All Chapters of Marked by the Moon: The Tribrid Queen: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

The heavy oak doors clicked shut behind Maelor, the echo of his footsteps dissolving into the long stone corridor beyond. Silence claimed the study. Leo remained by the door, a quiet presence meant to guard more than just the room. He watched his Alpha carefully, thoughts churning beneath his controlled exterior. Ethan's gaze returned to the black-waxed scroll resting on his table. Featureless. Defiant. As though daring him to try. After a moment, Ethan reached for the scroll. “If it holds anything at all,” he said quietly, more to himself than to Leo, “then it was written to be unseen.” He rose at once and carried the parchment to the nearest candle, angling it carefully over the flame. Heat licked the edges, the orange glow illuminating the texture of the paper, but the surface remained a stubborn, void-like black. Not a single letter bled through. No hidden messages appeared. Nothing. No ink. Not even a whisper of concealed truth emerged from the void of the Stormcl

Inside Arielle’s chambers, a soft, tentative knock broke the stillness."Lady Arielle?"It was Drusilla. No answer. She knocked again, firmer this time. “Lady Arielle…?”Still nothing.A crease formed between Drusilla’s brows. That was unusual.She eased the door open and stepped inside, her eyes scanning the room. She held a small wooden treatment kit, the scent of antiseptic and clean linen trailing after her.“Lady Arielle?” she called again, her voice was thin, carrying a note of habitual worry. When no answer came, she walked towards the washroom door."Lady Arielle? I noticed the bruising earlier... I brought the salves," Drusilla murmured to the empty air and no reply came.She checked the washroom, and the adjoining sitting area. Nothing.“Where could she possibly be?” Drusilla wondered.Drusilla’s fingers tightened around the leather handle of the treatment kit.Then, her gaze drifted to the window, instinct guiding her. She approached it, peering down into the dark garde

Seraphina followed Ethan into his chambers, her cane clicking rhythmically and sharply against the marble, footsteps uneven but determined.“Ethan!”He didn’t answer.The doors closed behind them with a heavy finality. "Ethan! Talk to me!" she shrilled, her voice cracking with indignation. "You were supposed to punish those men. You are the King! If they don't fear the consequences of their failure, they will never truly protect this pack. You’re letting that girl, that outsider, dictate your law!"Ethan didn't turn. He walked to the sideboard and poured himself a finger of whiskey, the liquid glowing like a dragon’s eye in the dim light. He stepped to the window, backing her, his silhouette tall and unyielding as he stared down at the dark garden where the arrow had flown."Ethan, why are you not talking?" Sephy’s voice softened, turning from demanding to pleading. She moved closer, leaning on her cane. "Is it because of what happened earlier? In my room? I... I didn't know what cam

Arielle stood before the long silver mirror, dressing for the day’s training.Her movements were methodical, almost ritualistic. She wore a brown training leathers, fitted but flexible. The kind worn by warriors who expected to be bruised and bloodied by the end of the day. She put on the leather bracers around her forearms, pulling the laces tight until the pressure pressed against her skin. Her knuckles, still covered in the small plasters Drusilla had applied, throbbed with a dull, rhythmic ache.She stared at her reflection. The girl who had arrived at this castle shaking and hollowed out by grief, was fading. And in her place was someone leaner, sharper. Someone with eyes that looked like frozen amethysts."My Lady," Drusilla whispered, stepping into the room with a fresh basin of water. "The Alpha King has already moved to the training grounds. And… She is coming out of her chambers already.”Arielle didn't turn. She fastened the last strap at her wrist and smoothed her hair b

Seraphina lifted her gaze, every eye was on her. Warriors, Elite trainees, even servants lingering at the edge, all waiting. Waiting for the high-born Luna to accept the challenge of an outsider.She did."I accept," Seraphina said, her voice tight and sharpA faint ripple of murmurs spread through the hall. Arielle remained still, her expression unreadable.“But on one condition,” Seraphina continued, a sharp smile curving her lips. “Whoever loses must drop to their knees in the center of this hall and offer a formal apology for their arrogance. Do you agree, stray?"Arielle didn't hesitate. "Accepted. I look forward to hearing your voice from the floor, Luna."Ethan watched them, his expression a wall of stone. With a sharp nod, he declared. "You have fifteen minutes to warm up," he said evenly.Leo wasted no time.He grabbed Arielle by the arm and pulled her aside, his expression serious now all traces of humour gone. “Listen to me carefully,”She nodded.“Seraphina is a skilled