Another Chance for the Luna Queen

Maybe I imagined it, I told myself. It had to be someone else.

But deep down, I knew what I had seen.

And whatever it meant-it couldn't be good.

Alexander POVnoveldrama

"I think it goes without saying that this is very bad," August muttered as he stepped up beside me.

I didn't look at him, my gaze locked on the trembling boarder guard in front of us. He'd given us all the

information he could, but it wasn't enough-not by a long shot. The fear in his eyes told me he had nothing left to offer.

I kept my anger in check, my voice low and cold. "I want the security footage. Then I never want to see your face again."

"Yes, sir,” the man stammered, stumbling backward before turning and bolting into the guard shack.

Only when we were alone did I give August my full attention. "You're right. This is very bad. If Amanda's crossed into the North, we might never find her."

"The king waited too long to announce she was wanted," August said, his jaw tight with frustration. "I get that he wanted to avoid a public scandal, but this is bigger than him now. Too big to keep under wraps."

I nodded grimly. "All we can do now is pool our resources and watch the border. We don't even know for sure if it was Amanda who crossed-and even if it was, there's no telling if she's come back." I exhaled slowly, the weight of the situation settling on my shoulders. "I can't see her lasting long in the Roguelands. She's not built for that kind of life."

August snorted. "She's too spoiled. She wouldn't survive roughing it for long." He paused, then lowered his voice. "So, what do you think she's planning?"

My fists clenched at my sides. "She's using her brother's connections. Whatever she's doing, she's setting the stage for something big."

A chill crawled up my spine as an uneasy feeling coiled in my gut. This has to do with Ella. It always does.

If Amanda Gray thought she was going to drag my wife through more pain, she was dead wrong. She was going to pay for everything she'd done so far. And if she dared to take it any further-

Whatever punishment the king could come up with wouldn't be nearly enough.

The sharp chime of August's phone cut through the tension. He glanced down at the screen, and I watched the color drain from his face.

Great, I thought bitterly. More bad news.

I waited until he finally met my gaze, his hesitation speaking volumes. "What is

it?" I asked, my voice low and tight.

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"You asked me to look into Sabrina," he began cautiously.

The dread in my chest deepened. "Yes?"

"She's been spotted in the capital."

A surge of emotions crashed through me-sadness, anger, confusion, frustration- but none of them clung to me

the way they once would have. Of course, Sabrina's presence couldn't mean anything good. But the heartache she'd once left behind... it didn't cut as deep anymore.

A small, unexpected smile tugged at the corner of my mouth. This must be Ella's influence, I thought. Being with her has dulled the sting of what I went through with Sabrina- at least a little.

"We'll deal with that when we get back," I told August. His confused expression didn't surprise me, but I just shrugged, a flicker of grim amusement in my voice. "What real damage could Sabrina do? Even if she has some devious plan, we won't be blindsided. We'll handle her just like we'll handle Amanda."

Before August could respond, the sharp bang of a door flying open seized both our attention. The guard rushed toward us, breathless and pale, clutching a thumb drive like his life depended on it.

That's right, I thought, focusing my attention back on the real threat. One crisis at a time. Whatever Sabrina's up to can wait-this comes first.