Chapter 8
After Leo was taken into surgery, Lucian and I waited in the hospital lobby.
He sat beside me in silence, his fingers brushing over the bond necklace now resting against his palm. I kept stealing glances at him, at the shape of his
face, the familiar calm in his eyes.
Finally, I found the words.
“Lucian… was it you who saved me back then?”
He gave a soft, rueful smile.
“So, you finally remembered.”
“You must’ve thought Leo was me because of this,” he said, lifting the necklace. “Makes sense why you didn’t recognize me.”
I nodded. “It was dark that night. I never saw your face clearly.”
“But… how did Leo end up with the necklace?”
Lucian’s smile vanished, replaced by something harder.
“Skyclaw and Lunarcrest have been rivals for decades. Leo and I were raised to hate each other. During one skirmish, he staged an attack… and stole this from me in the chaos.”
“I didn’t realize it until later. But by then, he was flaunting it like some trophy.”
His voice dropped, low and seething.
“It’s the one thing I cared about most. And he paraded it like it was his.”
My chest tightened with anger. All those years–grief, regret, misplaced loyalty. If Leo hadn’t taken that necklace… maybe everything would’ve been different.
Lucian’s voice softened. “When the war over the sacred land began, neither of us backed down. I wasn’t just fighting for territory. I was fighting for everything he’d stolen.”
Then he looked at me-
-really looked–and took my hand.
“Scarlett, thank you. You brought me back from the edge. You gave me a second chance.”
“When I reclaim that land, I’ll build you a garden–full of those mystical flowers. A place only for you.”
“Will you… be my Luna?”
His words caught me completely off guard.
“Lucian… I don’t want those flowers.”
His brows lifted, confused. “Why not? You’ve never even seen them. They say they’re bright crimson–stunning.”
I’ve seen them.
That land is sealed by ancient magic. A barrier no one can cross–except me. Because the Flower King lives inside me.
My blood holds the power to open that land. To control it. To destroy it.
Those flowers could save lives. But they’ve cost so many already.
I looked him in the eye.
“Those flowers don’t belong to anyone–not you, not me. Your duty is to protect them. Not possess them.”
Lucian held my gaze, then slowly nodded. “I promise.”
Just then, Mrs. Russell hurried toward us,
breathless.
“Miss Scarlett–please. Leo’s out of surgery. Can you check on him?”
I followed her into the recovery room.
Leo was unconscious, pale as snow. The lower half of his body… gone. Chapter 8
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I stared at him for a long time. Part of me wanted to feel something–pity, sorrow, vindication. But all I felt was quiet.
He used to believe losing his pride was the worst fate imaginable. He was wrong.
This was.
As he began to stir, Aria stood frozen at the door. She didn’t run to him. Didn’t cry.
Her eyes were full of something else entirely. Fear. Disgust.
Leo cracked his eyes open and saw her.
“Aria…” His voice rasped. “Even if you couldn’t heal me… I’ll still keep my word.”
“We’ll hold a grand ceremony when I’m well. You’ll be my Luna.”
Aria hesitated. Her smile was thin, forced.
“Leo… let’s talk abo
about that later. You need rest.”
Leo’s face darkened. “You’re disgusted by me now, aren’t you?”
Before she could respond, Mrs. Russell returned–this time with a test report in hand and fury in her eyes.
“Aria.”
Her voice was cold as steel.
“That vial you used. The lab confirmed it–Bone–Eater’s Water.”
“You poisoned Leo. Why?”
