nic'

ther side of the room, her shoulders tense, her eyes fixed on the floor like she could disappear if she stared ha

victorious. She had

and he knew better than anyone that silen

on his knees. "You don't have to believe me y

he saw more than fear-he saw anger, confusion,

but firm. "And what I heard sounds like som

nds insane. But fantasy is onl

xpect me to just accept all this? That I'm some kind of... chosen one? That

on't expect that. B

oice, the vulnerable way he said it. Hope. That wasn't a word people li

the weight of an entire bloodline. Having the Council breathing down my neck and enemi

ound like a pr

r then-really looked

e studied him, and he could feel her trying to see beyond the layer

ked the questio

pens if I

pa

away, jaw

know it won't stop the war that's coming.

d to move to keep from crumbling. "You talk about prophecy like i

cks are falling apart. The Council is hiding secrets, clawing for control. You think you're just som

cracking. "But I don't want power. I

se they surprised him-but because he re

"But freedom and destiny r

mer of tears in her eyes. It cut through him more deeply

nto anything. You came because something in you wanted answers

ed, but she nod

he whispered. "Te

she sat down, her hands trembled slightly in her lap. He saw her

dline lost for generations. A woman born under the rarest lunar alignment, destined to ris

rrowed. "Balanc

l and the fury of the rebellion. They believe the Luna will e

that's me?" she a

w it's

mation was burning her skin. "You keep

ent. Your energy. The way the wolves reacted to you. Even the

ed, whirling around. "I didn't ask to be

her anger rise. She needed t

ietly. "But you were

stopp

ds sinking into the cracks between them. The fire

the last thin

eady," she

ost honest thing either o

n them. "You don't have to be," he said. "But stay. Let me show you what this wor

right away. But she

nodded. Barely. A w

as e

ing from his shoulders. "I'll

ked. "I'm

her eyes. "Yo

dy-her mind still a battlefield, her heart sti

n't su

as the b

isappear down the corridor, that dest

as just a singl