Chapter 201
Lirian answered, his voice steady as he spoke.
On the other end, a council worker’s grave tone filled the air.
“Ryan has escaped,” the worker announced.
“He took advantage of the chaos caused by the raids to break out of prison. We suspect he might retaliate. Please, be cautious.”
My heart sank.
A chill coursed through me as I exchanged a wary glance with Lirian..
Ryan’s cooperative attitude during his confession had seemed genuine.
I hadn’t imagined he’d plot an escape.
What did he want now?
Before I could dwell on the implications, my bag vibrated faintly, but I ignored it.
I had silenced my phone earlier, missing the string of frantic calls and messages that had accumulated.
Somewhere in the distance, Ryan, dressed in nothing but his thin prison uniform, trudged through the cold streets, chasing after me with single–minded determination.
Suddenly, Lirian stiffened beside me, his body taut like a predator sensing danger.
Without warning, he grabbed my waist and pulled me sharply to the side.
A gleaming blade cut through the air where I’d stood moments earlier.
A man stepped from the shadows, his face twisted with rage.
froze when I saw the familiar face.
He was the deputy who had run away from Ryan during the war!
You!” he snarled, his voice carrying an edge of mania.
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ears of your meddling ruined everything. We could have ruled the underground by now!”
Lirian’s eyes narrowed, his grip on me protective yet unyielding.
“And you thought attacking us would solve that?” he countered, his tone laced with icy disdain.
The man was not alone.
Figures emerged from the dark, surrounding us with practiced ease,
They were armed and clearly prepared.
Lirian pushed me behind him, his body a solid wall of protection.
Despite his skill, the odds were stacked against us, and the fight escalated quickly.
Then, like a bolt of lightning, Ryan appeared.
His presence was both shocking and surreal.
He launched himself into the fray, fighting with a desperation that seemed to surpass his injuries
and exhaustion.
The chaos was a blur of movement, shouts, and the clash of weapons.
In a harrowing moment, Ryan threw himself in front of me, absorbing a savage blow meant to strike
me down.
The impact sent him sprawling to the ground, blood pooling beneath him.
“Ryan!” I cried, rushing to his side.
His face was pale, and his breaths came
shallow, uneven gasps.
Lirian, having subdued the attackers, knelt beside us.
His frown deepened as he assessed Ryan’s condition.
Without a word, he stepped away to call for help, leaving me with Ryan.
The world seemed to slow.
Everything faded except for the man before me, broken and bleeding, yet looking softness that defied the situation.
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Luna: A Heart Claimed, A Soul Rebarn
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I never meant to hurt you like I did.” Ryan whispered, his voice trembling and weak.
His eyes searched mine, clouded with pain but glimmering with something almost like peace.
“You… deserve better than all this. Always did.”
I struggled to process his words, my emotions a tangled web of anger, pity, and disbelief.
“Ryan, why? Why did you throw yourself into this? Why risk everything for me after all you’ve done?”
He chuckled faintly, a sound that was more a rasp than laughter.
Because… you’re the only thing I’ve ever truly cared about. Even in the worst moments, it was always you.”
I shook my head, tears prickling at the corners of my eyes.
“Caring about someone doesn’t mean destroying them, Ryan. What you did… it’s unforgivable.”
“I know,” he admitted, his voice barely audible. “But maybe… maybe I can do one good thing before it’s over.”
stared at him, the weight of his words pressing down on me.
Despite everything he had done, he had chosen to shield me, to fight for me in a way he never had before.
It didn’t erase the past, but it left me conflicted in a way I hadn’t expected.
Lirian returned, his expression grave yet calm.
“Help is on the way,” he said softly. He met my gaze and gave a subtle nod, as if to say he understood the turmoil I was feeling.
Ryan’s breathing grew shallower, and his eyelids fluttered. “Sophia..” he murmured.
“Promise me… you’ll live your life. Be happy. Don’t… don’t let the darkness take you.”
4bit my heart heavy. “I promise,” I said, my voice breaking. But you need to hold on. Help is
Comp. I
Ryan shook his head weakly, his bloodstained hand shoving something cold and hard into mine.
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flooked down at the thing in my hand–it was the ring I had thrown into the frozen lake and he had. fished out.
The Alpiba’s Saddistinate Luna: A Heart Claimed. A Soul Reborn
