Luna shook her head. Clyde was a good man. All he had ever done was try to be there for her and protect her. Sure, that was also part of his job, but it was more than that. He genuinely cared about her and if Emily was too close-minded to see it, that was her problem. Luna shook her head, insisting, “It’s not like that.”
“Trust me. It never feels like that until it does, then you’re left with a broken heart and those pieces don’t go back together very easily.”
“You’re just jealous! I won’t let you drive a wedge between me and Clyde.”
“Jealous?!” Emily recoiled, rising to her feet. “You know what? Screw you! If you think that, then you are a fool.” She spun on her heel, heading towards the door. “I’ve had enough. I’m tired and going to bed.”
“Fine with me.” Luna wanted to storm out after her, tell her how wrong she was, but she thought better of it. She huffed and crawled into bed, needing sleep. However, sleep did not come easily. The silence stretched long, her thoughts circling like vultures.
Chapter 10
Protection Ceremony
Morning broke with a stabbing headache, as if someone were plunging a knife into Luna’s skull over and over again. Rolling onto her back, memories of yesterday’s burdens flooded her mind. Had it been real?
She was a unicorn. The thought felt impossible—laughable even. She had spent her whole life as a fragile human, afraid to stumble, only to discover she had magical powers.
She shook her head, scowling. Why entertain such thoughts? They were pointless. She didn’t desire magic, nor the burden of being a unicorn. It was time to return to the normality of her life.
Preparations for the protection ceremony consumed the day as servants scurried through the halls, their hands full of fabrics, powders, and brushes. While Emily basked in the rare luxury, Luna endured the ordeal with clenched teeth.
Lady maids ushered Luna into the tub, scrubbing her skin until it was a flushed pink. Before she could protest, they doused her in jasmine perfume, its scent cloying and heavy in the air. “Mother!” Luna choked, twisting away. “Is all this really necessary?”
“Of course,” Angie’s voice rang out, light and carefree as ever. “My daughters will not be outshined by anyone tonight.”
Luna rolled her eyes. Angie always felt the need to prove herself a lady among the court, and that need extended to her daughters as well when the situation called for it.
Back in her room, the servants wove her hair into an elaborate updo, each twist coiling into a spiraled knot. A string of silver-speckled blue stones glimmered at its base, catching the candlelight.
When they finally stepped away, Luna tugged on the dress—Emily’s measurements, of course. It hugged her too tightly, pressing against her ribs, but it would do. The pale pink fabric flushed her cheeks, and as she moved, the delicate beadwork along the bust shimmered.
When Luna entered the seating room, Emily was already twirling in front of a mirror, watching the emerald silk of her gown flare around her legs. The dress hugged her waist in a perfect corset cinch, ribbons fluttering along the sleeves, the tiny bows at her hips swaying with every movement. A crown of delicate flowers sat nestled in her dark bun, and she looked as if she had stepped straight from a courtly painting.
Beside her, their mother stood poised, radiating elegance in silver. She adjusted one of her long sleeves, her diamond-studded neckline drawing attention to the brooch at her collar, and gave Luna a once-over.
“You three are the fairest ladies of the land,” Darius declared from his spot near the fireplace. He crossed the room, brushing a careful kiss against Angie’s cheek. “And you, my darling, are the loveliest.
Angie’s cheeks reddened, and she waved him off. “Not as lovely as you, my beloved.” Her parents were always like this—acting like newlyweds. Luna couldn’t help but wonder if she and Clyde would ever share something so effortless, so unshakeable; she could only hope.
The moment Luna stepped outside, a wave of umbrellas rose in unison, shadowing her from the sun. She groaned.
No. Absolutely not.
Without a word, she spun on her heel and marched back inside.
The prince’s gift, an oversized monstrosity of a hat, still sat atop her wardrobe. She grabbed it and shoved it onto her head, her braided hair crumpling beneath the weight; a small sacrifice for her freedom.
When Luna returned to her family, her mother gasped so sharply it was a wonder she didn’t faint on the spot.
“What in the high skies is that?”
Luna struck a pose, twirling once for effect. “A gift from the prince!” She tipped the oversized hat forward, shielding her eyes like a dramatic heroine. “No more umbrellas.”
Angie sputtered, her hands fluttering as though debating whether to rip the hat off herself.
Luna only smirked. “Wouldn’t want to insult his generosity, would I?”
Her father chuckled, nudging his wife. “From the prince, you say?” His grin was nothing short of delighted.
