a's sharp stare burned into her, and Mika's stance was tight and controlled. The air was thick with the uns

his voice low but forceful, as his palm

jaw tightened. "No, she's m

ys something about each of them that drew her in, but now that the cult

er, unable to say anything. Both brothers were

g, but her voice shook. "I don't want this. I don't wa

not free, Ymir." "Not now, not ever."

e turned around quickly, wanting to get away from how intense the moment was. She slipped away wi

nking about what they said. She needed to be alone to think, but there was nowhere else to go. The farther she

cared, she was still curious. As she got closer, she saw them: masked people standing in a circle with their hands raised

Rachel...

talking about her, but what did that mean? Wha

e calling on her strength, something old and unknown, and the

me," she said to herse

nt echoed into the air. "The Luna must rise.

s she realised how big her part in this ev

y that flowed through her veins. It was like the ground was answering the cultists' cry, and she could fe

her, and she couldn't do anything about it. Her heart raced as the ground s

d tried to calm down. "

ergy kept getting stronger. She felt like the cosmos

power inside her grew, threatening to break free. She held onto the tree tru

hat she was becoming or how powerful she was. She wasn't ready for this. Not yet. And as she realised this, her

e. Rachel knew in her heart that th

o longer ignore the secrets that Luka and Mika had withhel

front of him. "Luka, Mika," she said in a shaky voice, "I

e wasn't shocked by what she wanted. "You're already too deep in this, R

ay. He didn't say anything, but he changed his posture, leaning

. "Why didn't you tell me sooner? "Why did

bed her wrist, pulling her close. His breath was warm on her skin, and his voice sounded strained with need. H

acing with terror and confusion. "Then tell

ace. He let go of her wrist and whispered, "You'll find

words hung in the air like a warning, but there was no d

uiver. He moved closer and brushed his shoulder on hers, as if to say, "This is mine." "You think y

different directions. It made her feel torn and lost. Luka's touch always made her feel alive, bu

e stepped closer to her, almost touching her, and murmured

not yours," she murmured, and the words felt weak in her tongue as her bo

onest with yourself. We both own you. He said, "This isn't just a choice for you,

on't want this," she said, but as she said it, she realised that they wer