Chapter 195: The Recount!
Within the luminous dominion of Lunara, a vast and regal palace stood like a testament to both strength and grace. It was a marvel of architecture, crafted meticulously by the werewolves who served under the moon queen's reign. Towering pillars rose to meet a ceiling encrusted with star-like gems that glimmered faintly with the light of an eternal moon.
These werewolves, tireless and diligent, moved like worker ants serving their queen bee. Their hulking forms, sinewy with muscle, seemed capable of carrying the weight of the world. Despite Lunara's unparalleled power—far beyond their combined might—they guarded her fiercely, never allowing her safety to rely solely on her own strength. They stationed themselves at every corridor, every shadowed corner, ensuring constant vigilance.
While they treated Tessa and Bandel Blue with respectful hospitality, their gazes grew cold and sharp whenever Solaris entered their vicinity. A silent but palpable tension filled the air whenever he passed by. Though they dared not voice their disdain for Lunara's husband—his reputation alone was deterrent enough—the hostility was evident. They knew full well that any misstep with Solaris could result in consequences so severe that even Lunara might hesitate to intervene.
Now, within an opulent sitting chamber adorned with silver-etched walls and moonlit mosaics, the four sat together. The reunion was far from a peaceful gathering, as emotions simmered beneath the surface like molten lava threatening to erupt.
Solaris broke the silence first, his impatience snapping the fragile calm. His golden eyes blazed as he fixed his gaze on Lunara.
"You never told me I had a daughter," he growled, the accusation heavy in his tone. "If I hadn't been patient—if Bandel Blue hadn't been there—I could've killed her in ignorance." His hands clenched into fists, knuckles whitening with suppressed anger.
Lunara's silver eyes narrowed dangerously, her expression an unyielding mask of frost. "You're one to talk," she retorted, her voice as sharp as a blade. "You didn't tell me you had a son. And as it turns out, your precious boy comes from that maid you always ran to whenever we had a fight. Don't you dare lecture me about secrecy."
Solaris blinked, stunned by the revelation. For a brief moment, confusion replaced his anger. His gaze shifted to Tessa, seeking some form of confirmation.
Tessa sighed deeply, rubbing her temples. She had expected tension during this reunion, but not this level of chaos. The familial drama unfolding around her was far more exhausting than any battle she'd faced on Earth.
"Adrian," she began, her voice steady despite the turmoil, "is my half-brother. He was swapped as a baby, so you probably weren't aware you had a son. But that's not the main issue right now. Adrian is in serious trouble back on Earth—Rhemon is trying to turn him into a minion."
The room fell silent at the mention of Rhemon. Solaris's mood, already poor, darkened further. His jaw tightened, and his golden aura flickered like an unstable flame.
"That bastard is still alive?" he spat, his voice trembling with fury. "How?"
Tessa's response was steady, though her heart beat faster under the weight of the truth. "Ikehara used the Kaelrian healing ritual to revive him."
Solaris surged to his feet, his fury barely contained. "How did he get his hands on the sacred ingredients?" he demanded, his voice thunderous. "The eternal fire of the sun, the moon dew—he couldn't possibly have obtained them unless..." His eyes narrowed, the accusation implicit in his words. "Unless someone from our bloodline helped him. Did you?"
Before Tessa could respond, Lunara rose with a quiet grace, placing a calming hand on Solaris's tense arm. Her touch seemed to temper the fiery energy radiating from him, her presence commanding without aggression.
"Ease up, big guy," she said, her tone firm yet soothing, each word laced with authority. "She's our daughter, not some suspect to be grilled. You've no idea what she's been through on Earth—facing down not one but two lunatics who'd give even you pause. Let her speak in her own time. Stop snarling like a caged beast."
Solaris froze, caught between his simmering anger and Lunara's unyielding logic. Slowly, he relented, sinking back into his seat. His aura dimmed, the searing heat softening to an intense simmer, though his stormy expression made it clear his frustration hadn't entirely subsided.
Lunara turned to Tessa, her icy resolve melting into tender warmth. Her gaze met her daughter's, her eyes speaking of understanding and unwavering support. "Now, my child," she said softly, her voice carrying a rare and heartfelt warmth, "tell us everything. Spare no detail."
Tessa drew a deep, steadying breath, her chest tightening under the weight of their expectant gazes. She began her account, each word measured and deliberate, weaving the threads of her story into a tapestry of urgency and revelation.
She started with her adoption by Ms. Caldwell, the safe harbor that forced her to conceal her Kaelrian heritage, a secret that had shadowed her every move. Then, she delved into the machinations of the SSG and the ominous presence of Mr. Rudbick. Her voice faltered momentarily as she recounted her fateful meeting with Nyala and the discovery of the green Rhemonics.
Tessa pressed on, describing her alliance with Ikehara and the chilling possession by Ashley Duve, whose cunning deception had left scars deeper than any battle. She spoke of the SSG bases reduced to rubble, the awakening of Rhemon, and the ensuing famine and war that engulfed Earth like a suffocating shroud.
Her tone darkened as she mentioned the whispers of a forbidden-level deity, a looming threat that defied comprehension. Adrian's precarious situation weighed heavily in her words, his survival hanging by a fragile thread. Then there were Rhemon's schemes, intricate and relentless, and the unthinkable lengths to which Ikehara had gone to resurrect a madman bent on chaos.
Each detail carried the weight of dire stakes, her voice steady yet laced with an undercurrent of urgency. When Tessa fell silent, the room was heavy with the enormity of what she had shared. The stakes had never been higher, and the gravity of her words lingered like an unspoken challenge.
As she spoke, the room seemed to dim, the shimmering moonlight casting shadows that danced across the walls. The weight of the revelation hung in the air like a storm cloud, and though they listened intently, none of them could shake the feeling that the worst was yet to come.