CHAPTER 262: _TRESPASSING

Lucian’s POV

*****

"Lucian, you can’t seriously be—"

"Mother, I only told you so you could hold the fort while we’re gone. We shouldn’t be long and—"

"Going into Arcadia?!" Elowen slammed her palm on the study room’s hardwood table, papers scattering.

Immediately after Lucian and Elian made a decision to head to Arcadia, the former searched for his mother. She was still the Luna Queen. Technically, she still had more political power than he did.

And of course, she’s his mother.

But the words she let out now were more protective than he expected.

The study room was large, dimly lit by the glow of yellow crystals. A lamp that shifted into different colours once every few seconds stood on the main table. And the Luna Queen... She lingered behind the table, eyes locked on Lucian like he’d lost his mind.

"Your call to the Arcadian Council might’ve already increased tensions between us." His mother went on, leaning closer from across the table. "And now you want to sneak into their territory to retrieve a man who’s their sworn enemy?"

Lucian’s eyes trailed away from her briefly. "He’s still my half-cousin."

"One you didn’t know existed until recently."

"Just like our so-called long lost brother, huh?" Lucian went low with those words.

He knew it. The pain that flashed through his mother’s eyes told him so.

But tensions were high. And time was running out.

"As much as I don’t like Kyren," he took slow steps toward the table, brushing past a seat. "He’s still Elian’s mate. He’s still someone he cares about. If anything happened to him—it’ll break Elian, mother."

He paused, noticing the hesitation growing in her eyes. Her breathing became heavy. Jaw tight.

Sliding his right hand across the table, he grabbed her palm gently. "Please, mother. Understand me and just keep things steady here while we’re gone."

She looked away. She knew he wasn’t going to back down. Knew there was no other way around this conversation. But she still kept silent like that would somehow rouse him.

Maybe give him time to rethink?

But that never happened.

"My sweet wolf." When Elowen broke the silence, she turned around the table in a flash. Lucian’s eyes widened when she pulled him to her embrace, digging her fingers into his lush black hair.

"... Please, don’t get into any more trouble." She whispered, voice trembling. "I... I just lost your father. I already lost a son eighteen years ago and—"

"You will not lose me, mother." Lucian took a couple of steps back, grabbing her wrists and forcing her to look into his eyes. "Not now. Not anytime soon."

"Not ever." The Luna Queen countered. "Promise me, Lucian."

He hesitated for just a second.

Her eyes glistened with tears she didn’t let fall under the dim light.

Just how much pain was she hiding away from the world?

"I promise." He finally mumbled, letting himself smile.

She nodded, pulling him into yet another hug.

Lucian wanted to slip away and tell her he had to hurry if they wanted any chance of finding Kyren before the Arcadian people.

But the relief in her breathing was too much to just rip away. So he stayed there for as long as the embrace lasted, silence closing in like fog.

.

.

"Elian?" Lucian got in front of Elian’s room door, giving a brief nod to the two guards standing in front of it. He knocked once before walking into the room. "Elian, what are you—"

He froze, barely taking a few steps inside.

Elian held a small pouch he slung over his shoulder, the edges trimmed with golden and blue threads. He stood in front of his bed, the late morning sunlight highlighting his features through the window behind.

But that wasn’t the main thing that caught Lucian’s attention.

Elian’s right hand clutched the ruby necklace Kyren gifted him. It was still hanging around his neck, pulsing softly with an almost blood-tinted light.

Around Elian’s right wrist, the purple heart jewel bracelet the Alpha Prince gave him still clung pretty. Yet right now, the way his mate stared at Kyren’s necklace made his gift seem small.

Or was he just being petty?

"Elian." Lucian closed the door, stepping closer. The latter pulled his hand off the necklace, violet eyes meeting Lucian’s gaze. "What’s wrong? You feel anything new through that necklace?"

Elian’s lips curled into a wry smile. "I wish I did. Maybe that’ll reassure me that Kyren’s fine. But since that first whisper in the throne room, it’s been... Silent."

Elian’s muscles tensed. "This necklace contains Kyren’s magic. If I’m right it could help us track him easier once we breach Arcadian territory. But..." He bit his bottom lip, eyes dimming despondently. "I’m so scared something terrible happened. Kyren NEVER needs help."

"He might not need it right now either." Lucian placed a hand on his shoulder, fingers trailing to his chin. "We’re just going there to ensure he’s okay. Kyren is more than capable of handling himself."

Elian paused.

For a few seconds, he stood there not saying anything in response. Slowly, he glanced over his shoulder at his balcony and the sunlight spilling through the glass door.

"It doesn’t feel like it this time." Elian finally mumbled, shoulders slouching under Lucian’s hold.

Eventually, they left the palace, walking toward a sleek golden Lunarian sky craft that the queen had prepared. The thing glistened like a star under the sunlight. A few guards stood close to the craft, bowing before them.

"We’ve double checked the craft per your command, your majesty." One of them announced briskly. "Do you need anything else—"

"No. Thank you." Lucian signalled them to leave with a wave.

As they did, a ramp unfurled from the side of the craft facing him and Elian.

Lucian followed behind Elian as the ramp hissed downward, metal shimmering in the sunlight. The warmth on his skin did nothing to ease the tightness in his chest.

They stepped inside. The moment they crossed the threshold, the craft’s interior lights brightened, responding to their presence. The cockpit hummed with life, the central console glowing with Lunarian sigils.

Elian took the co-pilot’s seat, whispering, "Auto-pilot to Arcadia. Destination: Silverpine Forest."

The console blinked once before an emotionless AI voice responded: "Confirmed destination. Please, sit back."

The craft pulled back its ramp and began its ascension with a low, steady rumble.

Lucian watched Moon Haven city shrink beneath them, the crystalline towers fading into a sea of white and blue. A knot formed in his stomach. Behind him... his mother was probably still in that study, pretending everything was fine.

Too late to turn back now.

The sky craft rotated smoothly, angling south. Then—

FWOOOM.

The engines flared, and in a heartbeat they surged forward, the world outside becoming streaks of colour. Lunaria passed below them in minutes, frost-tipped mountains falling behind as crimson clouds began to roll across the horizon.

The Dark Lands.

Elian stiffened at the sight of the red-tinted sky. Lucian didn’t miss it. "Your first time seeing it from above?"

Elian’s voice was low. "Not really. There was this one time Kyren and I went to a border city. It just... never ceases to take my breath each time."

They blitzed over the scorched desert plains, past the towering bones of ancient beasts that jutted from the sands like monuments.

Far ahead, Gravethorn City appeared — black spires, steam chimneys pumping red mist, and the massive shimmering barrier dividing the Dark Lands from Arcadia.

The force shield crackled like a living storm.

"Cloak," Lucian commanded.

The craft’s panels rippled with light, bending around them until the hull became invisible.

"Hold on."

The blue force shield loomed closer... closer...

ZRRRRPK—

They pierced through, the shield phasing over them like they were slipping through water.

Once on the Arcadian side, the air shifted sharply. It was cooler, tinged with a floral scent. Forests spread endlessly beneath them until the craft began to descend, slowing near a clearing laced with silver-barked trees.

Silverpine Forest.

The moment they touched the ground, the ramp began unfolding again.

Lucian stepped out first but almost immediately halted.

His nostrils flared. "Ozone."

Elian walked beside him, eyes widening as he scanned the scorched earth. Bark blackened. The soil was cracked. Ancient roots were exposed like claws.

A magical battle happened here. A fierce one.

Lucian crouched, brushing his fingers over the charred ground. The mana beneath pulsed faintly, like a weak heartbeat.

"Someone contained the blast," he murmured. "If this had gone unchecked, the entire forest would be gone."

Elian hugged himself, necklace brushing his chest. "This was recent."

"Most likely a couple of hours ago," Lucian agreed.

He glanced around. The scorched area spiralled inward, pointed like an arrow toward a deeper part of the forest.

The epicentre of the explosion.

They exchanged a look.

"We search together," Lucian said quietly.

"Always," Elian replied.

They moved, weaving between shattered branches and lingering sparks of blue mana. Each step felt heavier. The air buzzed unnaturally, like static crawling over their skin.

Lucian felt it first. The shift in wind.

He raised a hand, signalling Elian to stop.

Branches rustled ahead.

Metal boots crunched against leaves.

And then—

A line of Arcadian soldiers emerged from behind the trees, silver armour gleaming despite the destruction around them. They had magi tech spears raised. Sigils glowing. Eyes sharp.

Their captain stepped forward.

"Halt," he commanded. "You are trespassing on Arcadian soil."

Lucian’s jaw clenched.

Elian’s fingers tightened around Kyren’s necklace.

Gods, this wasn’t part of the plan...