Reclaiming My Broken Luna (Astrid and Killian) novel Chapter 367

Nova’s POV

The hum of the car engine vibrated through my chest, a soothing constant as the trees blurred past the windows. It had been far too long since our last visit to the Silvermoon Packhouse, but life at Shadowfang had left no room for reunions. Rogue attacks near our borders kept us tethered to home, juggling defenses and strategies.

Today was different. Today, we were finally going back.

I sighed, my gaze drifting to Leira. She was practically bouncing in her seat, her excitement bubbling over. Too young to understand the weight of what brought us here, she only saw this as a long-awaited visit to her best friend.

“Are we there yet, Mama?” she asked, her face pressed against the window, her voice brimming with hope.

“Almost,” I replied, my lips curving into a smile. Her energy was infectious, a bright spot in the constant tension.

She turned to Drystan, her wide eyes sparkling. “Do you think Elara will be happy to see me?”

Drystan, his hands steady on the wheel, glanced at her briefly. “She’s been waiting to see you just as much as you’ve been waiting to see her,” he assured her, his voice calm as always.

As we turned onto the long, tree-lined driveway leading to the Packhouse, Leira let out a gasp of excitement, recognizing the place immediately.

The moment the car stopped and we stepped out, the front door of the Packhouse flew open.

“Elara!” Leira squealed, already sprinting toward the figure racing toward her.

“Leira!” Elara’s laughter rang in the air as they collided in a hug, their giggles blending together.

“I missed you so much!” Leira’s words spilled out in a rush.

“I missed you more!” Elara shot back, grabbing Leira’s hand. “Come on! I have so much to show you!”

And just like that, they were gone, disappearing into the garden. Their joyful laughter echoed behind them, a fleeting reminder of innocence untouched by the looming danger.

Watching them, I couldn’t help but smile. For a moment, the weight pressing on my shoulders felt lighter.

“A good sight, isn’t it?” Astrid’s voice pulled me back to reality. She stood in the doorway, her expression softening when she saw us.

“It’s good to see you,” she said, stepping forward to hug me tightly. “It’s been too long.”

“It really has,” I admitted, returning her embrace. “How are you holding up?”

Astrid’s smile faltered slightly. “It’s been… a lot. But we’re managing. Come inside. Killian’s waiting.”

The room was quiet as we gathered, but the air buzzed with tension. Killian greeted Drystan with a firm handshake, the unspoken understanding between them evident.

“We’ve been hearing about the rogue attacks near your borders,” Killian said, his voice serious. “How bad is it?”

“Bad enough,” Drystan replied, leaning against the table. “They’re organized—far more than they should be. And we’ve uncovered something troubling.”

I nodded, feeling their attention shift to me. “We’ve been piecing together clues about Liora’s past. There are indications she might have had a connection to the rogues before her death.”