All Chapters of Bound in Ash and Moonlight: Chapter 21 - Chapter 28

—VALORIA, AETHERIA— The Valorian palace corridors gleamed with polished marble, sunlight streaming through stained glass windows and casting colourful patterns across the floor. Despite the beauty surrounding them, Luke couldn't shake the unease that had settled between his shoulder blades. He kept his expression neutral as he and Ragnar followed the royal guard toward the palace's main entrance. "That was a waste of time," Ragnar growled under his breath, his massive frame tense with frustration. The Alpha of the Ironclaw Pack had little patience for diplomatic niceties. Luke said nothing, his attention fixed on the subtle reactions of the courtiers they passed. Most avoided eye contact, turning away or engaging in sudden, animated conversations. But a few— a silver-haired nobleman, the captain of the guard, a woman in deep blue robes, watched them with barely concealed hostility. “They know more than they're telling us”, Luke thought. The meeting with King Tristan and Queen Aur

—MOONSHADOW PACK TERRITORY, AETHERIA— Philip's quarters lay in disarray. Maps covered every surface, some torn at the edges, others marked with violent circles and crossing lines, and the smell of frustration filled the air. Philip paced the length of the room, his muscular frame tense with restrained energy. Dark circles shadowed his eyes from too many sleepless nights. He paused at the central table, staring down at the largest map. "Where are you hiding?" he muttered, his finger tracing a path from Lunaria through Valoria's borders. "Where did he take you?" A knock at the door interrupted his thoughts. Philip snarled, the sound more beast than man. "I said I wasn't to be disturbed!" The door opened despite his command. Rebecca slipped inside, her beauty carefully arranged—red hair cascading in perfect waves, her dress cut low to reveal just enough skin to be enticing without seeming desperate. She carried a tray with food and wine. "You need to eat, my love," she said, her

—DAWNSPIRE CASTLE, SUNSTONE PEAKS, AETHERIA— Madeleine woke to the sound of distant hammering. She sat up, pushing tangled hair from her face as she listened. Curious, she slipped from her bed and dressed quickly. She followed the sound down a spiral staircase she'd never explored before, descending deep beneath the castle. The air grew warmer with each step, until sweat beaded on her brow. The hammering grew louder, accompanied now by a strange hissing sound and the unmistakable heat of a forge. At the bottom of the stairs, she found herself in a narrow corridor lit by torches. The hammering emanated from behind a heavy wooden door at the end of the passage. Carefully, she approached and eased the door open just enough to peer inside. Dante stood before an anvil, bare-chested, his bronzed skin glistening with sweat that caught the light of the fire. In his hands, he held tongs gripping a length of metal that glowed white-hot. The muscles of his back and arms flexed as he brought

—DAWNSPIRE CASTLE, SUNSTONE PEAKS, AETHERIA—It was evening by the time Dante returned to Dawnspire Castle. The towers gleamed in the moonlight as he materialized in the central courtyard, his mind still reeling from the Oracles' cryptic warnings. A cool breeze carried the scent of night-blooming flowers, but he barely noticed, lost in troubled thoughts."You're back."Dante turned to find Madeleine sitting on a stone bench beneath a flowering tree. She stood as he approached, her expression a mixture of relief and determination. The sword he had crafted for her hung at her side, the silver crystal pommel catching the light of the torches that lined the courtyard."How long have you been waiting?" he asked, noting the stubborn set of her jaw."Long enough," Madeleine replied. She stepped closer, her eyes searching his face. "What did the Oracles say? From Lysander's explanation, it must have been important for them to summon you like that."Dante hesitated. How could he explain what h