Chapter 596
After Carlos and Mona finished breakfast, a heavy silence settled between them. Carlos set his coffee aside, finally deciding it was time to address her presence.
“Mona, you shouldn’t have come,” Carlos said with concern. “The palace is on edge as it is. You should have waited for a safer time to visit p>
“Maybe I can help you guys,” Mona countered softly.
Carlos looked at her, his expression skeptical. “You can’t. What do you even know about fighting the dark witch? It isn’t a game, Mona. It’s more dangerous than you can imagine p>
“I know I’m not as powerful as the others, but I can help you bind her,” Mona said confidently. “Even if I can only hold the spell for a few seconds, it could be the window you need. Honestly, I was just worried about you. You left without a second thought for your own safety p>
She took a brief pause as her own eyes reflected the pain Carlos carried in silence. “Grandma passed away so recently, and I was afraid you were pushing yourself too hard. The other witches refused to get involved with the werewolves, but you agreed because of your loyalty to Amelie. I know how heavy the world has felt since you lost your parents. People always come to you for their own selfish reasons, Carlos. If you really want me to go, I’ll go. But I only want to share the weight so you don’t have to carry the entire burden of the moon event alone p>
“Amelie isn’t selfish,” Carlos corrected, his voice hardening with a protective edge.
“She only contacted you after all these years,” Mona pointed out with a skeptical tone. “Grandma told me a little about your history p>
“Then you must also remember that Amelie saved my life a long time ago,” Carlos stated flatly.
Mona lowered her gaze, biting her bottom lip nervously. “I know that. I just meant… She never reached out before until a few months back. Not until she felt no one could give her the answers she needed p>
“She never wanted to drag a sorcerer into the politics of her country,” Carlos said, letting out a dry, short laugh at Mona’s sudden labeling of his friend. “I thought you were a well-wisher of hers p>
“You’re taking me wrong, Carlos. Amelie is sweet, but she called you p>
“At a time when only I could help,” Carlos interrupted, his expression softening as he spoke of Amelie’s past. “She isn’t selfish, Mona. She could have called me when her own life was falling apart. She was abused by her pack; her own mate tried to take her life. She went through hell and never asked me for a single thing until it became a matter of life and death. That is the opposite of selfish p>
Mona’s brow furrowed as the weight of his words sank in. “I’m sorry,” she murmured. “I didn’t realize it was that bad p>
“Fine,” Carlos said, exhaling slowly. “Stay here until the moon event is over. Just promise me you won’t overexert yourself p>
“I won’t. I promise p>
Mona stood up, ready to head back to her quarters, but Carlos stopped her with one final statement.
“I’ve found peace here, Mona,” he clarified with steady eyes. “I won’t be returning to the coven when this is finished p>
Mona gave a small hum of acknowledgment and quietly walked away, leaving him alone with his thoughts.
“Noah seems too happy today!” Zilia remarked with a smile, finishing up the fruit plate for Katelyn.
“Yes, I noticed that too,” Katelyn agreed, pulling Noah a little closer into her lap. She looked down at his bright eyes. “Are you this happy just because I’m feeling better, Noah p>
“Ha! La p>
Noah let out a burst of bubbles and cheerful sounds that seemed to fill the entire room with warmth. Katelyn laughed, leaning in close. “Call me Aunty Kate. Come on, try it for me, Noah,” she said, pouting her lips playfully to show him the movement.
Instead of speaking, Noah scrunched up his face and perfectly imitated her pout, his tiny lips puckered in a mirror of hers.
“Kate, you should finish these fruits. I’ll take care of Noah until then,” Zilia said, scooping the boy into her arms.
Katelyn began to eat, her expression turning thoughtful. “When will Amelie be back? Did she say what time p>
“No,” Zilia replied, shaking her head. “But she’s with the Queen and Casaio at the Moon Temple, so there’s nothing to worry about. She’s in good hands p>
“And Brother Gabriel? Did he say where he was heading?” Katelyn inquired.
“Yes. To Aurevalis to search for the weapon. Nick went along to accompany him,” Zilia answered. As she spoke, she felt a little tug on her shirt. She looked down and saw Noah trying to bring his mouth to the round button on her top.
“No, Noah. That’s not for you,” she scolded gently, pressing her fingers against his tiny lips to stop him. He locked his dreamy blue eyes onto hers for a second, looking caught, before quickly snapping his head the other way to pretend he was looking at something else. Zilia looked at him with an intent gaze, her own yearning building.
’I want to have a baby too,’ she thought.
“When Gabriel was only a month old, I brought him here to the Moon Temple to seek the blessings of the Moon Goddess,” Mabel began, her voice echoing softly against the ancient stone walls. Both Amelie and Casaio remained quiet, drawn in by the sudden weight in her tone. “I wish every day that I hadn’t met Ophelia that morning. And even if I had… I wish I hadn’t been so quick to trust her p>
“Mom, that’s all in the past now,” Casaio said gently, reaching out to settle her. “There’s no use dwelling on it today. Why put yourself through that p>
“I feel overwhelmed that’s why,” Mabel stated.
“It’s strange the dark witch could roam into a temple that freely. It questions it’s very ability,” Casaio murmured.
“I didn’t find Ophelia exactly inside the temple, but outside,” Mabel stated to which he immediately apologized for his comment.
“Amelie, have you met the priest? What did he say?” asked Casaio.
“Umm… I can’t tell you. It’s a secret,” Amelie stated with a smile. “Mother, don’t be too upset over the past. You and Gabriel are going well together now. And that’s what matters p>
Ophelia, who was watching them from the corner, outside the temple had her hands clenched to her sides.
’She looks happy. I wish Alex had succeeded in killing her. That bastard couldn’t do one thing right,’ she thought with a frown. Suddenly, a thought occured in her head and a smirk appeared on her lips.