empted to figure out everything: the pull towards Luka, t

her mind all the time. Footsteps behind her disturbed the silence a

ike poison. She shut her eyes and tried

nd faced him. "What d

your power anymore. It's your fate. The cult will do whatever to make sure you do your job as Luna. He moved clo

o try to hide the shaking in her pal

n, you do." You are one of us. He moved closer, and his breath was hot against her skin.

weight of what he said hit her. There was no wa

l there after her meeting with Gideon. She thought that if she just kept going and kept h

: two sets of eyes on her. She paused and glanced around. Her hea

ad a menacing look in them. He stepped closer to her an

ack, even though she was qu

was unreadable, but his eyes were sharp. Mika remarke

eplaced by a look of resolve. "Rachel, you don't understand. It's not just about the cult or p

w voice, "And I don't trust him to take

thers develop. Yes, they were competitors, but it was more than that. It felt lik

breath, "You're mine, whether you admit it or not." His

more powerful. "Rachel, stay away from him

rstand what they were saying. She wasn't pr

lesson, but the tension stayed with her like a shadow. The more she thought about the

here was t

, waiting for the proper time to attack. She had seen their signs and heard their words

as racing with all that had happened. She felt a shudder ru

. She saw them earlier, and they were wearing cloaks and hoods.

word and then vanished just as fast as it had come.

ndwriting that said, "You can't run f

he paper in her hand and her heart raced. They were

oft. As she opened the letter from Ymir's family, her heart raced and her breath became shallow. At fir

if saying the words would make them more real. "Rachel, you were never supposed to be called Ymir

d turned

w could this be real? Ymir's family had always lied to her about her life, building a carefully plan

"Ymir... wasn't even my n

put it under her pillow. Her mind was racing. She had to find out what was going on, but the fear in her heart kept he

ry stride seemed like it was carrying the weight of a thousand new ideas. She touc

her, but it was impossible. The cult, Ymir's family, and everyt

ing across the street from each other, and it appeared like they were having a tense

ead. "Ymir," he called, his voice deep and welcoming. He moved closer, a

w much to say. How could she describe the p

oncentrated. He continued softly, "We both know there's more to

d. She was stuck between the truth she couldn't get

s the courtyard, which broke h

ance. Rachel's stomach turned as fear took hold