Moonlight In Chains (Trinity and Asher) novel Chapter 108

**TITLE: The Day He Forgot He Hated Me by Evangeline Marrow**

**CHAPTER 108**

The following days weighed heavily on us, thick with unspoken tension. No one dared to voice it, but we all shared the same unsettling thought—Arlo was not himself.

He would vanish for hours, claiming he was “researching ways to cross safely into the shadow realm.” Yet, whenever we pressed him for specifics, he would deftly change the topic or dismiss us with a wave of his hand. The library table was littered with his chaotic notes—pages filled with intricate symbols, torn fragments of maps, and bizarre words scrawled in his hurried, messy handwriting.

Asher was clearly troubled by it. One morning, as we trained behind the packhouse, he voiced his concern. “He’s hiding something,” he stated, his brow furrowed in thought. “His energy feels… off. Like it’s being pulled in another direction.”

I couldn’t shake the feeling either. The familiar, steady hum of power that usually enveloped Arlo had transformed into something jagged and erratic, flickering as if caught between two realms.

“He’s probably just tired,” I replied, striving for a calm demeanor, though even I could sense the lack of conviction in my voice. “He’s been pushing himself non-stop since he was pulled into that realm. He hardly sleeps.”

Asher lowered his hands, beads of sweat glistening on his forehead. “That’s not it, and you know it. Something followed him back. Maybe it’s watching through him.”

The idea sent a chill through my stomach. I wanted to dismiss it, yet the memory of seeing Arlo earlier that day lingered in my mind. His eyes had appeared different—duller, as though the light within him had dimmed. He had smiled at me, but it was a hollow gesture that didn’t reach his eyes.

Later that day, we gathered in the kitchen for lunch. Gage and Lilly were seated close together, whispering and giggling like old friends. I had been against releasing her from the dungeon, but it was clear to everyone that Gage was eager to give her a chance to redeem herself. I resolved to keep a watchful eye on her; one misstep, and she would find herself back in confinement. Everyone had agreed to those terms—she needed to be on her best behavior.

It felt strange to witness their camaraderie, especially considering how Lilly had once acted. Jealousy had often colored her interactions with Gage and me, yet now she was all smiles—too sweet, too perfect. I suspected she was merely trying to impress everyone, but we had far graver concerns looming over us.

“Arlo’s late again,” I remarked, glancing at the clock that seemed to mock us with its slow ticking. “He was supposed to meet us an hour ago.”

Gage shrugged, his focus still on his plate. “Probably lost in his books again. You know how he is.”

But Asher’s jaw tightened, his expression darkening. “No. He’s avoiding us.”

Before I could respond, the door swung open, and Arlo stepped inside. His clothes were crumpled, and he appeared pale, dark shadows underlining his eyes. His hands shook slightly as he reached for a glass of water.

“Are you okay?” I asked, my concern palpable as I scrutinized him closely.

He froze for a heartbeat, then nodded too quickly. “Yeah. Just… haven’t been sleeping well.”

“You’ve said that a lot lately,” Asher pointed out, his tone laced with concern.

Arlo’s eyes darted to him, sharp and defensive. “What are you implying?”

“That something’s wrong,” Asher stated calmly, refusing to back down. “And you’re not telling us.”

Arlo’s expression hardened, a wall rising between us. “I said I’m fine. Drop it.”

He snatched a piece of bread and stormed out before anyone could voice another word. The door slammed shut behind him, leaving a thick silence in its wake.

“That’s not him,” I murmured softly, my heart aching. “Arlo doesn’t lose his temper like that.”

Gage frowned, shaking his head. “Maybe he’s just stressed. You all are treating him like a criminal. The guy nearly died in that realm.”

“I’m not saying he’s a criminal,” I replied, shaking my head in frustration. “I’m saying something happened to him there. Something we don’t fully grasp.”

Asher nodded in agreement. “And if we ignore it, it might spread.”

That night, sleep eluded me. The moonlight seeped through the curtains, pale and cold, and I tossed and turned, my thoughts racing. Asher, too, was awake, staring blankly at the ceiling above us.

“You feel it too?” he asked quietly, breaking the silence.

“Yeah,” I admitted, the weight of our shared worry pressing down on me.

We both rose from our beds and ventured downstairs. The house was eerily quiet, everyone else presumably asleep. Yet, as we approached the library, we noticed a faint flicker of candlelight beneath the door.

Exchanging a worried glance, we slowly pushed the door open.

Inside, Arlo knelt on the floor, drawing symbols in black ink that pulsed with a strange energy. His hands moved rapidly, as if they were no longer under his control. He murmured words in an unfamiliar language, his voice low and unsettling.

“Arlo,” I called softly, my heart racing.

He froze, the candles flickering violently before extinguishing entirely.

When he looked up, my heart plummeted. His eyes were no longer brown; they glowed a ghostly gray, like ash.

“Asher,” I whispered, panic creeping into my voice.

He stepped forward, his tone steady. “Arlo, it’s us. You’re safe. You need to stop whatever this is.”

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