Moonlit Vows Of Vengeance

Chapter 108: Second Guessing

My lips were dry. My throat, sandpaper. "Where...?" Where was Lucas? That was what I wanted to say but changed my mind.

"You’re safe," Kieran said softly, his hand still hovering near my shoulder like he wasn’t sure whether to steady me or hold on for himself. "You’re in the healer’s wing. You collapsed, you were um—screaming like something was tearing you apart. I was very very scared and worried."

I blinked slowly, trying to push past the haze in my mind. Everything felt... wrong. Off-kilter.

Kieran’s eyes searched mine. "Athena," he said again, gentler this time. "What happened? Are you okay?"

I turned my head slightly. Two healers hovered at the doorway, uncertain, pretending not to listen but clearly clinging to every word.

"I want to speak to him alone, leave us immediately," I said, my voice hoarse. noveldrama

They didn’t argue. One gave a stiff bow. The other glanced at Kieran, then shuffled out quickly, closing the door behind them.

Silence pressed down.

I slowly sat up, ignoring the way my limbs trembled. Kieran didn’t stop me this time. He just stood there, waiting, frowning. I looked up at him.

"The truth is that I’ve lost it."

He blinked. "What?"

"My power. All of it." The words came out hollow. Cold. "When I came back, or rather since I went and came back. I reached inside me and it’s... gone. Nothing. Not even a flicker."

He took a step closer, his voice laced with confusion and disbelief. "What do you mean it’s gone?"

"I mean I’m powerless now," I snapped, though it wasn’t anger I felt—just a deep, numbing panic. "Anyone could kill me. You could kill me. Right now. And I wouldn’t even see it coming."

Kieran froze like I’d just slapped him.

"I would never," he said, his voice suddenly sharp with hurt. "Athena—gods above—I would never lay a hand on you."

"But someone will." I looked down at my hands. They used to glow with celestial light. Now they were just handshaking and useless.

"I don’t know how to get it back," I whispered. "I don’t even know what I did wrong."

Kieran sat down beside the bed slowly, not touching me, just near enough that I could feel his presence anchoring me to the room. "Do you have any idea of what could’ve happened?"

"Everything’s been punishment. Since the beginning."

He didn’t argue.

"Caelum came to me when I was unconscious," I said at last, eyes fixed on a crack in the ceiling above. "Or... a projection of him. He used Lucas’s face to taunt me. It felt so real I tried to kill him. But I couldn’t even scratch him. He told me I triggered something—something I don’t understand—and then I blacked out."

Kieran’s jaw clenched. "That bastard."

"I was glowing with power before, Kieran. And now I can’t even light a candle."

He took my hand carefully, deliberately. "Then we’ll find the answer. There has to be a way."

I stared at him. "You keep saying ’we.’ But this is my burden. Not yours."

"You carry too much of it alone," he murmured. "I’ve watched you bear everything for everyone. For this kingdom. For the gods. For Lucas. For your past."

My throat tightened. "You don’t understand. It’s not just about me losing power. I don’t know who I am without it. Am I even the Moon Goddess anymore, or just some broken shard of what she used to be?"

He turned my face toward him gently, forcing me to meet his eyes. "You’re Athena. You were a goddess before the power ever touched you. You were fired before the flame had a name."

I hated that his words made my heart ache. I hated that in the middle of my shame, his loyalty still felt so steady.

"I don’t know what to do next," I said, voice cracking for the first time.

"Then let’s figure it out," he said simply. "Step by step."

A silence passed between us. I couldn’t look away from him.

"I’ve failed," I whispered.

"No," Kieran said with absolute certainty. "You’ve survived. And you’re going to rise again. Whatever condition Caelum set—whatever he’s planning—we’ll face it. But you’re not doing it alone."

I didn’t answer.

Because for the first time in a long time, I wasn’t sure I believed in my own resurrection.

But his hand didn’t leave mine.

And maybe... just maybe... that was enough to keep me breathing.

Then—

CRACK.

A faint thud outside the chamber.

Both our heads turned toward the door.

Kieran was already halfway across the room before I could blink. A snarl twitched at the edge of his lips.

"Stay here," he said sharply, and flung the door open.

I heard his footsteps thunder down the corridor, followed by a sharp grunt and a dragging sound. Within seconds, he returned, fists clenched around the arm of a pale, trembling figure.

One of the healers.

She stumbled into the room, eyes wide, lips trembling.

"I—I wasn’t—" she stammered.

"Don’t lie," Kieran growled. "You stayed behind to listen. You didn’t leave with the others."

I narrowed my eyes. The magic in this kingdom was still unstable. And some loyalties were still in shadow.

"Why?" I asked, voice low but commanding.

She burst into a panicked mess of words. "I—I was told to. I mean, I was asked just to observe! Not to harm, I swear it! He said it was for the good of the kingdom—"

"Who?" Kieran’s voice turned sharp.

The healer’s lips quivered. "Alpha Marik..."

Kieran’s expression turned to stone. My heart sank.

Of course. Not everyone had accepted my return—or the fall of the false king. And some were waiting for a chance to undermine me while I was weak.

I swung my legs off the cot. My limbs were sluggish, but my mind was crystal clear.

"Kieran," I said. "Take her away. I want her held. But be gentle with her."

He hesitated. "Are you sure it’s okay to—?"

"Yes," I snapped, my voice sharper than I intended.

He nodded once, roughly, then hauled the trembling healer away, leaving me alone in the room. My breath came quick, shallow. That tiny spy hadn’t scared me. But what did she represent?

A crack in the foundation.

The door shut behind them, leaving the silence sharp as a blade.

I sat there for a long time, staring at nothing. The air was thick with the scent of healing herbs and scorched stone. A small basin of water sat beside the bed, untouched. I leaned forward, my hands shaking slightly as I cupped the cool liquid and brought it to my lips.

It tasted like ash.

I am powerless.

The thought settled in again, heavy and unwelcome. I could feel the emptiness inside me — no silver light, no ancient hum beneath my skin, nothing but raw, exhausted humanity.

I was once the Moon Goddess.

Now I wasn’t sure what I was.

There was a faint knock.

I straightened as the door opened and Kieran returned. His expression was tight, jaw locked, and I knew he had something to say.

"She’s in custody," he said. "Under guard. Quiet orders."

"Thank you."

But he didn’t move to leave. Instead, he closed the door behind him and leaned against it.

My gaze snapped to him.

Kieran crossed the room and sat across from me, forearms resting on his knees. "I asked her some questions. She’s part of a group. A faction loyal to Marik. He’s been... gathering werewolves. Not openly though. But enough."

"Enough for what?"

Kieran hesitated. "To undermine your authority.."

"He might be looking for your weakness to usurp you, a very bad mistake," he said bitterly.

That made me look at him. "Really?"

His eyes held mine. "Yeah."

That one word — quiet, steady — steadied something inside me.

But it didn’t fix the problem.

I pushed to my feet. "I need to move."

"Athena—"

"If I sit here any longer, I’ll break," I snapped. "Help me walk."

Kieran moved without another word, offering his arm. I took it, and we made our way slowly down the narrow corridor toward the west wing. The palace was still scarred from battle.

Guards straightened when they saw me, eyes wide. They all bowed. I noted every one of them.

We stopped at a small balcony that overlooked what used to be the royal courtyard. It had once held sacred trees — now ash-covered stumps surrounded by rubble. Wolves were rebuilding the walls, but the progress was slow. My kingdom was alive — but barely.

"What if they find out?" I asked, my voice low. "What if the people know I’ve lost my magic?"

"No one suspects. And no one outside the court is sure of what’s happening."

"They will soon."

"Then let them," Kieran said. "You don’t need power to lead."

"I feel like I’m watching it all fall apart again," I whispered.

He reached out, gently brushing his fingers against mine. "You’re not alone this time."

"I don’t even know if I want to fight anymore."

"Yes, you do," he said simply.

I didn’t argue. Because somewhere under the fear, the shame, the exhaustion — I did.