “Wait? You want to give them the chance to—”

“Yes.” I spoke with finality. “We give them three days. Let them believe we’re considering their terms. And when the time comes… we’ll see exactly what Veyran the Hollow does when he doesn’t get what he wants.”

A low, satisfied growl echoed deep within me.

“And then, we hunt him.”