Spellbound by a Moonlit Heir

Elsewhere, in the heart of the Vile Tower…

Caveen stood before a tall canvas.

His hands were stained with paint, his shirt unbuttoned, and the entire room littered with torn sketches and broken brushes. The painting before him—still unfinished—showed a woman with silver hair, eyes closed, as if trapped in memory.

He hadn't touched it for weeks. But today, something stirred in him.

He stared at it. His hand clenched.

Why?

Why today did he feel something shift inside him?

A whisper of something lost… or hidden?

He turned from the painting, stepping out to the balcony. The air tasted strange—sharp, urgent.

Something was wrong.

---

Back at Ravenshade…

Lysandra entered the strategy chamber, where Seraphine sat beside Alaric, reviewing scrolls and maps. Carlos stood near the window, brooding, arms crossed.

"She's gone," Lysandra said, her voice firm but low. "Lady Maika has taken Elara to Landon Estate. She's safe now."

Carlos turned slowly. "Are you alright?"

"No," Lysandra admitted, "but this was necessary."

Alaric stood. "Good. Now we can move without fear of retaliation through her."

Lysandra nodded, but her gaze hardened. "This ends with the Council's downfall. No more hiding. No more running."

Seraphine met her gaze. "Then we gather our pieces. Quietly. While they believe we're grieving and broken, we build."

Carlos stepped forward. "And if Caveen finds out?"

Lysandra looked down at her hands, then out the window where the sunlight now kissed the empty garden.

"He won't," she said softly. "Not yet."

But deep in her chest, the seal she had placed on Elara's aura pulsed once—faintly.

And far away, Caveen's heart stirred.

----

The grand gates creaked open as the carriage rolled in, its velvet-lined wheels gliding smoothly over the cobbled path. Guards gave a respectful bow at the crest-emblazoned door before stepping aside.

Inside the carriage, Maika glanced down at the child nestled peacefully against her. Elara had fallen asleep with her thumb tucked beneath her chin, her dark lashes fluttering every now and then in dreams.

Maika's heart felt heavy and fierce all at once.

The weight of what she carried—the truth, the bloodline, the future—it was enough to still the wind.

As the carriage stopped, Maika stepped down carefully, cradling Elara in her arms. She walked toward the arched doorway, and as if fate had aligned the stars just right, the first person to meet her gaze—

—was Carl.

He had been coming down the hallway from the war room, dressed in his formal black coat, his silver crest glinting on his shoulder. His steps halted the moment he saw Maika.

And then he saw the child.

The air thickened.

Carl's breath caught in his throat. Time stilled.

Elara stirred in Maika's arms, yawning softly and peeking out with sleep-hazed eyes.

Carl's eyes widened. His hand trembled at his side.

"Elara," Maika said gently, "say hello to Grandpapa Carl."

The child blinked, confused for a moment, then offered a shy little wave. "Hello…"

Carl's heart thudded wildly in his chest.

It was like looking at Caveen as a child all over again—same storm-gray eyes, same soft mouth, same silver strands curling at the nape of her neck. He staggered slightly, catching himself on the stone wall.

"I… Maika…" he whispered, still staring at the child. "Who…?"

Maika stepped closer, the warmth of Elara's tiny body cradled against her. "She is who you think she is, Carl," she said, voice low, laced with both truth and urgency.

"She's Caveen's daughter."

Carl's lips parted, but no words came.

Maika stepped into the hallway with him, beckoning one of the guards to lead them to the drawing room. Once inside, the doors shut with a dull thud behind them.

Carl paced.

"Why was I not told?" he snapped, his voice tight, nearly breaking. "Why was Caveen not told?"

Maika laid Elara gently on the couch. The child had already dozed off again, unaffected by the storm she had unknowingly brought into the estate.

"Because Lysandra feared what the Council might do," Maika replied calmly. "And because she feared what Caveen might do when he learned the truth."

Carl's eyes darkened. "Does he not deserve to know he has a daughter?"

"He does. And he will. But not yet." Maika's gaze held firm. "Lysandra wants to tell him herself. When she's ready."

Carl sank into the nearest chair, his hands gripping the armrests so tightly his knuckles turned white. "My son… has been alone all this time, thinking he's lost everything."

"And he nearly did," Maika said softly. "But this child… she is hope."

Carl glanced toward Elara. The child slept soundly, a slight frown on her brow, just like Caveen used to wear when he was young and dreaming.

"She is special," Maika continued. "She carries not only Caveen's blood but Lysandra's… and much more. The Council already tried once to abduct her. It cost Kylan his life. It did cost him everything."

Carl's jaw clenched at the mention of the fallen warrior. "Then we protect her," he said hoarsely. "No one lays a hand on her again."

Maika nodded. "That's why I brought her here. The Landon estate is warded, secure, and unknown to most of the Council's inner spies. But Carl—Caveen cannot know, not until Lysandra is ready."

Carl rose to his feet again, pacing like a caged beast. "You're asking me to lie to my own son."

"I'm asking you to buy time," Maika said. "Because if Caveen finds out from anyone else… Lysandra will lose any chance of making peace."

There was silence for a long moment.

Carl walked over to the couch, kneeling slowly before the sleeping child. He brushed a silver curl away from her face with trembling fingers.

"She's beautiful," he whispered. "Just like her mother. But those eyes…" He swallowed hard. "They're his."

Maika approached and placed a hand on Carl's shoulder. "I know it's hard, but this is the right path. Let her grow here, in safety. Let her be a child."

Carl nodded, eyes still locked on Elara. "We will raise her as my niece's daughter. No one will question it." His gaze flicked up to Maika. "And if anyone from the Council comes asking—"

"They'll answer to all of us," Maika finished.