The Luna Queen - Chapter 30: Chapter 30

_Kayden's POV_
Leah’s wide and terrified eyes locked onto mine, and I could see the shiver that ran through her. Her fear was palpable, but I didn’t care. My voice, low and sharp, cut through the tense silence of the temple. "You really thought you could escape me, didn’t you?"
Her body froze, and I watched as the blood drained from her face. Her heart was pounding. I could hear it. Whatever power she thought she had, whatever defiance she thought she could wield, was gone now. She knew she couldn’t run anymore.
Tariq immediately stepped in front of her, as if he could protect her from me. His posture was tense, his anger barely contained. "Kayden," he spat, his tone daring. "You don’t belong here."
I smirked at his pathetic attempt to challenge me. "I think you’re wrong about that." Without hesitation, I struck, my hand colliding with his chest. The force sent him flying backward into the temple wall. The dull thud of his body hitting the stone was satisfying. He groaned as he crumpled to the ground.
"Stay down," I growled, but my attention shifted back to Leah. She screamed his name, "Tariq!" Her voice was filled with panic. She scrambled toward him, her hands trembling as she reached for him. The fear in her eyes was replaced by something else.; anger.
I didn’t let her reach him. My hand shot out, gripping her arm tightly, and I yanked her back toward me. "You think you can run from me, Leah? You think you can hide?" My voice dropped lower, almost a whisper, but it was enough to make her flinch.
She struggled, her breaths shallow and quick, but my grip held firm. Her wolf stirred; I could feel it, restless and agitated. Good. I wanted her to fight me, to give in to the power that was simmering beneath her surface. I wanted her to know she could never escape me.
Behind her, I saw my guards enter the temple, their presence only adding to the chaos. Kale and Jason, those cowards, bolted toward the exit. My lips curled in disgust. Useless traitors. They had sworn their loyalty to Tariq, yet when the moment demanded courage, they ran.
Leah’s attempt to pull free was futile. My grip tightened, and I leaned closer. "I won’t spare you now," I hissed. Her body stiffened, the fear in her eyes a stark contrast to the anger building within her.
And then, as quickly as the rage had filled me, it shifted. My hand released her arm. She stumbled back, her confusion written all over her face. I dropped to my knees before her, bowing low until my forehead touched the cold stone floor.
"My queen," I murmured, the words leaving my mouth without hesitation. It wasn’t rage that drove me now, it was reverence. The moonstone’s glow, the ritual, her blood, it all pointed to one truth. She was meant to lead, to rule. And I would bow before her.
I could see the confusion in her eyes, her trembling form as she stepped back. She didn’t understand, not yet. But she would. Soon enough.
One of my guards approached her, and in the corner of my eye, I saw the needle glint in his hand. He struck swiftly, injecting her arm with the sedative. She gasped, trying to swat him away, but the liquid was already working. Her body sagged, her movements sluggish as she fought to stay upright.
I watched as her vision blurred, her eyes darting toward Tariq, who was now standing near the altar. Her voice, weak but desperate, called out to him. "Tariq..."
And then I saw it. Tariq, leaning down over the moonstone, his lips pressing against the glowing surface. He licked it, her blood, the blood she had spilled for the ritual. My jaw tightened in fury. What was he doing?
Before my guards could stop him, Susan threw a handful of powder into the air. A thick, choking cloud enveloped the temple, and my guards stumbled, coughing and clutching their throats. Even I felt its effects, though I fought to remain standing.
Susan moved swiftly, pulling Tariq toward her as Leah’s legs gave out. And then, in an instant, both Susan and Tariq vanished.
I turned my gaze back to Leah, who was now slumped on the ground. Her eyes fluttered closed as the sedative dragged her under. I knelt beside her, my eyes searching her face, her features softening as unconsciousness claimed her.
For a moment, I hesitated. I had come here in anger, prepared to punish her for her betrayal. But now, looking at her, I felt... something else. I didn’t know if it was regret or something far darker. All I knew was that I couldn’t let her go.
When she woke, I was already waiting. Her movements were slow, her breaths shallow as her eyes blinked open. The dim light in the room barely illuminated her face, but I could see her confusion, her fear.
She shifted on the bed, her hands bound, her muscles tense. Panic flickered in her eyes as she sat up, her voice hoarse and weak. "Where am I? What happened?"
"Leah," I said softly, stepping out of the shadows. Her head snapped toward me, her expression twisting into one of anger and betrayal.
I moved closer, the light catching my face. "You’re safe," I said, though the words felt hollow even to me.
Her eyes burned with anger as she spoke, her voice cracking. "Why..." She swallowed hard, her throat dry. "Why are you doing this?"
I didn’t answer her right away. Instead, I let the silence stretch between us, heavy and oppressive. Because I didn’t have an answer, not one she would understand. Not one I could admit, even to myself.