Chapter 8: Not to our face
8
~Kael’s POV
The moment Belinda smiled through her tears and threw her arms around us, something inside me loosened. I didn’t realize I had been holding my breath until she whispered, "Thank you," against my shoulder. Damon caught her first, pulling her into a tight hug like she was made of something fragile, something worth guarding. Rowan stepped in next, his hand ruffling her hair with brotherly fondness. Then she turned to me, and when I held her, it felt right. Familiar. Warm.
"You’ll always be our Luna," I told her again, softly. She nodded against my chest.
She looked happier than she had in weeks, her face relaxed, glowing even. It made me realize how deeply she had been hurting, carrying the weight of doubt and fear all alone. We had seen it, the tension in her smile, the way she shrank back whenever we mentioned the bond or anything that had to do with the Moon Goddess. But now, for the first time, her shoulders didn’t look so heavy.
Rowan waved over one of the guards and ordered the driver to take Belinda home. "Make sure she rests," he told him sternly. "And don’t let her lift a finger." The guard nodded, bowing slightly before escorting Belinda out.
We watched her leave in silence, each of us caught in our thoughts. Then Rowan let out a long yawn and rubbed his neck. "I’m beat. I think it’s time to crash."
Damon grunted in agreement. "For once, I’m not arguing."
𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺
"Early night, then," I said, already feeling the pull of exhaustion in my limbs.
We turned in early, the emotional whirlwind of the evening settling like dust in our chests. I barely remembered closing my eyes before sleep took over.