The Lunar Queen Chapter 57

Frances POV

I sit in the council chambers replaying the last few years in my mind. The silence around me feels too loud, pressing in as every decision replays sharper than before. How did I end up so deep in David’s plans.

I compromised the entire council to help him with his agenda. Now we’re days away from part 1 of his plan being executed.

I’ve been feeding his rogues information on patrols and security every day since the king returned with his mate. Each report felt easier at first—routine—but now every piece of information feels like a blade I can’t take back.

Something about her feels different, like she’s more powerful than we are expecting her to be. It lingers in my mind in a way that won’t settle, like I’ve overlooked something important. I feel like we are missing something.

We found the runes deep in the forest behind the castle, buried underground, hidden by magic.

I’ve been on edge all week. Not just uneasy—waiting. Watching. Like something is about to snap.

I don’t even know the full extent of the plan. I only know the council’s role.

I honestly don’t know who I’m more afraid of—the King and his mate or David. The thought alone tightens my chest. There is no safe side anymore.

“Frances did you hear us?” Senora says.

“I’m sorry, what?” I say.

“what is the plan for the Queen?” Senora asks

“What does David want us to do?” Jed asks

“we need to create a moment for her to be alone so his people can grab her” I say.

I pull out the vial he gave me.

“this will temporarily sever her connection with her wolf and her magic, giving us a better opportunity to take her” I say. My fingers tighten slightly around the vial, the weight of it heavier than it should be.

“Serena has her instructions to deal with the king” I say.

“what are we going to do about Carolyn and Theodore?” Jed asks

“Nothing for now, as long as they don’t suspect anything” I say.

“it’s business as usual” I say

“tomorrow is the Queen’s coronation, I thought that wasn’t supposed to happen?” Mila says

“David wants it to happen” I add.

That alone should have been enough to make all of us stop and question everything. But no one does. No one dares.

“We all have our tasks, let’s try to stay under the radar as much as possible. Until she loses her powers she can read your minds, steer clear of her” I say, standing and heading for the door.

I don’t wait for their responses. I don’t want to see doubt on their faces—because it will mirror my own.

Before I even make it far my phone rings.

David.

“Frances I have a problem, meet me at my pack” he says, then hangs up.

A problem. From David. That word alone sends a cold weight straight through my gut.

I can’t wait for all of this to be over.

I just wanted more power.

Now I feel like I have none at all.

Jonathan POV

Ever since I left the witch’s shop last week I’ve been being pursued by a witch.

I know she is Agora’s daughter and she thinks I am unaware of who she is.

Our shadows have already reported her following me around.

The witch thinks she can use me for information and I will use that to my advantage. Let her think she’s in control. It makes her easier to read. Easier to break.

I knock on the door to David’s office and step inside.

He is just ending a call when I walk in.

“where is she?” he asks.

“in my room, she’s using a false mate bond with me” I say.

“Agora should know better than to think she is my only witch” he says.

“I will let you kill her but not until I get my mate” he says.

I love David. We grew up as rogues together. Our fathers built this pack together.

But I think he is underestimating the king and queen.

Especially her.

She’s more powerful than any of those before her.

Those green eyes look like they see everything. Not just look at you—through you. Like there is nowhere to hide.

She definitely scares me.

Our mole at MoonVeil said she killed her own sister without even touching her.

That’s not power you fight. That’s power you survive—if you’re lucky.

I hope the potions the witch gave him work.

He’s been planning this for years, even more since his father died.

“what did Frances say about her?” I ask.

“he will be here soon” he says.

“was the witch unable to detect the magic blocker on you?” he asks

“she seems like an amateur witch” I say.

“good that means her inexperience will be her downfall” he says.

“is everything ready for Friday?” I ask.

“the bears and our warriors are waiting for the signal to attack” he says.

“do you think attacking them is smart?” I ask.

“no, but it will get her attention” he says smiling.

That smile doesn’t reach his eyes. It never does when he talks about her.

“I want her mad. It’s more satisfying when I know I broke something in her. Then I will put her back together and we will raise those pups to be exactly how I want them to be” he says

Something about the way he says it makes even me pause. Not fear—something colder. Something wrong.

Just as a knock sounds at the door.

“Come in” he says.

In walks a frantic looking Frances.

“my king you called for me” he says, stuttering as sweat beads on his forehead.

He smells like fear before he even speaks again.

“I’m going to kill Agora, soon,” David says.

“before the big battle, because I know Cole will not stop until he gets her and his pups back.”

“I need you to keep our plans to yourself if you don’t want to die. You need to make sure nobody finds the runes. I hope they are hidden well” he says.

“they are” Frances says.

“Make sure your daughter doesn’t fuck up and act impulsively because she will die” David says.

“if anything goes wrong on Friday I will kill the entire council before anyone can blink” David adds.

The room goes still after that. No one breathes too loudly. No one moves too fast.

“yes sir” Frances says.

“now go and make sure the witch knows nothing, Frances” he says, dismissing him.

In 3 days we will take the Queen.

In 3 days the crown will fall.

Because the moment Friday comes, this won’t be a plan anymore—it will be a collision, every secret, every betrayal, every lie crashing together at once, and the part none of them are ready for isn’t whether the Queen can be taken… it’s what happens when they try and realize too late that the one they built this entire war around was never something that could be controlled in the first place.