Luna. Chapter 170

I woke up exhausted after getting maybe two hours of sleep. But I had work to do.

First priority was breakfast with Asher and trying to act normal despite everything that was happening.

"What are you making, Mom?" Asher asked, watching me scramble eggs.

"Your favorite. Cheese eggs with toast."

"And orange juice?"

"Of course."

We ate together at the kitchen table, just like any other morning. Except this might be one of our last normal mornings for a while.

"What are you going to do today?" I asked.

"Work on my science project. The plants are getting really big now."

"That's great, baby."

"What are you going to do?"

Good question. Prepare for war while trying not to terrify my four-year-old.

"Some work stuff. Nothing too exciting."

After breakfast, Asher went upstairs to tend to his experimental plants while I made phone calls.

First, I called each of the coalition alphas to set up emergency protocols. Then I contacted every healer I knew, asking them to be on standby.

Around noon, my phone rang. Unknown number again.

"Hello?"

"It's me." Kael's voice was quiet.

My heart jumped. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. For now."

"Where are you?"

"Somewhere safe. Lyra, I need to see you."

"Cordelia said it was too dangerous."

"I don't care. If tonight goes badly, I need to say goodbye properly."

"Don't talk like that."

"I have to be realistic."

"You have to be optimistic. For all of us."

"I will be. But I still need to see you."

"Where?"

"The old cabin by Miller's Pond. Can you meet me there at four?"

"Yes."

"And Lyra? Bring Asher."

"Kael—"

"Please. I need to see both of you."

After we hung up, I spent an hour agonizing over whether this was a good idea. But in the end, I knew I couldn't deny him this.

If something happened tonight, we all needed to say goodbye.

I told Asher we were going for a drive to see his father.

"Is he going to fight the bad king tonight?" Asher asked as we drove to the cabin.

"Yes."

"Are you scared?"

"Terrified."

"Me too."

"But you know what? Being scared just means we care about someone a lot."

"I care about Dad a lot."

"So do I."

The cabin was small and isolated, surrounded by pine trees that provided good cover. Kael was waiting on the front porch when we arrived.

Asher ran to him immediately, launching himself into his father's arms.

"Dad!"

"Hey, buddy." Kael's voice was thick with emotion. "I missed you."

"I missed you too."

I approached more slowly, drinking in the sight of him. He looked tired but determined.

"How are you holding up?" I asked.

"Better now that you're here."

We went inside the cabin, which was furnished with just the basics. A couch, a table, a fireplace. It felt like a safe haven from the chaos outside.

"Tell me about your science project," Kael said to Asher.

For the next hour, Asher chattered about his plants and his experiments while Kael listened with complete attention. It was beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time.

Finally, Asher got distracted exploring the cabin, leaving Kael and me alone on the couch.

"How are you really?" I asked.

"Scared. But ready."

"What's your strategy?"

"Adrian's gotten soft. He relies too much on magic and not enough on physical skill."

"And you?"

"I've been training with Cordelia. She knows Adrian's fighting style better than anyone."

"What are his weaknesses?"

"He's arrogant. He'll try to show off instead of finishing the fight quickly."

"That's not much to go on."

"It's enough."

We sat in silence for a while, holding hands and watching Asher play.

"If something happens to me—" Kael started.

"Nothing's going to happen to you."

"If it does, I need you to promise me something."

"What?"

"Don't let them make Asher into a weapon. Whatever it takes, keep him away from anyone who would use his abilities for their own purposes."

"I promise."

"And the baby. Raise her to be strong but kind. Don't let the world make her hard."

"Kael, stop—"

"I love you. Both of you. More than anything in this world or any other."

"We love you too."

"Remember that, okay? Whatever happens tonight, remember that love is what this is all about."

Around six o'clock, Kael's phone buzzed with a text.

"Time to go," he said.

"Already?"

"I need to prepare."

We said our goodbyes outside the cabin. Kael hugged Asher for a long time, whispering things I couldn't hear.

Then he turned to me.

"Win," I said simply.

"I will."

"Promise me."

"I promise to try."

"That's not good enough."

"It's all I can give you."

He kissed me like the world was ending. Maybe it was.

"I'll see you tonight," he said.

"You better."

As we drove away, Asher was unusually quiet.

"Dad's going to be okay," I said, trying to convince myself as much as him.

"I know. He tastes like winning."

"He does?"

"Yeah. Scared, but like he knows something the bad king doesn't."

I hoped Asher was right.

I hoped we weren't about to lose everything that mattered.

The challenge was set for midnight. Seven hours to wait.

Seven hours to hope.

Seven hours to pray.