Share

THIRTY

Author: Darcel
last update Last Updated: 2024-10-09 22:01:29

CHAPTER 30

Raphael

The memory of Lyra hugging Edmund kept replaying in my mind. It wasn’t just a casual embrace, and the way she reacted... it wasn’t okay. She had stiffened like she had no choice.

I sat there, trying to focus, but my thoughts kept drifting back to that moment. Just then, I heard the scrape of a chair. Darius plopped down across from me pouring himself a glass of wine.

I glared at him, barely masking my irritation. Why did I have to deal with this man everyday? At that moment, I deeply regretted some of my life choices. Darius was lounging like he had no care in the world, and here I was, trying to piece together why everything was falling apart in mine.

Darius raised his glass with a smirk. “Oh, I found that information you wanted on Edmund.”

I stiffened, sitting up straighter. My heartbeat quickened, though I tried not to show it. “You did?” I asked, feigning disinterest.

He looked at me, unimpressed with my act, and chuckled. “Don’t bother sitting down and prete
Locked Chapter
Continue to read this book on the APP

Related chapters

  • The Luna’s Deadly Game   THIRTY ONE

    CHAPTER 31RaphaelThe next day, I left before anyone stirred, too restless to wait. By the time I arrived at Edmund’s pack, people were already moving about their duties. As I walked through the gates, the first person to notice me was the gardener. His face paled, and he quickly dropped his tools, bowing low.“Your Majesty…” he stammered, barely able to look at me.I didn’t respond, just gave him a nod and continued forward. My presence spread like wildfire. Everywhere I went, people stopped what they were doing, eyes wide with panic, bowing or scurrying away. Some looked confused, others frightened.“Your Majesty,” another voice greeted, this time a woman carrying water. Her hands trembled so much, the water spilled.I could hear whispers growing around me. “Why is he here?” one of them muttered.“Don’t ask questions,” another snapped. “Just show respect.”I kept walking, ignoring the murmurs. Some pack members rushed off, no doubt to inform Edmund. I could feel their anxiety build

    Last Updated : 2024-10-09
  • The Luna’s Deadly Game   THIRTY TWO

    CHAPTER 32LyraWe walked back to the dorms in silence, everyone still shaken from what we had just experienced. I could barely think straight, my mind replaying every painful memory I had just relived. Esmeralda walked close beside me, her face pale. Just as we neared the door, I felt a sharp hit against my shoulder.I stumbled slightly, and when I looked up, I saw Althea walking past, her chin lifted arrogantly.Esmeralda snapped, “Why would you do that?” Her voice rang out.Althea merely smirked, her eyes flicking between us as though we were beneath her. “Oh, was that too rough for the little slave?” she sneered. “I thought you'd be used to much worse.”I clenched my fists, trying to control the rush of anger building in my chest, but before I could say anything, one of the other princesses chimed in, taunting, “It’s probably because the Wolf King doesn’t want her anymore. Discarded like the trash she is.”Esmeralda’s face twisted with rage. “Shut up,” she hissed. The princess l

    Last Updated : 2024-10-09
  • 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

    Last Updated : 2024-10-10
  • 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...

    Last Updated : 2024-10-10
  • 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

    Last Updated : 2024-10-12
  • 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.

    Last Updated : 2024-10-13
  • 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

    Last Updated : 2024-10-13
  • 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

    Last Updated : 2024-10-14

Latest chapter

  • 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

DMCA.com Protection Status