ia'

ough the bathroom li

tub, and my heart slammed against my rib

was in t

would see my face. Not the glamour face, but my real f

n the edge of the t

y manly footsteps, and

m inhale with a sharp breath, like

oor opened

as g

ith my hands pressed against m

the room, and I hadn't

t know if he saw my face or just my back. I

ne thing, and that was

w he w

t there. If it were minutes

gs were weak, and my hands were shaking s

ully, like I was afraid my body

other's necklace from

in my palm and looked at the small charm. It did not l

tected me for

it back ov

ur returned. The bright eyes faded, the soft skin dulled, and the beautiful face I had se

r anymore, or maybe I

ft for me. It was white and soft, and not

the bathroom w

ow, casting long shadows across the floor. Th

at to do. Should I wait for him? Should I get in

ere when the door opene

the fireplace and added another log, and the flame

he tu

saw something was different

nd more curious way. Like he w

s stare. Did he know? Or had

looked at me, and the silence stretch

e said finally. "I wi

om. He pulled a blanket from a chest

or I am sorry. I wanted to explain to him

ords woul

something wrong. The sheets were soft, and the

e ceiling, and listening t

ckmoor Valley in

t him. He was lying on his

our?"

s no reason to stay in Cresswood

t ready. That I had not said goodbye to

not say

to him. I was his Luna now, an

r," I wh

did not

not

o the fire crackle and pop. Kaelen's breathing was slow an

ut the fire incident, and abou

in the bathroom. The sharp breath, like

wh

l there, and still working. If he had seen my rea

or unless he wanted t

y thoughts were true, and

o fast and too slo

a hand through his dar

time,"

off my shoulder, and I pulled it back up qu

e I saw that softness, and curios

to the door, and h

," he

or, I shivered slightly. I grabbed the white gown from where it hung ove

shadows seemed longer than before. Servants were nowhere to be s

he stone floor. I watched his broad, and unmoving back, b

I wondered if h

oor Valley. I did not know if I would ever

new one

ld not explain if it had changed for better

with certainty that nothing