VER

. Crickets chirped softly, and the wind rustled the leaves. The sound was ca

sp, like dry leaves brushing the ground. My pulse jumped when his lips brushed my skin. I'd n

and pressed my fingers to the spot his lips had t

ding my chin and making me look at him. His eyes were sh

d. My voice was

" he said. His words hit harder than I expected. Then he

hair, scars running down his arm like stories

nry said, pattin

hen, slowly, its shape appeared through the fog-tall walls, dark stone, towers that seemed

courtyard. Merchants moved goods. People talked and laughed. It felt

an the rest. That was his. Conry held my

d with quiet pride. There was

e walls were lined with old carvings, and the torches made them glow gold. Servants mov

he looked at me like I was less; the way my sister was chosen inste

k to the present. "You didn't break to

say, so I whispered,

my forehead. The touch was light-not like Blake's roug

utside, but for the first time in a long while, I

right there, with his hand in mine and the castle lights on my fa

uet," he told one of the maids who greeted

ently. "My name is Rachel. Tell me if

ness. Going from being a reject to someone treated with

smelled rich and warm, and my chest thudded as I stepped inside. When she opened the door fu

ean clothes," Rachel said

, I sank under the surface. The night's pain seemed to melt away. Only the sting of bruise

wo dresses-one red, trimmed with silver be

the banquet, milady?" sh

intly. "The

," she said

ad been made for me. When I was rea

ps. The air carried the smell of roasted meat and he

id softly befor

hed i

table stretched between us, but only two plates were set-one for him, one for me. Alph

said, voice l

I replied, b

it

r glasses, then slipped away, leav

n up well

ou," I m

udying me. "You're

y say?" I as

I've seen you stand when others would fa

rd. No one had ever said my

at I must," I

. "That's what st

nd a thick, sweet sauce. I didn't reali

ke it?" Co

d," I sai

'll take that a

ollowed was calm,

tone was firm but kind. "I brought you because I want you to be my

art pounding. His eyes

ss. "To a new beg

ispered. Our glasses touched softly,

n he stood and patted my back gently. "Think about it and give m

as his Luna? Or was I just another

I walked back to my room. Ea