Hades' Cursed Luna novel Chapter 73

Hades~

The light switched on, and my former Theta entered the room and froze. He dropped his bag and went down on one knee. "Your... Majesty," he stuttered. "You are here."

I looked him over, her words echoing in my head. "Rook," I murmured.

He raised his eyes to me hesitantly. The fear in them was as clear as day, but beneath it, something much more defiant simmered.

"You do know why I am here?" I asked, my voice monotone, my eyes narrowed.

He swallowed. "I know, Your Majesty."

I took in Rook’s appearance—disheveled, broken, but still standing. Despite everything, he managed to look me in the eye, though barely. His brother lay behind him, kept alive by the hum of machines, a reminder of both his defiance and his failure.

"Do you know the cost of betrayal?" I asked, my voice cutting through the silence. I let the words hang, knowing he felt every bit of their weight.

Rook’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t look away. "I do, Your Majesty." His voice wavered. "I know very well."

I looked over at the bed where Ryder lay, pale and barely moving. The machines he was hooked up to beeped. I stroked his limp hand, watching as Rook’s apprehension grew.

"He is dying," I murmured.

"Yes, Your Majesty," Rook took a step closer.

I reached into my pocket and retrieved the injections. I heard Rook gasp.

It was another 100 ml of Nerexylin. I twirled it on my finger. "I was too merciful the first time." I clenched my jaw.

"Your Majesty..."

"It’s because none of you lost your lives that you would be brazen enough to lay a hand on her again."

"The Luna said..."

"That title does not apply to her," I ground out. "Don’t try and save yourself."

"I apologize, Your Majesty." He moved closer on his knees, eyeing the injection, his eyes wary and desperate. "Please..."

I chuckled dryly. "You know things don’t work that way." I looked back at Ryder. "He will have to pay for your crime."

Rook’s eyes widened. "I am begging you, Your Majesty." Rook’s desperation was palpable, a bitter, broken thing as he moved closer on his knees, his hands trembling as he reached out, pleading.

"Your Majesty," his voice cracked, thick with anguish, "please… I beg you. Ryder is all I have. I’ll do anything—take the injection myself. Double the dose. Triple it if that’s what it takes."

I watched him, his words ringing hollow against the cold stone walls. His body was shaking, and I could see the raw fear that surged beneath the thin veneer of courage he was trying to maintain. Tears streaked down his face, unbidden and unchecked, as he lowered his head to the floor, his fingers brushing the edge of my shoe.

"Your Majesty… he’s innocent in this. Punish me as you see fit, but let Ryder live," he sobbed, his face pressed to the ground. "You were right—I betrayed you. But he… he only followed me out of loyalty. He didn’t deserve any of this." He was trembling now, his eyes becoming rimmed red.

I studied him, my expression impassive, making no move to reach out or soften my gaze. Instead, I glanced back at Ryder, his still form a haunting reminder of their betrayal. "Innocent?" I murmured, almost to myself. "Did you spare her when she was innocent? Did you think twice?"

Rook’s breath hitched, his voice barely a whisper. "It was a mistake. A terrible, terrible mistake. I thought because she was a..."