As my heart sank, the lava began to recede, shrinking its perimeter and retreating on its own. The ominous red moons grew smaller, drifting farther away with each passing second. The sacrifice had worked-the prophecy was fulfilled.
“Let’s go from here,” the Moon Goddess said, her grip tightening around my hand.
“What will happen to the Dark Realm?” God Pyrrhos asked.
“The Almighty will assign it to another deity, appointing a new god of destruction,” Goddess Sylvara informed, and the Moon Goddess nodded in agreement.
With that, we left the Dark Realm, but my eyes lingered on the spot where my mother had made the ultimate sacrifice to save the universe.
I found myself back in the Lunar Realm. The sky had now returned to normal, and the three red moons were nowhere to be seen.
“Selena,” the Moon Goddess said, her voice gentle yet firm. “I now entrust you with the Lunar Realm. It is yours to protect and nurture.”
“But Goddess, how will I do it alone without the High Priestess?” I asked, my heart still aching from the painful realization of my mother’s loss.
“You will do it, and I have faith in you,” she assured me. “Your mother prepared you well. Now, you must trust your instincts.”
With those words, she began to fade, and one by one, God Pyrrhos and Goddess Sylvara also disappeared, returning to their realms.
The next moment, a familiar voice called out, “Selena!”
I turned to find Zander running toward me, worry etched across his face.
“I was so scared when I couldn’t reach you,” he whispered, wrapping me in his arms and holding me tightly against his chest. “Are you alright?” He pulled away slightly, his gaze searching mine.
I nodded, but he must have seen the pain in my eyes because his brows furrowed deeply. “What’s wrong?”
“The world was saved… by the ultimate sacrifice,” I murmured, my lips trembling. His expression shifted to confusion.
“My mother’s sacrifice,” I whispered, my voice breaking. “She saved me… and the world. But I lost her.” Tears spilled freely down my face as a sob tore through me.
Zander pulled me back into his embrace, holding me as though he could shield me from the pain.
“Perhaps… that was destiny,” he murmured softly, his voice soothing, his presence grounding me. His warmth seeped through me, and our mate bond slowly began to heal the wounds deep within my soul.
“Let’s go home,” he said softly.
I pulled away, remembering the Moon Goddess’s words. “No, I can’t. I have to stay here and protect the Lunar Realm.”
He nodded in understanding. “As you wish, my mate,” he said. Then, after a brief pause, he added, “But can I stay here with you? And our son too?”
A warmth spread through my chest at his words. I nodded. “Yes.”
I was the Queen of the Lunar Realm now, and I would change the rules-for my husband and my son.
Suddenly, another thought crossed my mind. “Wait… how did you even get here?”
He must have come through an unauthorized way. The security had been reinforced, made even tighter after his last intrusion into the Lunar Realm-by none other than my mother.
Zander’s lips curled into a soft smile. “I have my ways, mate.”
I could feel the tenderness in his words, the way he was doing everything he could to soothe the ache in my heart.
“By the way, the spell was broken, and now everyone remembers you as you were in the past,” Zander informed me.
I immediately understood how it had happened. With my mother gone and her purpose fulfilled, the spell had unraveled. Perhaps she had lifted it herself before making the ultimate sacrifice. But, with this news, the realization struck me once more-I would never see her again.
“Selena,” Zander’s voice pulled me from my agonizing thoughts. “Your mother wanted you to be safe, and our baby is safe too.” He cupped my face gently, his touch warm and grounding. “We should cherish this life she gave us. She sacrificed hers to keep you and the world alive.”
“May you live a long life.” Her final words echoed in my mind, a bittersweet blessing.
Just then, my second-in-command approached, bowing respectfully. “Goddess, the people of the Lunar Realm are waiting to see you and receive your blessings.”
I wiped the lingering tears from my cheeks, steeling myself. There was no time to grieve. A queen’s life was not her own-it belonged to her people and the realm.
“Prepare for my son’s arrival,” I ordered. “And make arrangements for my husband and son to stay here with me. They will live in the Lunar Realm from now on.”
“As you command, Goddess,” she nodded, bowing before hurrying off to fulfill my command.
Taking a deep breath, I stepped onto the vast balcony of the third floor, the place designated for addressing my people. The moment I emerged, countless eyes turned to me, filled with hope and expectation.
Beside me, Zander held my hand, his grip steady and reassuring. He was my constant, my unwavering support. I met his gaze briefly before turning back to my people.
With a deep breath, I began to speak.