de. Astrid emerged from the passenger seat. And from the back, Briell

ly picking Brielle up from ballet, maybe getting her re

e never showed Mira anymore. Astrid said something that made him smile, and

e photos on Astrid's social media, except th

tside looking i

ront door, pulling it open ju

le died when

t are you

en, with the daughter she'd nearly died birthing,

talk," Mira

n have the decency to look apologe

eel. "You're planning to move Brielle to

Brielle whimpered, clinging to

"She wants to go. Why are

a snapped. "This is bet

Brielle, and I'm

flashed in her eyes. "You're his mistre

voice cracked like a whip

was indeed trembling against Ki

her ow

dered. "We'll discu

behind like she had every right to be there. Mira trailed a

eart, why don't you go play in your roo

din

ise." He kissed the to

moment she was gone, Kieran

ou? Showing up unannounced, up

e was hearing. "You're moving our daughter wit

an said dismissively. "I just h

round to it? She

er, I have every right to decide where she lives. Especi

was truth in it. "That's not fair

ical conferences?" Kieran's voice dripped with contempt. "Meanwhile, Astrid has b

t Brielle

moved closer to Astrid, a united front. "Brielle needs s

e here f

wrapped up in your own drama to focus on what Brielle needs. The divorce

ther sla

d gold. "That's not Luna behavior. That's not mother

stability? You're questioning my stability when y

arrangement was always clear-you give me an heir, I

arriage! That's

was final. "And if you can't handle that reality, th

sical blow. "You're tryi

't soften. "And right now, what's best is stability. A home wher

n be

sonable. "Because you just screamed at me in front of Br

d was right. Mira had lost control. Had scared her own daughter. H

businesslike now. "Better opportunities. And Brielle will have two

ated numbly. "You mean

or dinner. We'll discuss custody arrangements later, through lawyers if necessary. But Brielle

can't

urned toward the stairs. "Bri

king worried. She went straight to K

your mother," Ki

e said quietly, not

is couldn't be happening

out, but Brielle turned her

mumbled. "Mommy's s

r own daughter was afraid of her now,

id, placing a hand on Kieran's

e. She stood frozen as they went out the fr

ghter. Her lif

engine sounds faded. Then, slowly, s

picked out. Books she hadn't read. Evidence of Astrid's presence everywhere, rewriting Mir

Kieran, Astrid, and Brielle at what looked like an amusement park. All

n a single photo in

down carefully. She wouldn't break things. Wouldn

phone and called the lawye

n & Asso

lize my divorce papers immediately. And

Ravencrest. When

steady now, cold and clear. "And I need you to pre

e'll have ever

room for a long moment. Then she walked downst

y mausoleum. Instead, she drove to Windmere, to Zar

k at her face and

voice finally broke. "They're taking Brie

e every

Academy, about Brielle clinging to Kieran and turning away from he

don't know how to fight this. If I push too hard, I look

re you goi

moment. Then she said, "

ha

it'll be ugly. Public. Traumatic for Brielle. And they're right-I haven't been prese

not your

ielle." Mira took a shaky breath. "So I'm going to step back. Give them

d t

ugh to be the mother she deserves, I'll find a way back to her." Mira's

s that lo

until she found the one she'd been avoiding. An offer fr

e villages, providing medical care to underserved populations. No cell ser

it would mean leaving Brielle. But no

hs. No contact with Ravencrest Pack, no contact w

Zara warned. "Primitive cond

exactly what I need. To remember who I was be

to Lucian: I accept the

in minutes: Next we

have one week to finalize the divorce p

ough to come back an