No. No, no. He’s not yours, you’re not his. Not if you want to stay safe. Please get your cracked head out of your arse and run!
Right.Right.
Wiggling and pulling, she slid out ever so slowly, desperate not to disrupt Brand’s slumber. He would never let her go willingly—no one in their right mind would abandon their true mate.
Unfortunately for both of them, Lunara wasn’t in her right mind. Probably never had been.
She nearly collapsed on top of him when she finally hoisted herself to hands and knees and found her hair captured beneath his hip, forcing her to grip the ends and tug them to free herself.
Brand grumbled and rolled to his back, and she froze. The bruising on his chest was worse than she’d first thought, and guilt roiled through her. She resisted the urge to trail her fingers over the mottle, purple skin—there was nothing she could do for such a mark anyway.
They were scars he’d be stuck with. Permanently. A beacon to all others that he’d been claimed by a Nachthellian.
Sisters, what had she done?
Station didn’t matter when true mates were found, status nothing in the face of it. A cook could bind with the Realm Ruler they served, and all would rejoice. But she’d be visible at his side.Paraded everywhere. Someone would recognize her, and… anduse himto get to her.
Brand was an Imperial, the most powerful beings in all the realms, but they’d find a way.
Her breaths came faster, visions drowning her. Of clawed hands poised over him, backlit by Illamiata, his life under threat because she’d been fool enough to stay. Of the Council swarming her with their power, laughing as they stole her mind and her freedom.
Go. Go!
Lunara scrambled from the platform and raced for the far end of the cavern. Hands skimming the walls, clawing at the rock. There was no door. No exit.
It hit her that she didn’t even know where they were. That part of her memory was lost to her.
She threw a hand out to catch herself on the stone before sliding to the ground. Air heaved in and out of her lungs. A cold sweat broke over her brow.
This couldn’t be it. Trapped, her life over. He’d wake up, and she’d never be able to look into his eyes and then leave him, and they would all die.
“Or you stay and live happily ever after. It’s only somewhat up in the air right now.”
At the Voice’s interruption, Lunara jolted and smacked her head against the wall, its stars-damned giggles filling her mind.
No, no, no. You are not hearing the Voice right now. You arenot.
“If you keep telling yourself that, I’ll never be able to help you. You’re supposed to have listened by now,”it chided, rattling within her.
What was that supposed to mean?
“I say what I mean and it means what I said. Well, this time.”
As cursed, breathy titters bounced around her head, Lunara fought to get her breathing under control. Nonsense for years, and it was suddenly trying to help?
It sounded offended when it said,“I wouldn’t say ‘suddenly.’ I’ve been here all along you know, through everything. We are friends, after all.”
Friends? Lie. It’s lying to you. You have no friends. Certainly not this one.
“Are we not friends yet? I would have sworn…”
Its seemingly genuine confusion made Lunara pause, but then it spoke again and ripped away any potential curiosity.
“Wait, did she just wake up with Brandir or with Magnus? Maybe wearen’tfriends yet…”it whispered.
With… Magnus…
Magnus?!
