Chapter 5

As they turned a corner, Luna saw Zeeb standing in front of them, his eyes locked onto hers with a fierce intensity. He was dressed in dark clothing, and his face was set in a determined expression.

"Luna," he whispered, his voice low and urgent. "I've been waiting for you."

Luna's heart soared as she ran towards him, throwing her arms around his waist. Zeeb wrapped his arms around her, holding her close as he buried his face in her hair.

"I was so scared," Luna whispered, her voice muffled against his chest. "I thought I was going to have to marry the king."

Zeeb's arms tightened around her. "I'll never let that happen," he whispered. "We'll get out of here, together."

As they stood there, holding each other, Luna felt a sense of peace wash over her. She knew that she was safe with Zeeb, and that he would do everything in his power to protect her.

But as they stood there, Luna couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. She glanced over her shoulder, but there was no one there.

Suddenly, Zeeb's head snapped up, his eyes scanning the corridors. "What's wrong?" Luna whispered, her heart pounding in her chest.

Zeeb's face was set in a grim expression. "We have to get out of here," he whispered. "Now."

Luna's heart skipped a beat as Zeeb grabbed her hand, pulling her after him. They ran through the corridors, their footsteps echoing off the stone walls.

As they ran, Luna could hear the sound of guards shouting and footsteps pounding behind them. She knew that they were closing in, and that they had to get out of the palace before it was too late.

Zeeb pulled her through a side door, and they found themselves in a narrow alleyway. The air was thick with the smell of garbage and decay, and Luna could hear the sound of rats scurrying through the shadows.

As they ran through the alleyway, Luna's heart was pounding in her chest. She knew that they were taking a huge risk, but she was willing to do whatever it took to be with Zeeb.

Suddenly, Zeeb stopped in front of her, his eyes scanning the alleyway. "Wait," he whispered, his voice low and urgent.

Luna's heart skipped a beat as she looked around, trying to see what Zeeb had seen. But there was nothing there.

"What is it?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Zeeb's face was set in a grim expression. "I think we're surrounded," he whispered.

Luna's heart sank as she looked around, trying to see the guards. But they were nowhere to be seen.

Suddenly, a figure emerged from the shadows. It was Agustin, his eyes gleaming with a knowing light.

"I'm afraid you're not going anywhere," he said, his voice low and menacing.

Luna's heart skipped a beat as she turned to Zeeb. "What's going on?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Zeeb's face was set in a grim expression. "I don't know," he whispered. "But I think we've been betrayed."

As Luna looked at Agustin, she saw something in his eyes that made her blood run cold. She knew that they were in grave danger, and that they had to get out of there before it was too late.

But as they turned to run, Luna felt a hand grab her arm, spinning her back around. She saw Agustin's face inches from hers, his eyes gleaming with a sinister light.

"You're not going anywhere," he whispered, his breath cold against her skin.

Luna's heart was pounding in her chest as she tried to struggle free. But Agustin's grip was like a vice, and she knew that she was trapped.

As she looked into Agustin's eyes, Luna saw something there that made her blood run cold. She knew that she was in grave danger, and that she had to get out of there before it was too late.

But as she tried to struggle free, Luna felt a blow to the back of her head, and everything went black.

As Luna's world went dark, she felt herself being dragged away, her body limp and helpless. She tried to struggle, but her limbs felt heavy and unresponsive.

When she finally came to, Luna found herself in a cold, dark cell, the walls made of damp stone and the air thick with the smell of mold and decay. She was lying on a narrow, uncomfortable bed, and her head was pounding with a dull, throbbing pain.

As she sat up, trying to clear her head, Luna saw a figure standing in the shadows, watching her. It was Agustin, his eyes gleaming with a sinister light in the dim torchlight.

"Welcome back," he said, his voice low and menacing. "I see you're feeling a bit better. That's good. We have a lot to discuss."

Luna's heart was racing as she tried to process what was happening. She had been betrayed by Agustin, and now she was a prisoner in some dark, damp cell.

"What do you want from me?" she spat, trying to keep her voice steady.

Agustin smiled, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Oh, I think you know exactly what I want," he said. "I want the same thing the king wants. I want you to marry him, and become the queen."

Luna's eyes widened in horror. "You can't be serious," she said. "I'll never marry him. I'll never be his queen."

Agustin shrugged, his expression unchanging. "We'll see about that," he said. "You see, I have a little insurance policy, something that will guarantee your cooperation."

Luna's heart was racing as she tried to think of what Agustin could possibly have. And then, she saw him gesture to someone in the shadows, and a figure stepped forward.

It was Zeeb, his eyes black as coal, and his face twisted in a snarl. Luna's heart sank as she realized that Zeeb had been captured, and that Agustin was using him as leverage.

"You'll do exactly as I say," Agustin said, his voice dripping with malice. "Or else, your precious Zeeb will suffer the consequences."

Luna's eyes locked onto Zeeb's, and she saw the desperation there, the pleading for her to do something, anything, to save him.

And in that moment, Luna knew that she would do whatever it took to save Zeeb, even if it meant sacrificing herself.

"I'll do it," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'll marry the king. Just please, don't hurt Zeeb."

Agustin's face lit up with a triumphant smile. "Excellent choice," he said. "I'll make sure to let the king know that you're willing to cooperate. And as for Zeeb... well, let's just say that he'll be a guest of the palace for a little while longer."

Luna's heart was heavy with despair as she watched Agustin leave, Zeeb being dragged away, struggling and snarling like a wild animal.

She knew that she had made a terrible mistake, that she had sacrificed her own freedom and happiness for the sake of the man she loved.

But as she sat in the darkness, waiting for Agustin to return, Luna knew that she would do it all again in a heartbeat, if it meant saving Zeeb from the clutches of the evil Agustin.

And so, she waited, her heart heavy with sorrow, her mind racing with thoughts of escape and rescue, and her spirit determined to survive, no matter what lay ahead.

As the hours ticked by, Luna's anxiety grew. She paced back and forth in her cell, her mind racing with thoughts of Zeeb and the fate that awaited her.

She knew that she had to escape, but the palace was heavily guarded, and she had no idea where Zeeb was being held.

Just as she was starting to lose hope, Luna heard the sound of footsteps outside her cell. She froze, her heart pounding in her chest, as the door creaked open.

Agustin stood in the doorway, a smug smile spreading across his face. "It's time," he said, his voice dripping with malice. "The king is waiting for you."

Luna's heart sank as she realized that her fate was sealed. She was going to have to marry the king, and there was nothing she could do to stop it.

As Agustin led her out of the cell, Luna caught a glimpse of Zeeb being dragged away, his eyes locked onto hers with a desperate plea for help.

She knew that she had to keep her wits about her, to find a way to escape and rescue Zeeb. But as she was led through the winding corridors of the palace, Luna couldn't shake the feeling that she was walking into a trap.

The king was waiting for her in the throne room, his eyes gleaming with excitement as he watched her approach.

"Ah, my dear," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "I see you're looking lovely today. I do hope you're ready to become my queen."

Luna's heart was pounding in her chest as she curtsied, trying to keep her composure. "I'm ready, Your Majesty," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

The king smiled, his eyes glinting with triumph. "Excellent," he said. "Then let us begin the ceremony."

As the king's advisor began to read out the vows, Luna's mind was racing. She knew that she had to think of something, anything, to get out of this situation.

But as she looked around the room, Luna realized that she was surrounded by the king's guards, all of whom were watching her with a hawk-like intensity.

She knew that she was trapped, and that her only hope was to play along, at least for now.

As the advisor finished reading out the vows, the king turned to Luna, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "Now, my dear," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "It's time for you to make your vows to me."

Luna's heart was pounding in her chest as she took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves. She knew that she had to think of something, anything, to get out of this situation.

And then, just as she was about to speak, Luna heard a commotion outside the throne room. The doors burst open, and a group of rebels, led by a young woman with a fierce determination in her eyes, stormed into the room.

"Stop the ceremony!" the woman shouted, her voice ringing out across the room. "The king has no right to marry this woman against her will!"

The king's face turned red with rage as he stood up, his eyes blazing with fury. "How dare you!" he thundered. "You will pay for your insolence!"

But the rebels stood firm, refusing to back down. Luna's heart was racing with excitement as she realized that she might just have a chance to escape after all.

And then, just as the king was about to order his guards to attack, Luna saw Zeeb slip into the room, his eyes locked onto hers with a fierce determination.

"Get ready to run," he mouthed, his voice silent but his message clear.

Luna's heart soared as she realized that Zeeb had come to rescue her. She nodded, her eyes locked onto his, and waited for the signal to make their escape.