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THIRTY TWO
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The Luna’s Deadly Game THIRTY THREE
LYRA’S POVCHAPTER 33“Why are you here?” she asked, her voice shaky, clearly trying to hold herself together.“I was passing by,” Darius replied, but his tone was different. Softer, more... careful. He wasn’t here by accident, I could tell.Esmeralda straightened herself, trying to hide her emotions. “Well... I’m fine.”Darius raised an eyebrow, his gaze piercing. “You don’t have to pretend with me.”I felt like I was intruding, but I couldn’t look away. There was a strange tension in the air. “I’m not pretending,” she said, her voice firmer this time, though I could tell it was just a front.“You are,” Darius said quietly, taking a step closer. “I can see it.”Esmeralda swallowed hard, clearly caught off guard by his words. “Why do you care?”Darius didn’t answer right away. He just stared at her, that same pained look in his eyes. Finally, after a long pause, he said, “I..I don't know.”“I don’t need you to care,” Esmeralda shot back, though her voice lacked its usual bite. “I can
The Luna’s Deadly Game THIRTY FOUR
CHAPTER 34LYRAAs soon as Darius was far enough from us, we burst into laughter, our steps stumbling as we replayed what just happened.“Did you see her face?” Zara wheezed between laughs, clutching her stomach. “She was so red!”I grinned, trying to catch my breath. “I thought she was going to explode right there! And Darius, too—he was totally smooth. ‘You’re one of the strongest people I know’,” I mocked, deepening my voice to mimic Darius.Zara giggled, shaking her head. “Smooth as butter.”“What did you two think you were doing?” Esmeralda snapped, clearly flustered, but the blush still hadn’t left her cheeks. She had her arms crossed tightly over her chest, trying to look stern, but the redness of her face told a different story.Zara immediately leaned into me, her lips twitching into a teasing grin. “Oh, nothing. Just admiring the view of you and Darius having a nice, romantic chat.” She winked, and I could see Esmeralda’s eye twitch.Esmeralda’s blush deepened. “It wasn’t...
The Luna’s Deadly Game THIRTY FIVE
CHAPTER 35RAPHAEL I stepped inside after making brief eye contact with Lyra. Darius was there, waiting for me, his expression a mix of curiosity and concern."How was the journey?" Darius asked as he approached, his eyes studying me closely."Let's enter first," I replied, brushing off the pleasantries. "I'll fill you in soon enough."Darius narrowed his eyes, still watching my every move. "You didn’t... kill him, right? And you didn’t threaten him?"I met his gaze, not bothering to deny it. His reaction said it all.Darius sighed, clearly disappointed. "I thought you'd go there with a clear head, Raphael. Talk things out, get the answers we needed. Instead, you did... both.""Talking wasn’t going to get me what I wanted," I said flatly."And did you get answers?" Darius asked as we entered the office together, closing the door behind us."No," I admitted, my voice cold. "But I’ve pieced enough together. It seems like Edmund seized power."Darius’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Wai
The Luna’s Deadly Game THIRTY SIX
CHAPTER 36RAPHAEL There was a knock on the door. I already knew who it was. “Come in.”The door creaked open, and Lyra stepped in, hesitating near the threshold like she wasn’t sure if she should be here. She didn’t look at me right away, just stood there awkwardly, her fingers fidgeting at her sides.I watched her for a moment before saying, “Come here.”She glanced up briefly, then walked towards me, stopping a few feet away. I gestured to the chair. "Sit down."Lyra lowered herself into the seat but didn’t say a word, staring at her hands."Are you hungry? Do you need anything?" I asked, my tone softer than I intended. But I noticed how tense she looked, and for some reason, that bothered me.She shook her head quickly, still not meeting my gaze."Why aren’t you talking?" I leaned back, folding my arms. "I thought we were past this stage. You didn’t even know I was gone, did you?”Her eyes flicked up, startled. "I— I didn’t know you were gone. I thought... you were still around.
The Luna’s Deadly Game THIRTY SEVEN
CHAPTER 37LYRA My heart pounded in my chest, and panic slowly crept up my spine. How in the world was I going to explain that Darius, his trusted Beta, was sneaking around with Esmeralda—a participant in the Lunar Queen competition? It wasn’t technically wrong, but it sent a completely different message than what was intended. When Raphael finally spoke, his voice was low, calm. “Fine, another time then.”I nodded quickly, trying to swallow the lump in my throat. “Y-Yes, another time.”I needed to get him out of here before he saw something I couldn’t explain. “You should head back to the palace,” I said, my words coming out faster than I intended.He turned, his brows knitting together. “Are you chasing me away, Lyra?”My eyes widened, and I shook my head furiously. “No, no, no! I didn’t mean it like that. I just thought... you must be tired. You just came back from a long journey. You should rest.”Raphael’s eyes narrowed slightly, like he didn’t believe a single word I was sayin
The Luna’s Deadly Game THIRTY EIGHT
LYRAThe sun was barely rising as we trudged through the forest, with Darius leading the way. His usual confident stride had that annoying smugness that always made me want to roll my eyes. Esmeralda kept glancing around, clearly uneasy, while the rest of us followed in silence.Finally, one of the princesses spoke up, her voice laced with curiosity. “Where exactly are you taking us, Darius?”Darius glanced over his shoulder, his smirk widening. “You'll see. It’s a surprise.”Esmeralda huffed beside me, her eyes narrowing. “You always say that. Can’t you just give us a straight answer for once?”Darius chuckled, clearly enjoying himself. “Where’s the fun in that, Esmeralda? Don’t you like a little mystery?”She folded her arms across her chest. “Not when it involves wandering aimlessly through a forest. Some of us like to know where we’re going.”He turned fully to face her, walking backward without missing a step. “It’s called adventure, Princess. You should try it sometime.”Esmeral
The Luna’s Deadly Game THIRTY NINE
LYRAMy legs felt like they were sinking into quicksand. The dizziness blurred my vision, and even with Zara and Esmeralda pulling me forward, it felt like the ground was slipping from beneath me.“Lyra, come on!” Zara urged, panic slipping into her voice. “We can’t slow down!”I stumbled again, my foot catching on a root. The dark figure mimicking Esmeralda surged forward, and now... there were more. The shadows divided, splitting into multiple figures—each one an exact copy of us.“What the—” Esmeralda gasped, her eyes wide as she glanced over her shoulder. “They’re multiplying!”The shadows now mimicked our every move. They spoke, too—repeating our conversations in distorted, mocking tones.“They’re... mimicking us,” I said weakly, trying to keep my legs moving. “Every step we take...”One of the shadows—Zara’s shadow—laughed, an eerie, high-pitched echo of her own voice. “Come on... Come on... We can’t slow down...”Zara’s face paled, and she shook her head in disbelief. “That’s j
The Luna’s Deadly Game FOURTY
RAPHAELThe feeling crept up on me again. A dull, nagging unease settled deep in my chest, making it impossible to focus on the documents scattered across my desk. My fingers tightened around the quill, the ink smudging slightly as I paused mid-sentence.I set the quill down with a sigh, leaning back in my chair. The last time I felt this... tension, Lyra had almost died.I stood abruptly, the chair scraping against the stone floor. My heart was beating faster than I’d like to admit. "Damn it..." I muttered, rubbing the back of my neck.I made my way out of the office, Something was wrong. I could feel it.Descending the stairs, I caught sight of Darius pacing in the hall, his movements erratic, hands shoved deep into his pockets. He looked tense, too, his jaw tight as he wore a deep frown."Darius." My voice came out sharper than intended, but I didn’t care. "What’s going on?"He stopped pacing and turned toward me, forcing a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. "Oh, Raphael. Nothing’s
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The Luna’s Deadly Game CHAPTER 66
CHAPTER 66RAPHAEL I focused on the stack of documents before me, trying to sort through the mess of security updates and ongoing investigations. Darius sat across from me, flipping through his own papers, a frown etched on his face.“Still no leads on the user of Essian's dust,” he said, frustration lacing his voice.I nodded, pinching the bridge of my nose. “We need to find out who’s behind this before it escalates further. If they’re using it against us, we can’t afford to sit idle.”Just then, Kane walked in, his expression serious. “Your Majesty, I came as soon as I could.”I looked up from my documents, ready to respond to Kane’s input when the door swung open abruptly. I froze, my eyes narrowing as Madriel walked in without so much as a knock. “What are you doing here, Madriel?”She leaned against the doorframe, feigning innocence. “Oh, can’t I come to visit my lovely baby brother?” The mockery dripped from her words.“You have no right to visit me,” I snapped, my voice icy. “
The Luna’s Deadly Game CHAPTER 65
CHAPTER 65LYRA.After returning from Raphael's office, I lied down on my bed smiling.“Lyra!” Esmeralda burst into the room, her eyes bright with joy. “ I’m officially Darius’s mate now!”“I’m so happy for you!” I said, unable to hide my smile. She clapped her hands, a giddy laugh escaping her lips. “I know! It all feels so perfect. I can’t believe I’m finally free from the stupid Lunar games!”“I’m moving to Darius’s room.”“That’s amazing, Esmeralda! You deserve this,” I said. “Are you excited?”“Terrified,” she admitted, biting her lip. “But mostly excited! It’s just… everything feels different now.”I watched her. “You’re elevating your status now. You’ll be treated like a queen.”“Exactly!” She giggled, her cheeks flushed. “And I want to make sure you’re comfortable, too. You’re still my best friend, and I need you by my side.”“Of course,” I replied. “I wouldn’t want it any other way.”The next few days flew by. On the eve of the day of the 4th phase, Esmeralda knocked on my d
The Luna’s Deadly Game CHAPTER 64
CHAPTER 64RAPHAEL I was buried in documents concerning pack security, trying to keep my mind focused on the endless details, when Darius strolled into my office, a broad smile stretching across his face.“What happened to you? Why are you smiling?” I asked, my eyebrows lifting in curiosity.“Nothing, just had a great training session,” he replied, his grin infectious.But then, just like that, his smile vanished, replaced by an unreadable expression. “What’s wrong?” I pressed, leaning back in my chair.Darius hesitated, glancing down at the floor. “Uh, nothing. Really. Just...”“Who pissed in your pants now?” I teased, unable to help myself.He glared at me and I shrugged.I sighed, crossing my arms. “Darius, is there something you want to tell me? You’ve been holding it back for too long. Just spit it out.”He fidgeted, his eyes darting around the room. “It’s just... well, one of the contestants is my mate.”My heart sank, shock coursing through me. “Wait, what? Your mate?”Darius
The Luna’s Deadly Game CHAPTER 63
CHAPTER 63LYRAI trudged through the twisted trees, feeling something dark and suffocating all around me. My breaths were shaky, shallow. Shadows flickered in every corner, moving, watching. I muttered to myself, “Come on, Lyra. One step at a time. Just… keep moving.”Then I saw it—a creature. Its eyes glowed with hatred, fangs dripping with some dark, strange essence. I couldn’t move, my heart pounding like it might break free from my chest. The beast lunged. I managed to dodge, barely, feeling the air crackle around its attack. Every hit it made, every slash it aimed at me, felt like it reached past my skin, sinking deep into me. Each blow burned, not just my body, but… something else, something I couldn’t even name. It felt like it was tearing me apart from the inside out.I stumbled, the pain twisting and contorting through me. “I… I can’t…” I gasped, but I had no choice.Then, I felt the last hit, and I fell. Everything went dark.When I opened my eyes, blue smoke swirled aroun
The Luna’s Deadly Game CHAPTER 62
CHAPTER 62LYRAThe next morning, my maid helped me into a simple black dress. I felt drained, but I wore it for Zara. Esmeralda, too, appeared in black, her face pale. We didn’t speak; Darius arrived, his face impassive. He looked over the three of us—Althea, Esmeralda, and me—before nodding. "Follow me. We’re moving forward."Esmeralda’s jaw tightened, and Althea gave a weird look, her lips pressed into a thin line. I felt the ache in my chest but followed Darius.We walked outside, led by our maids, and stepped into what felt like another world. Darius stopped, and his voice echoed over the quiet. "This is the next challenge. It’s called ‘The Volcanic Gauntlet.’ You’ll need every ounce of strength and endurance to survive it."I looked ahead. The ground was coated in volcanic ash, each step already sticking to our shoes. Hot winds blew against my face, and I tasted smoke in the air. Rivers of lava twisted around the landscape, glowing, hissing.I could hear Althea breathing sharpl
The Luna’s Deadly Game CHAPTER 61
CHAPTER 61RAPHAEL I sat in my office and my eyes drifted to the door, waiting for Darius to bring me the latest news. The clock on the wall ticked away, and finally, the door opened, Darius stepping in with a grim expression. I raised an eyebrow.“Darius,” I greeted him. “How did it go?”Darius didn’t return the smile. He simply stood there, expression stiff. “Two contestants didn’t make it.”The smirk faded from my face, replaced by a cold expression. “Who?”“Mirena and Zara.”For a moment, I stayed silent, processing the names. Zara… I knew she’d been close to Lyra. She had even come to me once, pleading on Lyra’s behalf.“And Lyra?” I asked, my voice quieter. “How is she?”Darius hesitated, looking down. “She went straight to her room. I think she’s taking it harder than anyone else… along with Esmeralda. Those three were close.”I nodded slowly. “I see.”Darius shifted, as if uncomfortable under my gaze. He looked unusually tense, his hands clenched at his sides. I studied him,
The Luna’s Deadly Game CHAPTER 60
CHAPTER 60LYRA“No… no, she can’t be…” I whispered, collapsing against him as he held me back. I felt my knees give out, and all I could do was clutch his arm. “This can’t be happening… not Zara…”Esmeralda still hadn’t moved. Her face was blank, eyes hollow as she kept staring at the flames, as if expecting Zara to walk back out any moment. “She… she was just… she was just there…” she mumbled, her voice barely above a whisper.I looked at her, tears blurring my vision. “Esmeralda… I… I couldn’t do anything…” My voice broke, my chest feeling like it was being crushed. “I should have done something… anything…”Esmeralda’s lip quivered, her face still pale as she murmured, “Zara… she was… this can’t be real…”Darius released his grip on me slowly, making sure I wouldn’t lunge forward again. “Neither of you can afford to lose yourselves here,” he said firmly. “If you go in like this, it’ll be over for both of you.”I tried to breathe.“She knew the risks, Lyra,” Darius said again. Dar
The Luna’s Deadly Game CHAPTER 59
LYRA As we reached the chamber, Darius stopped and looked over us, his face as hard as the stone walls around us. The heat was already thick, making it hard to breathe, and the flicker of flames cast strange shadows across his face. “Listen up,” he said, his voice flat and emotionless. “You’re about to face the Flame Wall. This fire isn’t ordinary. It’s meant to burn more than just your skin.” Zara shifted uncomfortably beside me, and I glanced at her. “What do you mean, more than our skin?” I asked, trying to keep the tremor out of my voice. “The flames here don’t just burn,” Darius replied, his gaze cold as ice. “They reach inside you—attack your fears, your weaknesses. They’ll find what haunts you and use it to break you down.” I swallowed hard. There was no reassurance in his words, no attempt to ease our nerves. It was like he didn’t care what happened to us. I glanced at Esmeralda, who was pale but steady. Darius’s eyes lingered on her for a moment, softer than his tone. H
The Luna’s Deadly Game FIFTY EIGHT
CHAPTER 58LYRA A soft knock on my door woke me up, and I blinked, groggy and confused. A maid stood there, waiting. I guess they’re waking everyone up like this, I thought, rubbing my eyes.I stretched and made my way to the dining room, feeling half-asleep. When I walked in, Esmeralda, Zara, and the others were already there, but they looked tired. Everyone’s eyes were barely open, and the maids stood silently behind us, watching over like guards.I yawned, covering my mouth as I looked around. “Morning, everyone,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. Not a single response. No one even bothered to look up; they were too busy fighting sleep.Esmeralda gave a half-hearted wave, her head resting on her hand. “Is it really morning?” she mumbled, eyes half-closed.Zara leaned forward, groaning. “Feels like they dragged us out of bed for no reason. I could still be sleeping.”I nodded, glancing around at the maids. “Yeah, they really wanted us up early… for what, though?”No one answ
