MOONLIT RECKONING

nor entirely the being she once was. Her senses had sharpened; they were now more attuned to the minutiae around her-the rustling leaves stirred by the wind, the distant chirps of birds and the faint echoes of footsteps reverberating through the nearby alleyways. However, it was the scent that captivated her, drawing her deep into the recesses of her forgotten past. For a brief moment, she detected a familia

her recollections-his features only partially defined and obscured by the passage of time. His eyes mirrored hers, golden and intense; however, they were burdened with an emotion that made her heart ache under the weight of unvoiced history. Asher. The name arose unbidden in her thoughts and for a fleeting moment, she could nearly hear his voice-gentle, yet authoritative. Asher. Initiall

mark that could never be erased. A low growl rumbled deep in her chest; the sound echoed the fury rising within her. She longed to tear something apart, to feel the release of that violence-her violence. However, she couldn't. Not here. Not now. Not until she understood-a

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he internal struggle she was desperately trying to suppress. She didn't want to burden him with her inner turmoil, especially because she still didn't fully trust him. Nonetheless, she sensed something in his presence that softened the sharp edges of her emotions. He was kind, yes-but there was something else, something she couldn't yet articulate. "Are you sure?" Thane inquired, si

ections. The images lingered, hazy and indistinct, akin to attempting to capture mist with her hands. Yet, she could sense their presence, the heaviness of them. "I have no idea who I was. I don't even know who I am presently," she continued, her voice becoming increasingly muted. "But there's something-someone-who keeps surfacing in these memories. A man. I believe his name is Asher." The name felt weigh

nses immediately heightened. Her instincts, still raw and unfamiliar, rendered her acutely aware of everything occurring around her. The footsteps were slow, deliberate and not entirely human. They did not belong to any of the passing pedestrians. The air surrounding them thickened with an unspoken threat. Thane stood abruptly, his hand instinctively moving to the small of his back where a weapon-hidden beneath h

moment, the fragmented pieces of her memories clicked together. This was no mere accident. Asher had been waiting for her, however, the significance of their encounter