Chapter 97: Ashes And Oath - Moonlit Vows Of Vengeance - NovelsTime

Moonlit Vows Of Vengeance

Chapter 97: Ashes And Oath

Author: Fabian_6462
updatedAt: 2025-07-12

CHAPTER 97: ASHES AND OATH

Athena’s POV

The battle was over.

The war was not.

Kieran knelt before me in the shattered courtyard of the broken palace, his head bowed, his blood-soaked hair clinging to his forehead. Dust and ash clung to his tattered armor like the residue of a dying world. He had survived, but only just.

His breathing was ragged, as though the weight of what he was about to say pressed against his ribs harder than the battle had.

"Speak," I commanded, though my voice was softer than I intended. I wasn’t ready for what I already knew he would tell me.

He looked up. His eyes, fierce, wolf-bright, and shadowed with an unknown expression met mine.

"It’s worse than we thought," Kieran rasped. "The outer territories, they’ve fallen. Major cities razed. Demon wolves still prowl the borders, organized, relentless. We’ve killed their master, but not their hunger."

The weight settled deeper in my chest, coiling like iron chains. I clenched my fists, nails digging crescents into my palms. "What of the clans? The others?"

His throat worked, and the hesitation said everything before his words did.

"Some fought alongside us. Loyal to the end. But," He lowered his gaze.

"Several powerful clans refused to answer the summons. Some out of fear. Some," his voice hardened, "out of betrayal and cowardice.They aligned themselves with The former King’s order. Or worse waited to see who would win."

Cowards. Opportunists.

My lips thinned, and the cold inside me deepened.

"And Cassius?" I asked, though my heart already braced for the blow.

Kieran’s jaw tightened. "He’s awake. Alive. But broken. The curse took its toll. His strength is gone, flickering like a dying star. He’s ashamed, my queen. Ashamed that he had once served the previous King and he couldn’t protect our people. He blames himself for everything that has happened."

I closed my eyes briefly, grief pressing against me like the weight of a collapsing sky. Cassius had been through a lot, since the early days when he had been a boy and my time with him after he had propositioned me on behalf of the binded King.

"He will heal," I said, though I wasn’t sure if I meant his body or his soul.

"Or he will learn to stand on broken legs. Either way, we move forward."

Kieran bowed his head again, silent. We haven’t had the time to discuss personal issues between ourselves. About the time that I had turned my back and left him to search for greener pastures.

Now that I thought of it, I wondered what could have been if I had stayed back and accepted Kieran’s offer to be his Luna.

Would all of these not have happened? Would I have been happy with him? Thinking of the possible realities made me nostalgic.

I turned my gaze to the horizon, it was time to focus on the present and not the past. Smoke still bled from distant cities, curling like mourning veils into the sky. The land was battered, but not beyond saving. Not yet.

But the fractures ran deep. My wolves were scattered. My allies hesitant. My power throbbed within me, bright and dangerous, but even that would not be enough to face what was coming.

Caelum.

His name was a ghost in my chest, a wound not yet scarred.

The binded.King’s words gnawed at me. You’re not ready.

Perhaps I wasn’t.

But I would be.

"Rise," I said to Kieran.

"Gather the remaining clans. The loyal. The unsure. Even the cowards. Send word. Summon them to the palace."

His lip curled into a grim smile. "And if they refuse?"

"Then they pick a side, it’s either with us or against us. No more hesitation."

His smile turned grim and he nodded

"It will be done." None of us were ready and eager to start another battle soon.

Before he could turn away, I placed a hand on his shoulder. The simple touch rooted us both for a breath.

"You did well," I said quietly. In my absence was the words that I had left unsaid.

His throat bobbed, and for a moment, the fierce warrior cracked enough to let something softer bleed through.

"I would do anything for you Athena, even die for you."

"You don’t have to say that." My eyes filled with tears. We have a lot to work on.

"We will talk when I get back." I forged on, swallowing hard.

His answering nod was steady.

When he left, I remained in the courtyard.

Lucas found me there, hours later.

"You sent Kieran away," he said, his voice careful. He still moved around me like I was a blade he might fall on. "You didn’t rest."

I didn’t look at him. "There’s no time for rest."

"We need time to rebuild." The Kingdom was in disarray left in tatters by it’s predecessor ruler and his Demon wolves.

"We need an army." I dragged my gaze to him, watching the shadows slide across his sharp features.

"The King was only the beginning. Caelum moves. He’s coming."

His jaw tensed. "Then we’ll fight him."

I almost laughed. Bitter. Tired. "You say it like it’s that simple."

Lucas stepped closer. "I said I’d follow you. I meant it."

His closeness burned me. Sometimes , I still tasted him when I bit my lip. Still felt the bruises we had left on each other’s skin in their throes of passion before he had betrayed me.

I hated that it wasn’t enough to push him away.

"Even after what everything that has happened?" I whispered.

He looked at me—steady, storm-eyed. "Even now. I’m ready to prove my dedication to you."

How could he be so strong after everything that had happened to him, Lira?

I wanted to shove him. To kiss him. To tear him apart and keep him anyway.

But I turned my back to him instead.

"Prepare the summons," I said. "We call the war council in three days."

"Athena,"

"Go."

He hesitated, but left.

I stared at the broken stones beneath my feet, the lingering shimmer of moonlight wrapping around my boots.

The King’s words rang in my head again, You’re too soft for what’s coming.

Maybe.

But softness could cut deeper than steel.

And when I carved Caelum’s name into the bones of the earth, I would not do it with softness or mercy.

I would do it as a queen.

As a goddess.

As a storm.

The next war wasn’t on the horizon.

It had already begun.

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