Avenging Luna
Chapter 155: Ace

Chapter 155: Ace

Chase POV

Damon and I were deep in conversation as we walked through the dimly lit halls of the palace. The earlier meeting with the council still weighed on me, but my thoughts were already drifting back to Leila. Damon, of course, had his usual nonchalant demeanor, throwing in occasional quips that barely registered in my distracted mind.

"You know," Damon said, smirking as he tilted his head to look at me, "for someone who just put the council in their place, you don’t seem all that victorious."

I grunted in response, shaking my head. "It’s not about victory, Damon. I’m tired of their nonsense. Leila and Ash have been through enough. I don’t need them adding to it."

He nodded, his smirk fading into something more serious. "You’re right. They don’t deserve it, and neither do you. But—"

Before Damon could finish, a blur of motion caught my attention. A servant zipped toward us, their rapid approach nearly startling me. The young vampire stopped abruptly, bowing low before extending a slightly crumpled envelope toward me.

"This just arrived, Your Highness," the servant said breathlessly. "It was mailed directly to you."

I took the envelope from his trembling hands, feeling the faint weight of dread settle in my chest. The parchment was old, the edges yellowed, and my name was scrawled across the front in handwriting I hadn’t seen in decades—but recognized instantly. My fingers tightened around the envelope as my stomach twisted.

From him.

Ace.

Memories I had buried long ago came flooding back in an instant. Ace and I had been inseparable once, closer than brothers. We had fought together, laughed together, and built a bond forged in trust and loyalty. But all of that had shattered the day he turned rogue.

I still remembered the sight of him, consumed by bloodlust, his humanity stripped away. I had tried to save him, begged him to fight the darkness clawing at his soul, but it was too late. He had killed my mother, her blood staining his hands, and then vanished into the shadows, leaving a trail of carnage in his wake.

I had hunted him for months after that, desperate to end the nightmare he had become. But he had always stayed one step ahead, as if taunting me. Eventually, he disappeared entirely, and I thought I’d never see him again.

But now, here he was.

"Chase?" Damon’s voice broke through my thoughts. His eyes were sharp, his gaze flickering to the envelope in my hand. "What is it?"

"It’s from Ace," I said, my voice low.

Damon stiffened, his usual ease replaced by wary tension. "Ace? As in that Ace?"

I nodded grimly and tore open the envelope. Inside was a single sheet of paper, the words scrawled hastily but legibly:

I know where they are.

That was it. No signature, no explanation. Just a chilling declaration that made my blood run cold.

"They," I murmured, my mind racing. He was talking about Leila and Ash. He had been hunting them. The pieces started falling into place—the strange presence I’d felt back in town, the fleeting shadows I couldn’t quite catch. It had been Ace all along. Even in his rogue state, he was targeting the people I loved.

"Damon," I said, my voice tight, "he’s after Leila and Ash."

Damon’s expression darkened, his fangs flashing briefly as he snarled. "That bastard. I’ll rip his throat out."

I didn’t respond. My thoughts were already on Leila and Ash. They were in my chambers, safe for now, but Ace was unpredictable. He had lost his humanity, and with it, his sense of reason. I couldn’t let him near them.

Without another word, I zoomed toward my chambers, my movements a blur as panic clawed at my chest. The envelope crumpled in my hand, and my mind was a storm of fear and rage.

When I reached my chambers, I burst through the doors, my eyes immediately scanning the room. Leila was there, curled up on the bed, her breathing soft and even. Ash was nearby, tucked under a blanket, his little hand clutching the edge of the pillow. The sight of them safe and sound eased some of the tension in my chest, but only slightly.

I exhaled sharply, trying to calm the storm inside me, but my clumsiness betrayed me. The force of my entrance startled Leila awake, her eyes fluttering open as she sat up, her expression groggy and confused.

"Chase?" she murmured, her voice laced with concern. "What’s wrong?"

I quickly softened my expression, forcing a reassuring smile. "Nothing, love," I said, my voice as steady as I could make it. "Go back to sleep. Everything’s fine."

She frowned, clearly unconvinced. "You’re lying," she said softly, her eyes searching mine.

My heart twisted at her words. She deserved the truth, but I couldn’t burden her with this—not now, not when she was already dealing with so much. I brushed a hand gently across her cheek, my thumb tracing small circles against her skin.

"I promise," I said, leaning down to press a kiss to her forehead. "You and Ash are safe. I’ll take care of everything."

Her frown deepened, but she nodded reluctantly, sinking back against the pillows. I watched her for a moment, my heart aching with both love and fear. She trusted me to protect her, and I would do whatever it took to keep that promise.

As she drifted back to sleep, I stood by the bed, my gaze shifting to Ash. His tiny chest rose and fell with each breath, and the innocence in his face only fueled my determination. Ace wouldn’t get anywhere near them. Not as long as I had breath in my body.

I stepped out of the room as quietly as I could, closing the door behind me. Damon was waiting in the hall, his expression grim.

"Well?" he asked.

"They’re safe for now," I said, my voice low. "But Ace is playing a dangerous game, and I’m done letting him set the rules."

Damon grinned, a sharp, predatory look in his eyes. "Finally. I’ve been itching for a good hunt."

"This isn’t just a hunt," I said, my tone deadly serious. "This is personal. Ace betrayed me, and now he’s coming after the people I love. He’s not going to stop until I end him."

Damon’s grin faded, replaced by a nod of understanding. "What’s the plan?"

I clenched my fists, the crumpled letter still in my hand. "We find him before he finds us. And when we do, we make sure he never threatens my family again."

Damon’s eyes gleamed with anticipation. "Count me in."

As we moved down the hall, my mind was already racing through possibilities. Ace had always been cunning, even before he turned rogue. He would have anticipated a response, which meant this wouldn’t be easy. But no matter how far he ran, no matter how deep he hid, I would find him.

Because this wasn’t just about protecting Leila and Ash. It was about justice—justice for my mother, for the years of guilt and anger that had consumed me since her death. Ace had taken so much from me, but I would make sure he never took anything—or anyone—else.

This time, I wouldn’t let him slip away.

....

I stood in the doorway of my chambers, watching Leila as she gently stroked Ash’s hair. The moonlight streaming through the window illuminated her face, softening her usual guarded expression. She looked peaceful, though I knew her mind was anything but.

I took a deep breath and stepped inside, my boots barely making a sound against the polished floor. "Leila," I said softly, and her eyes immediately flicked to mine. There was a slight wariness there, but also curiosity.

"Yes?" she asked, her voice calm but tinged with concern.

"I need to ask you for something," I began, my voice low. I stepped closer, kneeling beside the bed so we were at eye level. "My father... He’s been asking for you."

Her brows furrowed, and I could already sense her hesitation. "Chase, I don’t think—"

"I know," I said quickly, cutting her off gently. "I know it’s a lot. But he’s in his final days, Leila, and for some reason, you bring him peace. He says you remind him of Alex."

At the mention of Alex, her jaw tightened, and I could see the conflict warring in her eyes. I reached out, taking her hand in mine. "Please, Leila. It would mean the world to him. He’s... he’s been so lost since my mother passed. I haven’t seen him this happy in years—not until you walked into his life."

Leila looked away, her fingers brushing against Ash’s cheek as if drawing strength from him. "I don’t know if I can handle it, Chase," she admitted. "There’s so much I still don’t understand. Every time he looks at me, it feels like he sees someone else."

"I understand," I said softly, squeezing her hand. "But he knows you’re not Alex. He knows who you are, and he respects that. He just... finds comfort in you. He wants to spend a little more time with you. Please."

She sighed, closing her eyes for a moment before nodding. "Fine. I’ll stay a little longer. For him."

Relief flooded through me, and I pressed a kiss to her knuckles. "Thank you, Leila."

As she stood, I could see the resolve in her posture. She was hesitant, yes, but she wouldn’t let my father down. That was one of the many things I loved about her—her strength, even when she didn’t realize she had it.

I escorted her to my father’s chambers, where he was propped up in bed, his frail form bolstered by an array of pillows. Despite his obvious weakness, there was a light in his eyes that hadn’t been there before.

"Ah, my dear Leila," he said warmly, his voice cracking slightly. "Come, sit with me."

Leila hesitated for a moment before moving to the chair beside his bed. She glanced back at me, and I gave her a small nod before retreating to the door.

As I left, I heard my father’s voice, low and cheerful, as he began regaling her with stories of his youth. I knew she wasn’t entirely comfortable, but I also knew my father had a way of breaking through people’s walls.

While they were with my father, I turned my attention to more pressing matters. Security around the palace had been tightened, and I’d ordered Damon to assist in the hunt for Ace. The rogue vampire was out there somewhere, and the letter he’d sent still burned in the back of my mind.

I paced the hall outside my chambers, my thoughts racing. Ace wasn’t just a threat to Leila and Ash—he was a reminder of my past failures, of the lives I couldn’t save. But I wouldn’t let him take anything more from me.

Damon appeared at the end of the hall, his expression grim. "No sign of him yet," he said as he approached. "But we’ve got eyes everywhere. If he so much as breathes near the palace, we’ll know."

"Good," I said, my tone sharp. "Keep me updated."

Damon raised a brow. "You should be in there with them, you know," he said, gesturing toward my father’s chambers. "Leila’s strong, but she’s carrying a lot. She might need you more than she lets on."

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "I know," I admitted. "But I can’t rest until I know she and Ash are safe. Ace isn’t going to stop, Damon."

"No, he’s not," Damon agreed. "But neither are we. You don’t have to carry this alone, Chase."

I nodded, appreciating his words even if I didn’t entirely believe them.

Later, I checked on my father, Leila, and Ash. The sight that greeted me brought a rare smile to my face. My father was sitting up in bed, his frailty momentarily forgotten as he spoke animatedly to Leila. She was listening intently, a small smile playing on her lips. Ash was perched on the edge of the bed, his little hand resting on my father’s arm.

It was a picture of peace, one I hadn’t seen in a long time.

"Chase," my father said, noticing me. "You’ve got a good one here," he said, gesturing to Leila. "She’s strong, like her father."

Leila’s smile faltered slightly, but she quickly recovered. "Thank you," she said softly.

I walked over to her, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Are you okay?" I asked quietly.

She nodded, her eyes meeting mine. "I’m fine," she said, and for the first time, I believed her.

For now, everything was as it should be. But I knew it wouldn’t last. Ace was still out there, and the peace we had found was fragile. But as I looked at Leila and Ash, I made a silent vow: I would protect them, no matter the cost.

Tomorrow, the fight would continue. But today, I allowed myself a moment of hope.