“And let this be clear,” I continued, stepping close enough for her to smell my scent, “everything you have, the sanctum, their care, your place, exists because I brought you in. I shielded you. Fed you. Gave you a den. And you repaid me by trying to replace me as Luna.”
She opened her mouth, but I was finished listening.
I dropped the roses onto her lap.
“Recover well,” I said calmly and turned away.
Right on cue, the sobbing began. Loud. Broken. Crafted for sympathy. She had always been skilled at that, using tears like armor.
I did not look back.
I left her chamber and walked into the passageway, ready to leave all of it behind. Ready to breathe air free of betrayal.
But fate was predictable.
Heavy footsteps rushed toward me. Draven. Alden.
“Liora!” Draven growled, gripping my arm. “What did you say to her?”
“Why is she sobbing like that?” Alden demanded, breath tight, eyes darting to the room, then to the flowers. “Black roses? Are you provoking us?”
I looked at them. Their faces, angry, defensive, blind. Always ready to guard her. Always ready to turn me into the enemy.
Again.
I slowly removed Draven’s hand from my arm.
“No,” I said quietly.
Then I smiled.
Not the smile they knew.