Chapter 8 Seraphina's Secret

Seraphina's POV

I stared at Kael, confused. Was this another one of his jokes?

"How can I convince you?" Kael sighed, looking like he was deep in thought.

"Are you serious, Kael?" I scrutinized him.

"Ah, yes!" Kael pulled something from his pocket. It was a small silver object adorned with intricate and beautiful engravings. "This is a whistle. It's a kind of summoning device. This whistle only works if its owner, the Queen, blows it. That's you, Seraphina." Kael handed the whistle to me.

"You said a summoning device? Summon what?" I took the whistle and examined it closely. It wasn't just any engraving; it was a Latin inscription.

"The... Guardian?" I tried to decipher the complicated Latin text.

"You're right. The Guardian. Only the Guardian can hear the whistle, and only the Luna Queen can blow it."

"So you mean this is to call the Guardian? But who is the Guardian?"

"There are two Guardians. One is an Eternal Beast, a Griffin. He is the Queen's guardian. Don't worry, even though you haven't met him yet, he will instantly know you are his mistress. The second Guardian is the Keeper of the Intermediate Stone. He is responsible for transferring the stone's power to the Queen. I must admit, this Guardian is incredibly handsome."

"Who is this Guardian?"

"Me." Kael smiled, raising his eyebrows.

"I should have known." I looked at him flatly. "Is everything you're saying true?"

"There's only one way to find out." Kael looked at the whistle in my hand.

I figured it wouldn't hurt to try. I blew the whistle, but no sound came out. I tried again, blowing harder, but still nothing.

"HEY!!! Stop blowing it so hard, you're going to make me deaf! Ahh, at times like this, I curse my sharp hearing," Kael said, covering his ears and grimacing. What's wrong with him?

"What's wrong with you? This thing is obviously broken. It doesn't make any sound, you know!"

"I guess you didn't listen to my story carefully. The whistle can only be heard by the Guardian."

I winced in embarrassment, realizing my own mistake. Suddenly, I saw something flying in the sky.

What is that? The creature landed in front of me and immediately bowed. I was shocked by what I saw. Could this be real?

"That is Griffin. Your eternal guardian. And he is the one who saved you when you were in that special room."

"But how is that possible? I didn't even call him then. How did he know I... wait, wasn't I supposed to have died from that arrow?"

"Griffin can sense when your life is in danger. You weren't dead yet at that time. The Moon Goddess entrusted Griffin to restore your life. You might not know this, but you have a strong bond with him. Griffin is your eternal guardian; when you're in danger, his instincts can track you. It's that kind of bond."

What Kael said was true. When Seraphina was in that special room, Griffin took her to meet the Moon Goddess. Because her destiny as Luna Queen was yet to be fulfilled, the Moon Goddess restored Seraphina's life, with the condition that her body first had to be submerged in the sacred pool.

"What about you? You said you're also a guardian, right? Do you have a bond like that with me too?"

"Oh, how will I survive this? Even my charm can conquer the Queen?" Kael looked at me with his strange smile, raising and lowering his eyebrows.

"Suddenly, I regret asking you that." Kael laughed at my response.

How can there be someone like him? Even in a serious moment, he can still joke around?

"We do have a bond, Seraphina. I can only sense when your life is in danger. But even so, I can't track you when you're in peril. Only Griffin can do that. That night, I tried to find you, deploying all my warriors. In the middle of the search, Griffin came to me carrying you. I immediately brought you to my pack. The doctor said you had been pierced by an arrow. I was really worried then." Kael looked ahead, lost in thought.

I imagined my condition at that time. Again. Every time I recalled all of it, I felt a tightness in my chest. It was as if no oxygen could enter my lungs.

"Kael..." Kael looked at me silently. "I don't think I can be the Luna Queen." I lowered my head, feeling regret.

"What?! Listen. You didn't choose to be the Queen, Sera. But this is your destiny. You can't avoid it." Kael placed his hands on my shoulders and tried to look into my eyes.

"I'm sorry, Kael, I can't do it." Rex, sensing my words, nuzzled my chest softly as if to whine.

"But why?" Kael looked at me, confused.

"Kael..." I sighed. I tried to gather my strength to say this. "That night, I was truly desperate and accepted my death." Kael was shocked by my statement.

All those memories resurfaced. I tried my best to hide my emotions from Kael. I didn't want him to see me as pathetic.

"My mate tried to reject me and be with another girl. Didn't you say it yourself? A Luna Queen needs her mate to control her power; otherwise, the consequences would be disastrous. How can I be a Queen when my mate doesn't even want me?" It felt like there was something stuck in my throat.

All memories of Evander felt so bitter. Kael turned his gaze forward. The muscles in his neck tightened, and his expression turned menacing. I saw a glint of gold in his eyes.

He was clearly holding back his anger. Was it because of my story? Honestly, this was the first time I saw Kael like this; he looked terrifying. I missed the annoying Kael.

"Kael..."

"We'll make him regret it." Kael looked at me, instantly changing his expression. He wore that strange smile again. One thing I realized now, Kael was good at hiding his emotions.

"What do you mean?" I looked at him, puzzled.

"We'll make a plan so you can be with your mate again."

"What?! You want me to beg for his love again?! I refuse! I'm completely sick of dealing with him!" Just the thought of it made me feel disgusted with myself.

For years, I begged for his love, and after my heart was shattered by him, Kael now wants me to beg again?! I'd rather die!

"Do you think I'd let you chase after him? Hah?! You are the Queen, Sera! Let him be the one to beg for you. That's how it should be."

"Regardless of who chases whom, in the end, you want me to be with him, right?!" I looked at Kael, filled with emotion.

I can't do this. Evander. I hate him too much. It's too painful to be with him and remember all the wounds.

"I know I might seem cruel saying this, but please give your past a chance, Sera. The fate of my pack is in your hands. The Intermediate Stone needs its owner, and you're the one. If the stone isn't claimed by the right time, it will destroy my entire pack, and all my people could die."

"What do you mean?"

"You know the stone is in my pack now. Specifically, at the core of my pack, a place only I can go. In six days, a big day is coming for you, Sera. You can't avoid it. You haven't been able to shift all this time, right? In six days, you'll get your shift. When the entire solar system aligns. That day marks the death and rebirth of the Queen. If the Intermediate Stone isn't claimed by its owner on that day, my whole pack will be destroyed, and we will all die."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. To me, everything Kael said sounded like a crazy destiny. I knew I couldn't be selfish and only think about my feelings. I was truly conflicted now.

"I think I've told too many stories tonight. Go back to your room, Seraphina. You still need plenty of rest. And please, think everything over carefully. Good night, Queen."

Kael left me. I looked at Rex, hoping to find an answer. Rex nuzzled his head against my stomach, and it tickled a bit. I gently stroked his head, and he purred like a cat.

"What should I do now, Rex? Should I go back to Evan?" Rex looked at me and nodded with a purring sound. I sighed heavily. So this is my fate? So complicated and confusing.