Chapter 49 – The Heart of the Hunter
The full moon hung like a silver sentinel over Luna Café, casting its glow across the quiet streets of the Southern Region. Its light shimmered on rooftops and trees, stretching shadows that swayed gently in the night breeze. Inside, the café thrummed with a strange mix of normalcy and anticipation.
Upstairs, the council hall had begun to fill. Lunas from distant territories gathered with their children, their voices soft as they exchanged whispers beneath the warm glow of candlelight. Polished tables reflected the flicker of lanterns, illuminating the women whose decisions carried the weight of the Southern Region. Legacy rested heavy on their shoulders as they brushed hands across scrolls, ledgers, and silver trays.
Amber moved among them, radiant as ever. She guided children with a gentle hand, checked preparations, and offered quiet smiles to the visiting Lunas. Her laughter drifted through the hall like sunlight breaking glass, warm and bright against the shadows. The Alphas of Crimson Hills, Emberwood, Blackpine, and Silverstream lingered nearby. Commanding in presence, yet respectful, they knew this gathering was not theirs to lead.
Her eyes lit up watching the children play, her heart swelling at the sight of her Luna family together. For a fleeting moment, it felt perfect—normal—like a breath of peace in a world too often scarred by chaos and blood.
Unseen, Ashrav lingered beyond the lantern light, hidden in the folds of shadow. His muscles coiled, senses sharp, every movement of hers pulling at him. Each smile, each laugh, every gesture reached him like a melody he had no right to hear. He hated it.
"Damn... why?" he whispered under his breath, wonder creeping into his voice. "She's my calling."
But then he reminded himself, bitter and cold: The Ember Council is approaching. Lady Serapha, Seer Malrik, Eldric Veynor, and Darius were already on their way from the Southern territories. Tonight was not for killing—not in front of children, not before her people. Tonight was for patience. For waiting. For the perfect moment.
And yet, his instincts screamed: Amber was no ordinary target.
⸻
Amber stepped out onto the balcony, unaware of the eyes that tracked her every move. She breathed deeply, the Southern air cool against her skin, carrying the scents of pine, earth, and distant campfires. She stretched her arms slowly, letting the tension of the North melt away.
"I missed this..." she whispered, eyes closing as if to drink in the peace. The laughter, the lights, the chatter of children—it was a balm on a heart still raw from battles.
She didn't notice the faint rustle in the trees, the subtle shift of shadows, or the storm-gray eyes fixed on her from the darkness.
Ashrav's hand brushed the hilt of his dagger. His body was taut, ready, yet he didn't move. Tonight was not meant for chaos. Tonight was for opportunity.
She is mine, he told himself, though the words felt forbidden. Not for tenderness, not for love—she was his mission.
And yet...
A strangled curse left his lips. Every laugh, every tilt of her head, every look she shared with Zach or the children cut into him. He was trained to kill, bred to silence, honed as a Shadowblade for precision and detachment. And still—he hesitated. Paralyzed by something as human, as ordinary, as her presence.
Why do I... care? His jaw clenched, nerves alive with tension. I am Shadowblade. Duty above all. Love... mercy... warmth... they are weakness.
And yet every time she turned, it felt as though the moon and the sun both bent toward her. A warmth he didn't understand spread through him—a tide too gentle, too dangerous. It terrified him.
Ashrav's gaze flicked down the street stretching toward the territories—Crimson Hills, Emberwood, Blackpine, Silverstream. Veins of land carrying with them the approach of the Ember Council. Closer with every passing breath. But Amber... Amber did not need to know. Not yet.
Inside, she glanced toward the hall. The staff worked gracefully, adjusting candles and trays, preparing the Moon Hall. Her smile softened.
"I forgot how peaceful this feels," she murmured. "Even with everything... this is home."
The words struck Ashrav like a dagger. He stepped forward unconsciously, breath caught, his eyes locked on her. "She is the enemy. My mission. And yet... my heart refuses."
A flicker of movement behind him snapped his focus. Dark silhouettes—agents of the Ember Council—slipped into the perimeter. Still, even their arrival couldn't drag his gaze from Amber.
"She doesn't know I'm here. She has no idea. And that's how it should be..." he whispered.
But even cloaked in shadow, part of him longed to reach for her. Not as prey. Not as a mission. But as something his training had never prepared him for. The Shadowblade executioner, feared by all, had fallen into her spell.
She's mine to guard, his thoughts burned. No kin. No Ember Council. No one touches her. If they dare... they'll regret it.
⸻
Amber finally descended from the balcony, her fingers trailing along the railing. As she stepped into the hall, Zach appeared at her side, hand gentle on her arm.
"Feeling better?" he asked softly, protective as ever.
Amber nodded with a small smile. "Yes... I just needed a breath of home."
"Good. Then rest here. Close the window if the cold creeps in," Zach murmured before pressing a kiss to her forehead.
From the woods, Ashrav's eyes narrowed, his body rigid. Jealousy burned hot and sharp as he watched Zach touch her, kiss her. His hand pressed against his chest, as if to restrain the ache.
"Control yourself," he whispered harshly. "She is only mine to watch. Nothing more. Not tonight. Not while the Ember Council is near."
He slipped deeper into the shadows, the darkness wrapping around him like armor. Every sense sharpened, every muscle ready for what the night would bring.
The moon climbed higher, silver light spilling over rooftops and streets.
The night has only just begun, Ashrav thought, eyes narrowing. And so has the game.
The Ember Council was coming. He knew it. But even as their presence loomed, his focus never wavered. His mission was clear. His target was Amber.
And in his eyes, she was a flame burning against the dark.
A flame he intended to seize.