ca's

s ready. Vivica is ascendin

es widened.I tried to object, but my words came out as a helpless

I mean, Al

deep voice urged, his

this

finish. "I told you already. You aren't the s

k elders who were too stunned

ng is over

used, before walking a

er and gave Adrian a curt no

How about I show

d, letting him

a button and the door slid open. Once inside, he punched th

rting my gaze to hide the te

e tilted his

don't know where I would have gone after such

long ago but I was-" He stopped halfway, he must h

tly. "You knew all alo

his face softening. "I just wanted to get y

u knew him?" A

my f

arlord to ever exist." He made a face-a playf

rdly. "That's no

d ahead. "I got my first training from him. At first, I thought Van

augh. "Why would

g me do" He stressed, a subtle smile growing on his

eyes scanned the fourth floor, which looked

ispered, the words escaped my m

our home from now on," he said

a girl who looked to be in he

She greeted, bowin

elissa." Adr

have dug deep into my back, because I spun instincti

ur hand," h

he fingerprint scanner. When the smart door beeped and a gree

e, then looked at me. "Speak aft

do I

st need to cap

I cleared my throat and spo

nodded with a lopsid

ted it and ushered me into the most sur

o escape the heat. Rich wood veneers covered the corner walls of the massive living room. A large flat screen television sat in a

en the blinds,

-colored curtains when he caught my

my cheeks heating u

eiling window. Outside, the shadows of trees danced to

p you settle in. I've

ur

casually, before turning around

o one of the plush sofas and loo

e bedroom, restroom and walk-in closet were just as massive and opulent

whispered uncertainly,

nd tried again."Crisy

ted, exposing yet another alluring night vie

forgetting the turmoil of the d

n to make me Luna, and now, a whole suite to myself? Back at Red-Bone, I was given the worst of everything: food, bedding and clothes. Even healthcare had been an i

ingernails. "You have to be careful,

Goddess' way of compensating you for all the tro

id it take her t

e at the door. I rushed out of the bedroom to get the door. When I opened

d, holding the

pany you to the dining hall." Her tone was rigid and direct

to change into," I sounded like a kid w

ha. I'll help you prepare your b

of running water echoed in the background shortly. She

nk y

ne, I stripped off my clothes. I dipped my toe into the

ed my back against the tub, I cl

eels so

he only thing I wanted was to sleep. As I close my

ed. I need to go to Lady A

enough for her to hear.

ponse

*

ap. The white fur rug at the vanity table squished under my feet as I sat in front of the mirror. One of the d

pray. I might have spent more than an hour in the shower, but the stench of hardship wouldn't disappear overnight. The least