The Lunar Curse: A Second Chance With Alpha Draven-Chapter 652: Wanda’s End (II)

[Third Person].

When Wanda approached, Meredith’s gaze dropped briefly to the weapons in her hands. "Good choice," she said calmly.

Just then, the servant stepped forward, and Meredith took the sword. With one smooth motion, she unsheathed it. The blade gleamed sharply in the light.

Wanda watched the weapon with a mocking smile. Her eyes flickered over Meredith’s gown again. A queen in a banquet dress. Holding a single sword.

The odds were against her.

Wanda almost laughed. In her mind, Meredith had already placed herself at a disadvantage, which was perfect for her.

She would teach the Queen exactly what it meant to challenge a real warrior. But then Wanda remembered something, and her expression sharpened.

"You have fae powers," she said pointedly. "That would make this fight rather unfair, wouldn’t it?"

Meredith’s gaze remained steady. "I will not use them."

Wanda narrowed her eyes, so Meredith lifted her chin slightly. "I swear it by the Moon Goddess."

For a moment, silence stretched between them. Then slowly, Wanda’s lips curved into a satisfied smirk.

"Well then," she said lightly. "That seems fair."

But just as the confidence returned to her face, Meredith suddenly spoke again. "And who stated this was a casual duel?"

Wanda blinked. "What?"

Meredith’s voice turned colder, sharp as the sword in her hand. "This is not a duel." Her eyes darkened. "This is a fight to the death."

Instantly, the smirk vanished from Wanda’s face.

Meredith’s words echoed coldly through the open space. For several seconds, neither woman moved.

Just then, two warriors stepped forward. Between them, they carried a plain wooden coffin.

The dull scrape of the wood against the ground sounded unnervingly loud as they set it down at the edge of the training ground.

Wanda’s eyes snapped toward it, and her throat tightened. Only now did the full weight of the situation sink in. Meredith had not brought her here to threaten her. She had brought her here to bury her.

"Begin," Meredith announced calmly.

Wanda moved first. With a sharp snarl, she lunged forward, her weapon flashing toward Meredith’s shoulder.

The clash of steel rang through the night.

Meredith moved with terrifying precision. One smooth step, and a slight turn, her blade slid across Wanda’s arm before the latter could react. A thin red line appeared instantly.

"What—" Wanda hissed and stumbled back. She hadn’t even seen the strike.

Meredith advanced slowly. Every step was controlled and deliberate. Wanda attacked again, her fury rising.

Her strikes were fast—she had always been known as one of Stormveil’s finest female warriors. But Meredith was faster.

Each time Wanda swung, Meredith deflected the attack effortlessly. And every time Meredith’s sword moved, another cut either appeared across Wanda’s arms, her shoulders, or her thighs.

Though the cuts were neither deep nor fatal, they were just enough to bleed and hurt.

Soon, the pattern became terrifyingly clear. Meredith wasn’t rushing the fight; she was dismantling her, piece by piece.

Just then, Wanda’s breathing grew heavier. "Stop moving!" she shouted angrily, then attacked again.

Meredith’s sword flashed, and she effortlessly made another cut. This time, Wanda cried out as pain shot through her leg, and her footing faltered.

"You—"

Before she could recover, Meredith struck again—a precise slice. Wanda’s grip faltered as her weapon clattered to the ground.

Then, panic surged through her. She turned suddenly and tried to run, but two warriors stepped forward instantly. Their weapons crossed in front of her.

"Return to the circle." Their voices were flat.

Wanda’s chest heaved as she slowly turned back toward Meredith. The Queen hadn’t moved. She stood exactly where she had been, her expression calm and merciless.

"You don’t get to run," Meredith said quietly.

Wanda picked up her weapon again, trembling, and the fight resumed. But now fear had crept into her movements, and Meredith showed none.

Another strike, another precise blow, and soon Wanda’s movements slowed. Her weapon slipped from her grasp entirely, and she collapsed to one knee.

Her body shook with pain and exhaustion. Finally, she looked up at Meredith, her eyes wild.

"Why?" she demanded hoarsely. "Why are you trying to kill me so badly?!"

Meredith’s sword lowered slightly. For the first time, her gaze hardened with open hatred. "You want to know why?"

Wanda glared at her. "Yes!" 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Meredith stepped closer, then her voice dropped. "You entered the room after we left."

Wanda’s face paled slightly, then her lips parted.

"You thought no one would know what you did there. You stole what belonged to my mate."

Shock flashed across Wanda’s face.

"And after everything," Meredith continued coldly, "you still crawl into your brother’s bed." The words struck like thunder.

Wanda froze, then her eyes widened in horror. "You—" For a moment, she couldn’t speak.

Meredith smiled faintly. "Apologize."

Wanda blinked in disbelief at the request. "What?"

"Apologize," Meredith repeated calmly. "And I might allow your family to receive what remains of you with dignity."

Wanda’s eyes burned with rage. "I did nothing wrong!"

Meredith’s smile vanished, then her sword moved again.

"Arrggh!" A deep cry through Wanda’s lips from the depths of her stomach as the sword struck her left hand.

She collapsed onto the ground, writhing in pain, her left hand now lying on the sand.

"You—bitch!" she screamed hoarsely.

Meredith chuckled softly. "Still refusing to apologize?"

"Go to hell!"

Meredith tilted her head slightly. "At least you will visit there first."

Wanda’s breathing grew ragged as a new fear finally took hold. "You think killing me will save you?" she spat. "You won’t remain, Queen, when the truth comes out! My father will destroy you!"

Meredith scoffed. "The council would gladly condemn your entire family if they learn what you’ve done." Her voice turned icy as she began to list her crimes one more time.

"Stealing the royal bloodline."

"Sleeping with your own brother."

Wanda’s face drained of colour. "You can’t prove any of that," she stated as her expression twisted into forced arrogance.

Meredith’s smile returned—cold and merciless. "Oh, don’t worry." She raised her sword again. "Your ghost can watch me prove everything."

Wanda’s scream split the night.

The final strike came swiftly and decisively, cutting her body in half vertically. When the blade fell, silence followed. The training ground became still again.

Wanda Fellowes lay in half, motionless on the ground.

Meredith stood over the fallen body for several seconds, her chest rising slowly as the fury drained from her system.

Then she turned toward the warriors. "Place her in the coffin," she said calmly. "Deliver it to the Fellowes residence first thing in the morning."

The warriors bowed deeply. "Yes, Your Majesty."

Meredith released her sword, and it dropped onto the ground with a dull clang. Then Xamira stepped forward quietly and handed her a thick, wet handkerchief. She took it and wiped the blood from her face and hands.

Her expression had returned to its usual calm, but the storm in her eyes remained.

Tonight, she had finally delivered the long-awaited justice.