Chapter 53

I Am The Luna by Moonlight Muse Chapter 53

An Explanation

ZAIA. “Well goodnight, Ms Toussaint. I am thoroughly impressed with how far you have come. Oh,

and…” Alpha Robert leans forward. “I hope you are recovering well.”

“Thank you, I’m fine,” I say, touching my shoulder lightly. It’s obvious no one wanted to openly mention

me being shot; not wanting it to take away from the celebration at hand.

knowing that despite surviving and experiencing that, it means someone did try to kill me. I also know

that it made people think highly of me; the whispers I have heard occasionally proved that.

“That is excellent to hear. You are a hero and so brave.” He walks away and Atticus approaches, hands

in his pockets.

The expression on his face clearly shows he is a man on a mission. “Not now Atticus, I’m heading

back,” I say quietly. The night is over, and I just want to return home to my family.

Dad said he had things to deal with and I’m sure he means the mother-daughter duo that left earlier. He

is leaving now too, and most people have retreated. Some of the pack members remain and the staff

will soon clean up.

“Zaia, I need to talk to you, Now.” His words are sharp, and he suddenly grabs my good arm, pulling

me towards his car.

“Atticus!” I’m about to shout for him to unhand me when his hand clamps over my mouth, stopping me

and an arm wraps around my waist. He glances around before pulling me into the shadows.

“Stop struggling. If you are smart, Zaia… don’t cause a scene…what you did tonight was incredibly

stupid,” he whispers, his lips.

brushing my ear.

My eyes flash and I’m about to hit him with my head when I pause. My heart is still thumping violently

but I’m more curious about why he has been off all night and he had said he wanted to talk to me. Does

he know something?

When he realises, I am calm and won’t fight him any longer, he slowly releases me. “What is it?” I ask,

glaring at him. “Do not manhandle me next time.”

His gaze falls to my necklace before he shakes his head. “Really Zaia? You aren’t even listening.”

“Then tell me what it is?” I reply, exasperated. “Let’s get out of here.”

I’m not going anywhere with anyone…

“No.”

“Zaia. Not here.” He mutters, glancing around. “Trust me… not out here…”

“Then at my home. We’ll talk at my mansion.” I state, just as my guards hurry into view and I step out of

the shadows before someone raises the alarm.

“Ms Zaia…” Leon, one of the guards, says in relief when he sees me. He’s one of the new ones since

we lost the previous ones. Dad had assigned some more of his trusted men. Their bodies falling so

easily as they were shot down is something that still gives me the chills. Oh, how easy it is to end a

human life…

“We will take you home, Ma’am,” Neil, another guard says. I glance at Aleric. “I’ll meet you at my

mansion,” I say swiftly.

He frowns, but nods. “Very well.” The guards exchange a look before nodding and escorting me to my

car. With everything going on, I can’t trust anyone, not even Atticus, and with the way he’s behaving it’s

making me even more suspicious.

The journey back is fast and uneventful, but I don’t miss the way those who accompany me are on

edge the entire way. Alert and ready for anything to happen. When we are at the mansion, the car is

searched before we are allowed through the gates.

It’s only a few moments before Atticus’s car drives in and he gets out, walking over to where I stand on

the front steps. “Can we talk somewhere private?” He asks.

I nod before I motion him inside and lead him to the drawing room. Two guards flank us when I stop

them at the door. “We’ll be ok,” I say.

“Then we will be right outside,” Leon says firmly. I nod. “Thank you.” I close the door behind me,

motioning him to take a seat.

He shakes his head, refusing me before he shoves his hands into his pocket and exhales. “May I ask

why you are wearing that symbol?”

he asks. I cock a brow. “Does it mean something to you?” I counter. He looks down, clenching his jaw

before his eyes meet mine before he speaks. “I know of it…

and I assume you do too…”

I watch him. Nothing is surprising me anymore. “The Blood Born. I am one, and someone wants me

gone.” I state as if it’s the most ordinary thing to say. I cross my arms, ignoring the twinge in my

shoulder.

His frown deepens before he walks over to me and, bending down, pulls up his trouser hem and pulls

his sock down. My gaze falls to a symbol that is almost identical to my birthmark I’m stunned, how…

how is that possible? 2

“And so am I.” He says, making my eyes widen. “You got shot, Zaia. You could have been killed if they

wanted you dead. Have you forgotten?” 4

His eyes go to my shoulder. I had wrapped it in a skin-coloured wrap to blend in with my skin. He sighs

and I look down. “You need to be careful. Tonight was like you were challenging them.”

That is the aim…

I had a moment when I wondered if Atticus was somehow involved, but this is not what I was

expecting…

He fixes his sock and stands up, frowning deeply. “Zaia… I saw your symbol years ago, but it was

obvious neither you nor your family knew what it meant and I know the Sable Triquetra needs you and

we can’t let that happen.”

The Sable Triquetra?

What is that?

“What are you going on about, Atticus?” I ask sharply. He runs his fingers through his styled hair,

messing it up as he looks at me, “I was told by my father before he passed away that you are the final

piece of the puzzle to complete the Triquetra and that I must protect you at all costs to determine you

chose the Sublime Triquetra. I tried… and everything was going perfectly fine since you left Sebastian,

but tonight? By wearing that symbol, what did you think would happen?”

I frown, trying to make sense of it all. It’s too much to digest… too much to understand. I place my hand

on my head, closing my eyes. “I wanted answers and it seems like I got a few. What do you mean by

the Sable and Sublime Triquetra?” I ask.

“The two forces, one of which will decide the future. The Sable will purge the land of us all… The

Sublime’s aim is to bring our people back to the Goddess. You are the final piece. Whatever you

choose, the path you take will complete one of the Triquetra.” (1

“But I thought each point stood for Redemption, Retribution and Repercussion?”

“The Sublime Triquetra does…. Only one point is the same in each trifecta, Zaia, and that is you

depending on what you choose.” He says quietly.

“Then… what else makes the Sable Triquetra?”

I ask. “Revenge, Rebirth and Retribution.”

“And that means… I am Retribution?” He nods. “Yes, and they want you to deliver the right retribution.

Yet you openly challenged them, showing them that you know what you are,” He says quietly as he

glances towards the window. “You are no longer safe here.”

“I’m not safe anywhere… why do they want me separated from Sebastian? Why hurt him? Does this

mean the Sable Triquetra has the other two beings who complete it?” I ask as the thought fills me with

unease. The look in his eyes tells me the answer before he even speaks.

“Yes.” “And you… the Sublime, who is the third?” He looks down and my heart sinks, so we are still

missing a point…

“I haven’t been able to find them.” He says quietly. Silence falls between us, and my mind is spinning

even more. One thing I do know is that he had so many chances to tell me, but he didn’t.

“Well, I wish you told me earlier so I could have actually been prepared for all of this. You didn’t tell me

anything when you had enough time to do so, Atticus.” I say quietly. “I know, but you had a lot going

on-”

“And still, I could have handled it!I don’t need people making decisions for me, Atticus. Tell me, back

then it was all an act, wasn’t it? Wanting me? I was pregnant with another man’s children, yet you

pretended to want me still… correct? This is all an act, correct?”

“Zaia, listen, yes in the start it was an act, but that changed… I have fallen for you.” I shake my head.

“Whatever, I am sick and tired of the secrets. Please leave.”

“Zaia, you need to-”

an

“I need to do nothing! Goddess! It’s been exhausting night, I just… I just need a break for my sanity. I

will think over everything you have said, but I really just need some rest. I’ll go over everything

tomorrow. Good night, Atticus… Please, leave.” I say, raising my hand as I turn away.

He knew of the Blood Born; he knew so much more, and he didn’t think I should know. How dare he

suddenly just say I’m the final piece? The scary truth is we can destroy or rebuild who we are. I

massage my temples and he sighs softly.

“I tried to do the right thing, Zaia… I didn’t know what to expect… I never wanted you hurt.” He says

quietly.

I don’t reply and he sucks in a breath, and I hear him head to the door. “Good night.” He says quietly. I

don’t reply.

The door opens and I close my eyes as it shuts with a small snap. I drop onto the sofa, gripping the

edges as I hang my head. Atticus has an almost identical birthmark. There are three points. The

Sublime Triquetra…

Repercussion, Retribution and Redemption. The Sable Triquetra…

Revenge, Retribution and Rebirth

Trifecta needed to purge the world. I am the final point…

I have a brother with a matching birthmark that they took…

So he’s part of the Sable Triquetra? Goddess knows if he is ok.

Mom’s secret…

Atticus’s secret…

Annalise’s secret regarding where she was for the three years after she disappeared…

Annalise’s pregnancy…

I take a deep, steadying breath, but I’m feeling dizzy. So many questions, so few answers…

I can’t do it tonight.

Tonight, I just need a moment to clear my head. I stagger to my feet, feeling the ground move, and I

lurch forward. I grab out blindly, hitting my knee on the table before I drop onto the sofa, clutching my

head.

Breathe Zaia…

You are stronger than this….

Breathe…

Suddenly, the door bursts open, and I look up, my entire vision spinning. “Zaia! Come quick! It’s

Valerie!”