His Forsaken Luna-Chapter 118: Hard Goodbyes

The tension in the air was thick enough to cut with a blade. Eryx stood at my side as usual, his presence a steady, immovable force. He had a way of making himself indispensable, always nearby, always watchful. I wasn’t sure if it was his nature or his role as the Southern Were representative that kept him so close, but whatever the reason, his constant proximity was beginning to cause ripples I couldn’t ignore.

Theo’s gaze burned into me from across the room, and I felt the weight of his jealousy as if it were a physical thing. He hadn’t said anything yet—not outright—but I could see it in the way his jaw tightened whenever Eryx leaned closer to speak to me, the way his fists clenched when Eryx placed a hand on my arm to guide me through a crowded hallway. Theo’s temper had always been a storm just beneath the surface, and now it was threatening to break.

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. This was going to get worse before it got better, and I had no idea how to untangle myself from this. Still, I couldn’t leave things as they were. Theo deserved the truth, even if it was going to hurt.

That evening, I found Theo in his small room. It was modest, sparse even, with only a thin blanket on the bed. I made a note to update the room with better essentials. I’d grown used to Theo sharing my bed or sleeping on the sofa in front of the fireplace.

He looked up when I entered, his expression guarded. "Idalia."

"Theo," I said softly, closing the door behind me. I leaned against it, suddenly feeling the weight of the conversation we were about to have. "We need to talk."

"About him?" he asked, his voice sharp. "About Eryx?"

I winced but nodded. "Yes. And about us." 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Why did it sound like we were breaking up?

Theo’s eyes darkened, and he crossed his arms over his chest. "What about us? I thought we were..." He trailed off, his gaze dropping to the floor. "I thought we were something."

"We are," I said quickly. "But not in the way you think. Theo, you mean so much to me. You’ve been my rock when I needed one, my confidant, my...my friend. But that’s all we can be now."

His head snapped up, his eyes narrowing. "Because of him?"

"Because of everything," I said, my voice firm but not unkind. "I’m leaving for the South soon. I’ve agreed to go to Sun and Fury with Eryx. I’ve accepted being his chosen mate for the peace treaty."

Theo’s face twisted in anger and disbelief. "You’re leaving? Just like that?"

"It’s not ’just like that,’" I said, feeling my own frustration rise. "This is a chance to escape the misery of the North, to build something new, something better. And it’s a chance to secure peace. Don’t you see that?"

"What I see is you throwing everything away," he snapped. "For him. For a treaty. And I’m not talking about me, I mean your freedom, Ida."

My heart pinched at his words. He was a slave, his freedom ripped from him from a young age and here I was with more than him. I could see why he was frustrated.

"It’s not just about Eryx or the treaty," I said, stepping closer to him. "This is about survival, Theo. For all of us. For the North, for the South. And for you."

He frowned, confusion flickering across his face. "What do you mean?"

"I’m still going to help you escape," I said, my voice lowering. "When we get to the South, you can make your choice. Stay there, start a new life, or go wherever you want. But you’ll be free, Theo. Truly free."

He stared at me, his anger fading into something more vulnerable. "And what about us?"

"There can’t be an ’us,’" I said gently but firmly. "Not anymore. Whatever intimacy we’ve shared, it has to stop. Even if I’ve been..." I hesitated, searching for the right words. "Even if I’ve been taking advantage of you during my heat, it’s not fair to either of us to keep this going."

"Taking advantage?" he repeated, his voice laced with disbelief. "You think that’s what this was?"

"I think it was something born out of desperation and circumstance," I said, feeling my chest pinch more with my harsh words. It needed to be done though. "But it’s not sustainable, Theo. And it’s not right. Not when I’ve agreed to be with Eryx."

"So that’s it?" he asked, his voice breaking. "You’re just going to walk away? From us? From me?"

"I’m not walking away," I said, reaching out to touch his arm. "I’m trying to give you a future. One where you’re free to make your own choices, to be whoever you want to be."

He pulled away from my touch, his jaw tightening. "And what if I choose you?"

"You can’t," I said, my voice trembling. "Not like this. Not while I’m tied to Eryx. It would be a betrayal—to him, to the treaty, to everything we’re trying to achieve."

"And what about what we had?" he demanded. "Does that mean nothing to you?"

"It means everything to me," I said, tears pricking at the corners of my eyes. "But it’s not enough to outweigh what’s at stake."

For a long moment, neither of us spoke. The silence stretched between us, heavy and suffocating. Our differences in status had never been more evident.

Finally, Theo turned away, his shoulders slumping in defeat. "I don’t know how to do this," he said quietly. "How to just let you go."

"You’re not letting me go," I said, stepping closer. "You’re letting me do what I have to do. And I’ll always be here for you, Theo. Always."

He didn’t respond, and I knew there was nothing more I could say to make this easier. I’d made my choice, and now he had to make his. But as I left his room and walked back to my own, the weight of that choice pressed down on me like a thousand stones.

The days leading up to our departure were a blur of preparation and tension. Eryx was everywhere, overseeing the arrangements and ensuring everything was in order. His presence was steady, unyielding, and I found myself leaning on him more than I cared to admit.

Theo, on the other hand, was distant. He still performed his duties, still lingered nearby as if he couldn’t quite bring himself to leave my side, but the warmth between us was gone. I missed it more than I was willing to admit, but I knew it was for the best. Clean breaks hurt, but they healed faster.

"You’ve been quiet," Eryx observed one evening as we stood on the balcony overlooking the courtyard. The cool night air was a welcome relief from the stifling tension inside.

"There’s a lot on my mind," I admitted, leaning on the railing. "Leaving the North, the Blood Wraiths, the children, everything."

"You’re doing the right thing," he said, his voice steady. "This is for your safety as well. The Blood Wraiths won’t step foot in Sun and Fury. The land basks in the sun."

"I hope so," I said, my gaze fixed on the distant horizon. "I hope this will help my people. But it doesn’t make leaving any easier."

"It’s never easy," he said, his tone softening. "But you’re stronger than you think, Idalia. You’ll get through this. We both will."

I glanced at him, surprised by the sincerity in his voice. For all his gruffness and formality, there was something deeply reassuring about Eryx. He was a rock, unshakable and steadfast. And for the first time, I felt a glimmer of hope that maybe, just maybe, this arrangement could work.

𓆩:*¨༺✧ ♛ ✧༻¨*:𓆪

The morning of our departure dawned cold and grey. The palace was bustling with activity as servants loaded supplies and prepared the carriages. I stood in the courtyard, watching as the preparations unfolded, my heart heavy with a mix of anticipation and dread.

Theo approached me, his expression unreadable. He held a small bundle in his hands, which he extended toward me.

"What’s this?" I asked, taking it from him.

"Something to remember me by," he said, his voice low. "In case you forget."

I unwrapped the bundle to find a carved wooden figure similar to the one he kept in his room. It was simple but beautiful, the craftsmanship unmistakably his.

"Thank you," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "I won’t forget. I promise." I then held his gaze. "Are you sure you won’t come with?"

I’d set everything up for him, asking Sverre to take him straight to his location from here. Still, I wanted him to come, just for a bit of the journey so I know he is safe going from Sun and Fury. I wasn’t sure if the stories of their barbaric ways were true or not.

The road would be unsafe anyway.

"I’m sure." He nodded, his jaw tight, and stepped back. I wanted to say more, to reassure him, but the words caught in my throat. Instead, I tucked the figure into my cloak and turned to join Eryx.

There were so many questions left unanswered here, but we had to leave, especially before Deyanira returned.

As we climbed into the carriage, I glanced back one last time. Theo stood in the courtyard, his hands clenched at his sides, his eyes fixed on me. It was a look I would carry with me for a long time, a reminder of what I was leaving behind.

The carriage jolted forward, and I forced myself to face ahead. The road to Sun and Fury stretched out before us, uncertain and full of promise. And though my heart ached, I knew I was making the right choice.