Hunted Hybrid Aegis War Saga 1 novel Chapter 178

Chapter 178

Luna Aelira POV

Earth

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35

Stormclaw Keep

The portal blazed like a vertical river of moonlight as the first boots hit the stone floor of Stormclaw Keep. I stood tall beside Draven, spine straight, voice firm, because they needed a leader right now. Not a grieving mother. Not a broken woman.

We didn’t have that luxury anymore.

“Form up by squad!” Draven’s voice boomed across the hall. “If you’re not assigned, get to the war room! Medics, split to both wings. And for the love of the goddess, someone get food prepared!”

“Priority evac for Duskwell survivors begins in eight hours!” I shouted as soldiers, wolves, and mages swarmed the Keep. “If you’re not ready to kill or die for them, step aside now. This is war, not a show.”

Halrik’s massive frame moved through the crowd like a freight train, barking orders with that damn bear growl of his. Nira followed just behind him, already organizing cots and meals with surgical precision. Queen of logistics, that one. I didn’t know what I’d do without her.

“You’ve got overflow coming in hot, Luna,” Nira called across the corridor. “I’ve opened the cellar rooms and converted the east hall into temporary housing. We’ll make it work.”

“Of course we will,” I murmured, mostly to myself. “We always do.”

When the last fae born warrior stepped through the portal and saluted, Draven raised both hands and turned to the gathered crowd.

“My people,” he said, his voice like thunder in the bones. “The Fae Realm has given us sanctuary. Dragons, fae, mages, shifters and humans alike…they’ve offered to train us, protect us, stand beside us. But this is no vacation.”

He looked at me, and I stepped forward, gaze sweeping over the crowd.

“If you walk through that portal to the dragonlands,” I said, my voice low but fierce, “understand this…. betrayal is death. There are no second chances. There are no secret deals. The dragons do not tolerate traitors, and neither do we.”

I let it hang there for a moment.

“The dragons will eat you,‘ I added flatly. “Literally. With their teeth. So if your loyalty wavers….stay the fuck here.”

That got a few chuckles. The kind of laughter that’s half tension, half fear. Good. They needed to feel both.

Draven gave a nod. “We move at dawn. Until then, rest, eat, check in with your squad captains. And pray if that’s your thing. War waits for

no one.”

As the crowd broke apart, I felt his hand brush mine. Just enough contact to tether me. I looked up, met those sharp stormcloud eyes, and

nodded.

“Let’s go,” I whispered. “Before I scream into the void.”

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20:12 Sat, Oct 18

Chapter 178

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Our chambers were quiet, the fire lit low. My armor sat abandoned on the bench by the wall. I hadn’t even removed the pins from my

braids.

Draven sat heavily on the edge of the bed and rubbed his face with both hands. “Gods, Aelira. I thought I’d buried them both.”

I sat beside him, curling my legs beneath me. “You and me both.”

He looked over at me, his eyes rimmed red. “Soria… she’s risking everything.”

“She always was the braver one,” I whispered, lips trembling.

“She wasn’t born brave,” he said. “She became brave. Elowen taught her that. You taught her that.”

I shook my head. “I taught her how to sew and lie to fae emissaries. You taught her to fight.”

He reached out and ran a calloused thumb across my cheek. “You taught her how to stand back up.”

I folded into him then, letting his arms wrap around me like they had a thousand times before.

“Do you think she’s alone?” I whispered.

“I hope not,” he murmured. “She’s too far in to do this without backup. Maybe… maybe she has someone in her corner.”

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