“They are. You’ll also meet my family. My mother is lovely but”—Damien scoffed—“my father is usually too focused on my brothers to care about what I do.”
Luna’s brows furrowed together. “Surely, your parents have been worried about you? I can only imagine how mine are faring . . .”
A fist clenched around her heart, squeezing tight. Knowing she’d never see her family again hurt more than she wanted to admit. Skies, she hadn’t even said goodbye.
“Oh, she probably has,” Damien said lightly. “I’ll have to do some apologizing, but showing up with Arleen will earn me some grace, I hope. Mother never wanted her sent to the Darkened One in the first place.” He chuckled, the corners of his mouth lifting. “Once she has her daughter back, she’ll probably never let her out of her sight again. I’ll have to rescue Arleen from that next.”
His eyes lit up with amusement, warm and unguarded as he spoke about his family—and it only made the ache inside Luna sharper.
She missed hers. Missed them so badly it felt like a wound that hadn’t even begun to scab.
“Is there any way to send a message?” she asked, quietly. “Just to let them know I’m safe. That I made it.”
Damien’s gaze dropped to the floor. “I’m sure we could arrange something.” But his voice lacked conviction, and she heard the hesitation buried beneath the words.
“If it’s too difficult, we don’t have to,” she said quickly. She’d made peace with the possibility when she crossed the barrier. But still—hope had flared, foolish and bright.
“We will,” Damien said more firmly. His eyes lifted to hers. “Even if I have to go against the Council to do it, I’ll figure out a way.”
She tried to smile, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “You don’t seem like you’re scared of anything.” It wasn’t a question.
“There are things that scare me,” Damien corrected, rising from his seat.
“Like what?”
He sank to his knees before her, his hands cradling her face gently. Tilting her head forward, he leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead.
“Many things, little swan,” he whispered.
What had he just said? A flutter of warmth rose to her cheeks, her ears perking, wanting to hear it again. She remembered how unicorns treasure swans, but before she could ask him what the nickname meant, he stood, rising to his full height. His gaze shifted towards a set of wooden doors carved with demonic symbols, the same ones that were on the floor. “It’s late. I should let you sleep. Your room is through there,” he said, gesturing. “There are doors inside that connect to mine, so if you get lonely . . . Come find me. I don’t mind midnight visitors.”
He waited a moment, eyes searching hers, clearly hoping she’d ask to join him.
But she didn’t. Instead, she said, “Good night, Damien.”
He blinked slowly, as if her dismissal surprised him, but gave a curt nod. “Good night, Luna.” The doors to his room closed behind him with a click.
After several long heartbeats, she rose.
A voice in her head told her this wasn’t a good idea, but she ignored it as she walked back down the hallway. She had contemplated telling Damien of her plans, but she knew he’d only stop her. Better to leave him in the dark and ask for forgiveness later. Quietly, she inched along the hallway, until finally she made it back to the door leading to the green glowing room. She turned the knob, and opened it.
No one was there.
Hustling now, she made her way to the basement.
Marion sat at the bottom of the stairs, keys resting in her hands, staring up at Luna with wide eyes. The soft curve of her lips formed a delicate ‘O’ shape as she shook her head. Clearly, she hadn’t been expecting to see her. “This isn’t a good idea . . .” she commented, a soft warning in her voice. “Does Damien know you’re here?”
“She can’t use magic, right?” Luna said, getting right to the point. “I’ll be fine. I just want a wordalonewith her.” Luna made sure to emphasize the word; the last thing she wanted was Marion interrupting her plans.
For a moment, Marion was quiet, seemingly mulling over her words. Finally, she said, “All right . . . But only because I feel bad about the way you transformed after I stole your necklace.” She stepped off to the side, hanging a set of keys on the wall. “I need to stretch my legs. I should only be about five minutes, but when I get back, you won’t be here, right?”
“That’s correct.”
Marion nodded before slowly turning and walking up the stairs, leaving Luna as promised. Without wasting another moment, Luna hurried over to where Nina was kept, her steps soft against the stone.
Inside, Nina was lying on her side, one arm curled beneath her head as if she were simply napping. Her hair spilled across the stone floor, dull and tangled, her wrists still bound in cuffs that kept her tethered to the wall.
“Hi, Mom,” Luna said, the word tasting as odd in her mouth as if it had been the first time she’d said it. Angie was her mom. Nina was . . . Well, she wasn’t sure what else to call her. Her birth giver, perhaps?
