Chapter 86
“Not at all,” she says.
I loop my arm through his as we walk to the same spot I and he were in. My fingers tighten slightly around his arm before I can
stop myself.
“I just want to know where your head’s at, Mason,” I say.
The look on his face breaks my heart. It hits instantly, sharp and familiar, like something I never really got over.
“I don’t want to say it out loud. It makes me feel like I’m betraying Aria,” he says softly.
“Give me your hands,” I say, holding mine out.
He gives me his hands, and I read through his thoughts. All of them.
When I’m done, tears stream down my face. I don’t even try to stop them this time.
He wipes my tears, and I see Cole making his way toward me.
“I’m fine, my king,” I link to him.
He growls but stops walking.
“I never knew that was how you felt all this time,” I say, voice cracking.
“I loved you, sunflower, from the first moment I laid eyes on you. And as we got older, it only increased the more time I spent around you. My main goal was seeing a smile on your face. I’m not going to lie about my feelings right now. I’m happy I found my mate; she’s perfect, but she isn’t you, Lyric,” he says softly.
My heart pounds in my chest at his words. Hard. Loud. Like it’s trying to remind me of something I buried.
“You love him still,” Nova says softly.
I block her out. Too fast. Too hard. Like I don’t even want to hear it out loud.
“I hate Summer more than I care to admit. You were mine, and I never even got to fully experience a mate bond with you. When you found out I was your mate, it brought pain, heartache, and fear. She stole that moment of happiness from us,” he says, tears streaming down his cheeks.
I step into his arms and hug him. For a second, everything else fades-just like it used to.
“I’m so sorry, I thought I was ready for this conversation, but I’m not,” I say.
2141
مل.
|||
O
<
1/3
Chapter 86
I turn and give Nova control.
“Change our appearance, Nova,” I say, and we shift.
Then we run into the woods.
ร
“What the hell is happening right now?” I ask Nova.
“You love him, and even though you’re both mated, you still love each other and never really got closure or clarity/about those feelings. You were just pushed into new bonds,” she explains.
1 block Cole so he can’t feel or sense me. The moment I do it, something twists in my chest-but I don’t stop.
I need a minute.
About five minutes later, we end up by the lake. Nova lies by the water, and I hear paws.
I recognize the scents-it’s Winter and Iris.
They lie next to me, one on each side, and nuzzle my neck.
“Shift back so we can talk,” Winter says.
I shift back, and they do too.
Winter opens her bag and hands Iris and me each a sundress.
“Talk to us,” Winter urges as we all sit by the water.
“I love him, Winter. He was taken from me, and I hate that he was,” I cry out. My voice breaks open, raw in a way I haven’t let it be
in a long time.
“I loved him my whole life, and he was my mate. I had to reject him. All I wanted was him. He meant everything to me once, and I had to push him away to survive. When I finally got him back, I had to push him away again. And I love Cole. I loved him before we were mated, which is why I was so conflicted about Mason and my destiny before,” I cry.
“I feel so guilty for feeling this way,” I say through sobs. My hands curl into my dress, gripping the fabric tight.
“Hey, don’t feel guilty. Everyone understands what you went through,” Winter says.
“Cole is hurt-you blocked him-and Mason’s a wreck. The guys are trying to calm him, and Aria’s hurting because she thinks Mason will reject her for you,” Winter explains.
My head snaps up. “No, he would never do that,” I say. Too fast. Too certain. Like I need that to be true.
“Iris, can you link Elias and tell him to tell Aria where we are and have her come here? I need to explain everything to her,” I
2/3
12:39 Thu, Jul 2 tt ))
Chapter 86
request.
$
Comments
C Christine Meier
4 Comments >
I see bad things coming with all of these 4… the twins and their mates as king and Prince. Lots of cracks to slither in. Take 1 twin, make the other dance.
7 days ago
5
SHARE
凸2
3/3
The Lunar Queen
Ruby Walker is a rising voice in the world of romance and spicy fiction. With a gift for weaving deep emotions, sizzling chemistry, and unexpected twists, her stories are a blend of passion and drama that captivate readers from start to finish. Ruby’s writing style is bold and irresistible—perfect for those who crave intense, addictive love stories.

Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: The Lunar Queen (Lyric and Mason)