CHAPTER 15
THE NIGHT THE GATES FELL
The gates collapsed at midnight.
Varian's army entered Moonstone.
The palace became a battlefield.
Aldric led the defense.
Elyan protected the eastern wing.
Elena stayed in the great hall, listening through the Moon Voice.
She could hear every movement.
Every command.
Every lie.
Then she heard something unexpected.
Her mother's voice.
Elena.
She froze.
The voice came from beneath the palace.
Aldric arrived.
"What happened?"
"My mother."
He stared at her.
"Where?"
"Beneath us."
They found a hidden chamber.
Inside was Queen Lyra.
Alive.
Weak, but conscious.
Elena dropped to her knees.
"Mother."
Lyra reached for her.
"I knew you would come."
Aldric stood frozen.
For twenty years he had believed her dead.
Now his family stood before him.
Lyra revealed Varian's final plan.
"He doesn't want the throne."
Aldric frowned.
"Then what does he want?"
"The First Stone."
The ancient artifact beneath Moonstone controlled the kingdom's oldest magic.
If Varian reached it, he could destroy the barriers protecting the Wolf Kingdom.
Aldric turned.
"Where is it?"
Lyra pointed toward the throne room.
"He already has the key."
The palace shook.
Varian had entered the chamber.
And he was holding the key.