Moonlit Vows Of Vengeance-Chapter 27: The Kurd

Athena’s pov

We walked side by side, but I didn’t say anything else.

Neither did he.

The silence between us wasn’t comfortable... but it wasn’t exactly hostile either. Just full. Like there were too many things neither of us wanted to say.

When we reached the throne room, the doors opened before us without a word.

The King’s presence was already heavy in the air.

Lucas and I stepped inside together.

And whatever came next—

I was ready for it.

Or at least... I hoped I was.

The air inside the throne room felt heavier than usual — like the walls themselves were listening. Lucas and I stepped inside, side by side, our footsteps echoing against the polished obsidian floor. The King was already there, seated.

His eyes cut straight to me. "You’re early."

The King stood, his cloak trailing behind him like smoke, and descended the steps without haste. He stopped before us.

"I have your next task," he said, no ceremony. Just command.

Lucas crossed his arms. I held still.

"There is an object called the Kurd," the King continued. "It’s a fragment, one of many and vital to restoring what remains of the Moon Goddess’s power."

My jaw tightened. The name meant nothing to me, but the way he said it... it carried weight.

"Where do we find it?" Lucas asked, voice low.

The King looked at him briefly, then turned his gaze to me. "A high noble in the kingdom of Varos holds it. You will go together."

Lucas raised an eyebrow. "Varos?"

"Yes," the King said. "And I trust you’ll understand discretion is more than necessary."

He turned slightly, walking toward the side of the room where the window overlooked the bleak cliffs below. "This noble," he continued, "does not keep the Kurd in a vault. Or in a sealed chest. Or even behind a thousand locked doors."

He looked over his shoulder. His gray eyes gleamed.

"He keeps it in the mouth of his demon beast."

I blinked. "What?"

Lucas straightened slightly. Even he looked thrown.

"Yes," the King said again, slowly. "The Kurd is embedded in the tongue of a creature conjured through blood-binding. It is alive. And extremely territorial."

My heart dropped into my stomach. "That’s insane."

The King chuckled. "It’s necessary."

"But... why can’t we just tell the noble what it’s for?" I asked, despite myself. "If he knew it was to save the Moon Goddess—"

The King turned fully, his voice cutting in like a blade.

"If others knew she was weakened," he said coldly, "they would not hand over their treasures. They would do anything to ensure she never returns."

He kept walking toward us slowly. "Why would those who thrive in chaos want order restored? Why would the wicked want the divine brought back to power?" His eyes bored into mine. "Athena, the people in possession of these fragments... they are not good people. That is why you’re retrieving them. Not asking for permission."

I said nothing.

Because what could I say?

He turned to Lucas now. "She knows the truth," he said simply. "She’s part of this now. I want you both to retrieve the Kurd."

Lucas nodded once, but I could feel his glance flick toward me.

The King’s gaze returned to me.

"Your resolve impressed me yesterday," he said, voice quieter now. "But this is where you prove it."

I swallowed. "How do we kill the beast?"

The King smiled faintly. "Who said anything about killing it?"

I tensed.

"You’ll need to extract it," he said. "Alive. Without letting the creature devour either of you."

Of course.

Of course it wouldn’t be easy.

"Can it speak?" Lucas asked.

"No," the King said. "But it understands. It senses wolves. And it does not enjoy having things taken from it."

I glanced at Lucas again, then back to the King. "So let me get this straight. We’re to break into the home of a high noble in a foreign kingdom, sneak past guards, find a creature straight out of a nightmare, and... remove a magical object from its mouth?"

The King gave the faintest nod.

My arms crossed over my chest.

"Great."

He took a few steps back, eyes never leaving us. "Prepare yourselves. You’ll leave at first light. Varos isn’t kind to outsiders. You’ll be watched from the moment you arrive."

"And if the noble discovers us?" Lucas asked.

"Handle it," the King said simply.

I stared at him, trying to read anything from the stillness of his face. But as always, he gave nothing away.

Then, as if the whole world was already decided, he dismissed us with a single gesture. "Go."

Lucas turned first. I followed.

We stepped into the corridor.

Silence.

Lucas walked beside me for a while without saying anything.

Then finally—

"Well," he muttered, "that sounds like fun."

I gave him a sideways glare. "You call crawling into the mouth of a demon fun?"

He shrugged. "Depends on the company."

I rolled my eyes. "If you try to joke during the actual mission, I will feed you to the thing myself."

He smiled — and for a second, it wasn’t sarcastic. It was just quiet. "Deal. I will wait for you by the gates." He said and then he left.

I should have gone straight to my quarters and t n the gates.

But I didn’t.

Instead, I turned left — away from the exit — and found myself heading to the one place I knew could still give me answers.

Cassius’s quarters.

I didn’t knock politely.

I rapped once, firm.

His voice came from inside, soft but alert. "Come in." frёeωebɳovel.com

I stepped in slowly, closing the door behind me. He was at the desk, half-dressed, rubbing the back of his neck like he hadn’t slept properly in days.

The room smelled like cloves and smoke. Dimly lit.

"Athena?" he asked, already rising. "Are you alright?"

"I’m fine." I hovered there. "I just... needed to ask something."

He nodded once, but his eyes narrowed slightly. He was always sharp. Too sharp sometimes.

"I saw a wolf this morning," I said quietly. "In the hall. A young one. He had a—" I hesitated. "—he lost control. Shifted halfway. Eyes wild. Couldn’t stop himself. And Lucas..."

Cassius’s jaw tensed. "He put him down?"

"Yes."

He looked down for a second, his expression unreadable.

"Cassius," I said, stepping forward. "It was exactly like what happened to you that night."

He didn’t answer.

"Tell me what’s happening," I said. "Please."

He looked at me. Really looked. Like he wanted to say something and bury it at the same time.

I said it again, softer. "Please."

A beat passed.

Then he exhaled slowly and nodded. "Okay."