THE SEALED MOON

YAL SE

un weeping long before the first drop of blood touched the ground

s as the walls trembled around me; every explosion shook dust from the ceiling

es. When I reached the palace balcony, King Alaric stood motionless, staring down at

had become a battlefield, and royal guards fought

ood beside her husband, her hands gripping the sto

the eastern gate,"

ver left the battlefield below. When he finally

rom inside, we were betr

rcepted letters, the servants who vanished without explanation, and the whispers inside t

lace beneath our feet; stone cra

ed. "They're her

he truth was already written across their faces. Without w

htened children toward hidden passages while wounded soldiers limped past us

. The moment I stepped inside, my heart broke. Little Princess Hailey sat inside

called out with

er daughter; she lifted the child into her arms and

curls again and again. The little princess laughed softly; she was

ly, his large hand gently br

ry," he

sperately. "There has to be

they find her," His voice failed him

distant sounds of battle reminded us that

ure," I suggested, trying to keep my voice

have much ti

ly held Hailey even c

ur Majesty, if we wait any longer, non

g Alaric said, lo

im as if he had asked

rs streaming down her face. "S

u must," King A

; little Hailey reached up with her

, Mama," H

ng had ever shattered my heart the way those three innocent word

so much more than this,"the

miled. "I love

he strongest king was still a father. When h

little wol

hands happily. "W

king's face despite the te

e thing, you are lo

ead; she repeated the last

," she

the nursery walls shook violently, dust drifte

de the palace

on pendant from around his neck and gently placed it into Hailey's

ed out my arms.

p holding her child, to run, to fight, to die together, but

placed Princess Hailey into my arms; the little

a," Hailey

threatening to escape; king Alaric leaned forward

the king

lver cloak around the little princess, hiding her from anyone who might see u

tood side by side, not as rulers, not as legends, simply as two parents p

life for hers." I assured them a

darkness swallowed the hidden passage. I hear

eady to make their final stand, and I praye

cient moonstones embedded in the walls. I held Princess Hailey tight

teel, the roars of wolves, and the screams of dying soldiers. Each sou

he royal moon pendant her father had given her. She had no idea she had just s

moonlight poured through the circular opening high above

ies, and tonight it would witness the disappearance of its last prince

e, but this is the on

guage of the Moon Goddess; power answered immediately, the chamber shook, a

he glowing runes melted into her forehead. "I seal your royal aura." White light

finally settled. The princess of Mooncrest was gone; before me lay nothing more than

the moon chooses its queen, every chain pla

y trace of royalty, then carried her through anot

e palace behind us. I watched from the edge of the forest

the shelter of an ancient oak tree; it was the hardest thing I h

could not stay,

everything the king and queen ha

p it," I said, tears falling freely down my face. Wi

nce so she wouldn't wander off. Patrols from the Dark Wood P

k where I had left her, weak from hunger and exhaust

tor," he c

slowly approached the frightened child a

where is yo

ed her mouth to answer, but nothing came, only tears

e struck the ground as dark

that the princess is safe and Alpha