[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-lunar-curse-a-second-chance-with-alpha-drave":3,"chapter-the-lunar-curse-a-second-chance-with-alpha-drave-the-lunar-curse-a-second-chance-with-alpha-drave-chapter-680":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","The Lunar Curse: A Second Chance With Alpha Draven",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},924402,1212,"Chapter 680: Last Moments","the-lunar-curse-a-second-chance-with-alpha-drave-chapter-680",680,"\u003Cp>[Third Person].\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The night before the war was quieter than expected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The palace, though fully aware of what awaited at dawn, did not fall into chaos. Instead, it settled into a strange calm, as though everyone had reached the same unspoken understanding—there was nothing more to prepare, nothing more to delay.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only to face what was coming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In one of the private sitting rooms, Meredith and Draven sat across from each other, a map spread between them. The candles burned low, their light steady, casting soft shadows across the table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had already gone over the formations twice. Yet neither of them moved to roll the map away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If the eastern flank collapses,\" Meredith said, her finger resting lightly on the marked terrain, \"they will push inward from here.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Draven followed her indication. \"Jeffery’s unit is there. He won’t let it break easily.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He won’t,\" Meredith agreed, \"but if they’re targeting me, they might not need to.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A brief silence followed. Draven leaned back slightly, his gaze shifting from the map to her. \"Then they will try to isolate you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meredith met his eyes. \"Yes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Neither of them softened the truth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That’s why I won’t stay behind the main line,\" she added. \"If I do, I will become the centre of everything again.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Draven nodded once. He had already come to the same conclusion. \"If it comes to that,\" he said after a moment, \"you don’t hold your position.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meredith’s brows drew slightly. \"You want me to retreat?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I want you alive,\" he replied calmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She held his gaze for a second longer, then shook her head lightly. \"If I retreat, they will follow. That only moves the danger somewhere else.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Draven didn’t argue immediately because she wasn’t wrong. A quiet pause settled between them before he spoke again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then if it turns,\" he said, his voice steady, \"we split their focus.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meredith understood instantly. \"You draw them.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And you break them.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The plan sat between them, dangerous, yet necessary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her lips pressed slightly, then eased. \"That’s risky.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So is everything else.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was true. They both knew it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another silence followed, softer this time. Then Meredith spoke, more quietly. \"If something happens...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Draven’s gaze didn’t waver. \"It won’t.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If it does,\" she continued, \"Stormveil comes first.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His jaw tightened faintly, but he didn’t interrupt her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You don’t abandon the war for me,\" she said. \"No matter what.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Draven watched her for a long moment before replying. \"You are asking me to ignore you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m asking you to lead,\" she corrected gently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That settled more heavily than anything else they had said that night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a moment, he nodded once. \"Then you do the same.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meredith didn’t hesitate. \"I will.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their eyes held no dramatics or promises they couldn’t keep. Just understanding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then Draven reached across the table and took her hand, his grip firm but calm. \"We end this tomorrow or in two days,\" he said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meredith nodded. \"We do.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not long after, a soft knock came at the door. Draven released her hand and said, \"Come in.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The door opened, and a maid stepped in quietly. But both of them recognized her immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Xamira,\" Meredith said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman stepped forward, then dropped to one knee, her head bowed deeply. \"Your Majesty.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She turned slightly, addressing both of them, but her focus remained on Meredith. \"I have come to ask for your permission.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meredith’s expression shifted slightly. \"Permission for what?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xamira lowered herself further. \"To stand with you in this war.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A small, heavy silence followed, then Meredith said, \"You owe me nothing.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I do,\" Xamira replied without hesitation. \"You spared my life. You gave me freedom when you had every reason not to. I have lived because of you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her voice did not waver. \"Allow me to repay that.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meredith exchanged a brief glance with Draven before turning back to her. \"You understand what you’re asking? You may lose your life.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xamira lifted her head slightly. \"Then I will lose it willingly.\" There was nothing like fear in her tone, only resolve.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I would rather die repaying my debt than live knowing I did nothing.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The room fell quiet again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meredith studied her for a moment longer, then gave a small nod. \"Stay close,\" she said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xamira bowed deeply. \"Thank you, Your Majesty.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Morning came too quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The palace stirred before sunrise, movement spreading through the halls as preparations reached their final stage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the chamber, Meredith stood with the twins in her arms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luna rested quietly against her, while Kieran shifted slightly, his small hand gripping her clothing as though sensing something was different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meredith looked at them for a long moment, longer than she had intended.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was a brief flicker of hesitation—not weakness, but something deeper. The quiet pull between staying and going.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then she closed her eyes and pressed a soft kiss to Luna’s forehead. Then to Kieran’s.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I will be back,\" she whispered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When she opened her eyes again, the hesitation was gone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Draven entered shortly after, fully armoured. The nannies bowed immediately. \"Your Majesty.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He acknowledged them with a brief nod before walking straight to Meredith’s side. His gaze softened slightly as it fell on the twins, and he reached out, resting his hand gently on their heads.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he leaned in, pressing a kiss to each of their foreheads. No words were needed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few minutes later, Meredith handed the twins over carefully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then she and Draven stepped out together, their hands briefly brushing before settling into a steady hold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outside, the warriors were already assembled. The air was crisp, charged with anticipation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar stepped forward. \"Your Majesty, Beta Jeffery and the other commanders have already set out.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Draven nodded. \"Good.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Right then, Meredith turned to her grandmother and stepped forward, wrapping her arms around her briefly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Remember what I taught you,\" the old lady said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I will, Grandma,\" Meredith replied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Focus. Don’t rush. Don’t panic.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meredith nodded again. \"Watch over them.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I will,\" her grandmother assured her. \"Go without worry.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They pulled apart after that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Draven glanced around briefly, then asked, \"Where is my mother?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"She is somewhere inside,\" the old lady said calmly. \"Likely crying. Do not concern yourself with it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Draven glanced once toward the palace entrance, then nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A moment later, Dennis and Helena stepped forward. Dennis pulled Draven into a firm embrace. \"I will hold Stormveil until you return.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I know,\" Draven replied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Helena moved to Meredith, hugging her gently. \"Come back safely, Your Majesty.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I will,\" Meredith said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dennis stepped over next, pulling Meredith into a brief hug before stepping back with a grin. \"Make sure you actually use those fae powers properly this time.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That earned him a light slap on the shoulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meredith smiled faintly. \"Of course, I will.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tension eased, just slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, the time to move out arrived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Draven stepped forward with Meredith beside him. Together, with their warriors behind them, they set out for war.\u003C\u002Fp>",1158,"2026-06-03T06:41:22.628Z","2026-06-03T06:41:29.784Z",1,"novelbin.me","128f7279d0238e590e644f35646b1d2d98e8a5be649f316a5a5ba7ed48191cad","the-lunar-curse-a-second-chance-with-alpha-drave-chapter-681","the-lunar-curse-a-second-chance-with-alpha-drave-chapter-679",685,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-lunar-curse-a-second-chance-with-alpha-drave-cover.jpg"]