Whispers of the Past
Alaric’s gaze didn’t waver as he answered. “Your bloodline is the key. You’re not just any Luna. Your lineage ties you directly to the Moon Goddess. That’s why Malrik fears you, why he tried so hard to break you.”
Isla’s breath hitched, her mind reeling. “The Moon Goddess? My connection…”
Alaric nodded, his voice calm but insistent. “You are her legacy, Isla. Her power flows through you. But Malrik has always known that. He’s terrified of what you could become if you embraced it.”
She stared at him, her hand trembling as she gripped the edge of the table. “But how? How can I use a power I’ve never understood?”
Alaric hesitated, as if weighing how much to reveal. Finally, he spoke. “There’s someone who can help you—someone who’s been watching over you from afar. He’s the one who sent me to find you.”
Isla’s voice shook. “Who?”
Alaric’s golden eyes softened. “Your real father.”
The words hit her like a blow. “My father? I thought he abandoned me or died—”
“Your true father is different,” Alaric interrupted gently. “He’s a guardian of the Moon Goddess’s legacy. He’s been waiting for the right time to reveal himself.”
The room fell into silence, the weight of the revelation hanging heavy in the air.
Draven entered then, his amber eyes flicking between Isla and Alaric, tension evident in his every step. “What’s going on?”
Alaric straightened, his tone steady but firm. “I’m telling Isla the truth about her bloodline. And about the one who can help her.”
Draven’s expression darkened. “You knew about this?”
“I knew enough,” Alaric admitted. “But now it’s time for Isla to meet him. She needs the full truth if we’re going to defeat Malrik.”
Draven’s jaw tightened as he turned to Isla, his voice soft but weighted with concern. “Isla, are you ready for this? For whatever it means?”
She met his gaze, her silver eyes shining with a mix of determination and uncertainty. “I don’t know,” she admitted. “But if it’s the only way to stop Malrik and protect our children, then I have to try.”
