His Forsaken Luna-Chapter 117: Survivors (2)

It had been days since the attack, and the outskirts of Ulfstad was in shambles. Bloodstains lingered on the cobblestones, and the air was still heavy with the stench of smoke and fear. My people persevered. They were rebuilding—patching up walls, burying their dead, and tending to the wounded. Alaric had given the order for me to remain in the palace, but I couldn’t stand it. Not when the people needed help. Not when I had to face what had happened and what it might mean.

I’d reported to the men about my interaction with the Blood Wraith and how he spoke to me normally. They weren’t brainless. They didn’t act like those infected children.

So what happened with the children? Was it a disease they gave to them?

I’d read through the fairytale book, but it came up short about any infected Blood Wraiths. Very little was known about them, even in this book that had gone into the greatest detail on the smallest of things.

"You cannot go," Alaric had said the night before, his voice like steel. "They know who you are, Idalia. If you step outside these walls, you’re risking everything—your life, our family’s safety, the kingdom."

"And if I do nothing?" I’d countered, my voice shaking with anger. "What kind of ruler hides behind stone walls while her people suffer?"

"Idalia," Eryx had interjected, his tone softer but no less insistent, "this isn’t about hiding. They called your name. They knew who you were. They were interested in you, specifically. That’s not something we can ignore."

I didn’t argue further, but I didn’t agree either. And now, as I walked through the charred remnants of Ulfstad, my boots crunching over broken glass and ash, I couldn’t bring myself to regret my decision. Soren was at my side, his hand never straying far from the hilt of his sword. He didn’t speak, but his presence was grounding, a reminder that I wasn’t entirely alone.

"Your Highness, this way," a villager called, her voice hoarse from smoke inhalation. I followed her to a makeshift shelter where the injured had been gathered. The sight of them—children crying, adults grimacing in pain, and healers rushing between cots—made my heart ache.

I knelt beside a young boy whose arm was wrapped in bloodied bandages. "What’s your name?" I asked softly.

"Joren," he whispered, his eyes wide with fear.

"You’re very brave, Joren," I told him, brushing his matted hair from his forehead. "I’m going to make sure you get through this, okay?"

He nodded, though tears streaked his dirty face. I turned to one of the healers, asking what supplies were needed, and spent the next several hours fetching water, bandages, and anything else I could find. It wasn’t much, but it felt like something. At least I wasn’t idle.

By the time the sun began to set, I was exhausted. I stood outside the shelter, leaning against a crumbling wall and watching as villagers lit torches to ward off the coming darkness. The memory of that night in the woods flashed through my mind—how silent it had been, how the Blood Wraiths had seemed to melt out of the shadows. And then their voices, raspy and inhuman, calling my name.

Why me?

"Your Highness."

I turned to see Xan standing a few paces away, his expression hesitant. He hadn’t left my side since the attack, though he’d been quieter than usual.

"What is it, Xan?" I asked, straightening.

He looked down at his hands, fidgeting with the edge of his tunic. "I need to tell you something," he said finally. "About that night."

My stomach twisted. "Go on."

He glanced around, ensuring no one was within earshot, then lowered his voice. "They told me to send you into the woods."

I stared at him, uncomprehending. "What?"

Xan? Xan the child I’d seen in my nightmares. Xan the child I’d seen that first time, the phantom child luring me into the woods. Was that him? I tried not to observe too closely. Maybe he would confess more and admit to something important.

"The Blood Wraiths," he clarified, his voice trembling. "Before...before everything happened, a man came to me. He said...he said they’d leave Ulfstad alone if I made sure you went into the woods that evening."

My heart pounded in my chest as I stared at him.

"I didn’t want to!" Xan said quickly, his eyes filling with tears. "But I thought...if it meant keeping everyone safe, I didn’t have a choice. I didn’t think they’d actually—"

"Stop," I said, holding up a hand. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. "You should have told me sooner."

"I’m sorry," he whispered, his voice barely audible.

I wanted to be angry with him, but I couldn’t muster the energy. He was just a boy, caught in something far bigger than either of us could understand.

𓆩:*¨༺✧ ♛ ✧༻¨*:𓆪

The next morning, I found Eryx waiting for me in the courtyard, his arms crossed and his expression unreadable. "You went to Ulfstad," he said flatly. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

"Yes," I replied, meeting his gaze without flinching.

"You’re reckless."

"I’m trying to help," I shot back. "The people need us, Eryx. They need to see that we care, that we’re willing to stand with them."

"And what happens if you get yourself killed?" he demanded. "What happens if they take you?"

I hesitated, but only for a moment. "They won’t."

"You don’t know that," he said, his voice dropping to a low growl. "They called your name, Idalia. They were after you. If they wanted you dead, they could have killed you that night. But they didn’t. Why?"

"I don’t know," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. "But I’m not going to hide because of it. If they’re after me, fine. Let them come. At least I’ll be doing something in the meantime."

Eryx stared at me for a long moment, then sighed heavily. "You’re impossible."

"Thank you," I said, managing a faint smile.

He shook his head, but there was a glimmer of something like admiration in his eyes. "If you insist on this madness, you’ll need better protection. Soren and Kharis can’t be everywhere at once."

"Then come with me," I said without thinking. "You’re the best fighter we have, aren’t you?"

His lips twitched as if he were fighting a smile. "Flattery won’t get you far, Your Highness."

"It wasn’t flattery," I said simply. "It was the truth."

Eryx stood out on that night. He’d managed to attack multiple Blood Wraiths.

Eryx didn’t respond, but later that day, when I returned to Ulfstad, he was there, a silent yet intimidating shadow at my side.

The town was slowly getting back to normal. Most of the buildings were repaired. I’m not even sure what the Blood Wraiths did to cause such damage in the first place. I showed my face, my support and helped where I could. Many were wary of Eryx and his obvious origin, but after a while, they grew used to him and continued with their tasks.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, I found myself standing near the edge of the forest, staring into the darkness. The memory of that night was still fresh, the sounds of fighting and screams echoing in my mind.

"You shouldn’t be here," Eryx said, standing beside me. "Not now, at this time."

We determined that the Blood Wraiths couldn’t walk among the sun which was why I started only going to Ulfstad during the day time. But the North didn’t have much sun anyway, and I wondered if the wraiths could still come out during the day under so much cloud cover.

"Neither should you," I replied, though I was grateful for his presence.

He didn’t respond, and for a while, we stood in silence, watching as the first stars appeared in the sky. Then, faintly, I heard it—a rustling in the trees, too deliberate to be the wind.

"Did you hear that?" I asked, my voice barely audible.

Eryx nodded, his hand moving to the hilt of his sword. "Stay close."

I obeyed, my heart pounding as the rustling grew louder. And then, from the shadows, a figure emerged. It was a man, his clothes torn and bloodstained, his eyes wide with terror.

"They’re coming," he gasped before collapsing at our feet.

Eryx knelt beside him, checking for a pulse. "He’s alive," he said grimly. "But barely."

Before I could respond, another sound reached us—a low growl, inhuman and guttural. My blood ran cold as I turned to see glowing red eyes staring back at us from the darkness.

Eryx growled, his eyes flashing. He rose to his feet, drawing a curved sword. "Run, Idalia."

I didn’t move. "Not without you."

"Idalia—"

"No," I said firmly, drawing the small dagger I’d started carrying since the attack. "We face them together."

Eryx cursed under his breath, and no doubt cursed me out in his language.

The growls grew louder, and more eyes appeared in the shadows. The Blood Wraiths were here. And this time, there would be no running.

That was a lie. Eryx transformed into his wolf and carried me, launching me back to the safety of the palace walls. We don’t know why but they didn’t venture past it. We made it with minimal injuries.