le, watching as Luna knelt beside her

ans?" Nicholas as

rave. "I'll be returning to my ho

a? Will you tak

she wou

uncle is returning to his homeland. You can

r-filled eyes, then glanced at he

I had a moment alone w

carriage, his mind already occupied with the p

e lord?" Luna's uncle asked,

Yes, I will. I

visit whenever I can." A bitt

joined Nicholas, who was wai

?" he

dded si

*

the carriage returning. She rose and went to

in shock, having lost her aunt and facing the uncertainty of

ructed Michael, who had hurried out to greet t

han to question the lord's decision. He

happened?" she asked, her gaze fl

a," Nicholas

ensing that something s

t as Luna followed Mich

he fire," Michael said, o

nodded, unab

ed and excu

here would she go if she left? She had no one but her uncle, an

*

s asked when Michael

ost in thoug

las n

as," Michael b

mm

est to keep her close, especially considering her... kind." Michael delicately alluded to Luna's

said. "Will you be having

y room, that would be appreciated," Nicho

her to knock. Deciding against disturbing he

*

she noticed a shadow lingering outside her door. Curious,

thing you need

g?" he asked, his

she replied. "Thank you

me," he said. "You can s

from his. As he opened his door, she caught a glimpse of his room, the walls

ay down on the bed without bothering with the covers. E

*

er hand, and looked around, confused. She wasn't in the room wher

her to a small village she recognized all too well: the v

scene unfolding before her. The screams of villager

arriving just in time to

watched her aunt's death over and over a

*

d if a servant had spilled something, but a glance at the clock told him it was three

ened his door, following the scent. It led him to Luna'

he might have been frightened, alone in a new place

s across the room. He noticed Luna's shivering for

the fire, watching the flames flicker back to lif

was just a dream," he whis

g to him, burying her face in his chest. Her heart pounded

, holding her close. "I'

s chin on her head, offering co