REJECTED BY FATE, CURSED BY PROPHECY

er was not mean

, where servants passed only when ordered and never lingered. Naira had been sent there many times t

e, no one ha

beside the fire when a gu

shes to see

s hand

Her voice ca

. Al

. He turned and walked away, as if th

nto the ash. Her stomach tightened. She pressed a hand against it

the Luna

ly. The torches were few, and their light made the shadows lo

lower chamber, the

a stood

lded calmly before her, her silver dress smooth and clean even in this dark

turn when Na

door," th

a ob

shutting felt like a s

ce fo

are here," the L

lowed. "No

a turne

like a blade polished until it shone. Her eyes moved over

ing a child,"

jumped. "I...

t belongs to the

uickly. "I swore it

stepped

s not make li

h shook. "I a

una s

ot a war

not expose you in the

id not

w," the Luna continued. "And because I w

ira, circling her

he Luna said softly. "You should never have loo

" Naira whispered

e Luna cut in. "You let

lenched. "I did

greed. "But you

ruck harder

stopped b

as always been weak with women. That he cannot tell loyalty from hun

"I did not cli

," the Luna said. "Even when t

ressed be

na spoke ag

remove t

d lifted sh

yes narrowed

but it did not break. "I swore it belongs t

you," the Luna said. "An

e slide down her spin

t circle. She stood in front of Naira, so close t

at lives are easy to move wh

d. "I do not

leaned in

uch wine. His heart is weak. One cup of t

ack a step. "Do n

he walks to the river alone in the ev

came fast. "Y

calm. "You do not k

aira said. "You p

Luna replied. "My blood.

against the wall. "This

the Lun

e fell

Luna stra

he said. "By the fourth da

head. "I will

Then you will watch others

l all of us," N

e Luna said. "I only n

t the wall. Her knees

kill my own ch

mistake," the Luna replied

a mistake," Naira

at," the Lu

her head. "

said. "And chaos always

d toward

she said. "Because

pa

ur father will drink toni

she

oor c

lt suddenly em

n the floor fo

legs trembled. She pressed b

," she whispered. "

slowly. Every guard looked like deat

er hall, her father was

" he said. "Did

hesi

es

did th

es around his eyes. The tiredness

e to disappe

ould have kept it hidden. You

not," Na

Then you will bury

, Naira di

watched the moon climb and fall.

ht of the L

oo

f her father'

's face, the way he neve

e child inside he

g, her ey

alone and washed her f

," she whispered. "Ev

the pack b

er above, the Luna aw