Chapter 2
Nora's POV
"About damn time you're free!"
Lyra raised her glass, silver liquid swirling inside.
We sat on the terrace of the Starfall Tavern. Lyra had picked this place specifically to celebrate my "dissolution."
"Not bad." I took the glass she offered. The cold crystal felt grounding. "At least I can sleep now."
Lyra studied me, then grinned. "Fucking finally, you woke up. Come on—to your new life."
We clinked glasses. The moonlight wine went down bitter. Just like the past five years.
"Oh, by the way," Lyra set down her glass, "our clan's harvesting fresh starbloom tomorrow. Helps fade scars. I'll save you some."
Her gaze dropped to the fresh wound on my wrist, still seeping blood.
I was about to thank her when noise erupted downstairs.
"Lord Kael, you're here. Your private table upstairs is ready."
That voice froze me solid.
I looked up—Kael was helping Seraphine up the stairs.
"It's so quiet here," Seraphine said softly.
"Yeah, you'll like it." Kael's voice was gentle. "They have those honey cakes you love."
He lifted his head. His gaze swept the terrace and landed on me.
His expression turned ice-cold.
"Nora." He released Seraphine and strode over, golden eyes blazing. "Are you FOLLOWING us again?"
Customers nearby turned to stare.
I met his glare calmly. "This is a public tavern, Kael."
"Don't play dumb!" He grabbed my arm. "You think I'm stupid?"
Lyra shot to her feet and shoved him hard. "What the hell are you doing? Let her GO!"
"Stay out of this, elf." Kael barely glanced at her, then locked his glare on me. "First the Blood Moon Tavern, now here—Nora, when are you going to STOP?"
I stared at his twisted face. A memory flashed through my mind.
After the thirteenth dissolution, someone told me he took Seraphine to the Blood Moon Tavern often. I couldn't help myself—I followed.
Through the half-open door, I saw him whispering comfort: "Don't cry. You're still beautiful. Who cares if you can't fly? I'll always be here."
Then he kissed her forehead.
I burst in to confront him. He backhanded me to the floor.
"Who the hell do you think you are? What gives you the RIGHT to question me?" He turned to the guards. "Take her to the rack. Let her cool off."
They strapped me to the torture rack—enchanted chains that tightened with every struggle. The more I fought, the tighter they squeezed, until I could barely breathe.
Seven days.
No food. No water. Just endless pain and fear.
On the seventh day, when they finally cut me down, I couldn't stand. He stood in the doorway, didn't even look at me. "Next time you show up uninvited, it won't be seven days."
"Kael," I said now, forcing a steady breath. "I'm not following you."
"Then why the HELL are you here?" He didn't believe a word.
"Because Lyra invited me." I pointed at the bar. "Theron can confirm we've been here over an hour."
The bartender nodded quickly. "Yes, both ladies arrived—"
"Fine." Kael released my arm, frowning.
Seraphine walked over and tugged gently at his sleeve. "Kael, let it go... Let's just sit over there."
But her gaze landed on the bottle of moonlight wine on our table. Her eyes lit up. "That wine looks special."
She turned to Kael, voice softening even more. "Can I try some?"
The bartender looked at me apologetically. "I'm sorry, that's the last bottle tonight, and this lady already reserved—"
Seraphine's voice went quieter. "Kael, I really want to try it... You know the doctor said drinking helps me relax, and it's so rare to find—"
Kael looked straight at me. "Nora. Give it to Seraphine."
He paused, then added flatly, "She needs it for her recovery. You—" His gaze swept over me dismissively. "You can drink anything."
The message was clear: Seraphine was the one who mattered. I was nothing.
My nails dug into my palms.
Lyra was shaking with rage, ready to lunge. "Why should she?! Nora ordered it FIRST—"
"Give it to her." I pressed Lyra's hand down and nodded at Theron. "We'll settle the bill."
Theron looked relieved.
"Nora—" Lyra stared at me in disbelief.
"It's fine." I stood.
I glanced at the bottle of moonlight wine. They said drinking it let you forget all your pain, just for a while. Too bad it was never meant for me.
I took Lyra's arm and turned toward the stairs.
"Nora." Kael's voice came from behind.
I didn't stop. Walked down the steps. Disappeared into the night.
Behind me, Seraphine's soft laughter floated down. "Kael, come here, I want to taste..."
The voices faded.
Lyra was seething. "I want to go back and punch him in the face. That BASTARD—"
"He's not worth it," I said quietly.
We reached the corner. Cold moonlight spilled across the street. I stopped and looked up at the sky.
"Does it really not hurt?" Lyra asked, looking at me like her heart was breaking.
I looked at her and pulled a faint smile. "Lyra, you know how many times you have to hit rock bottom before you finally let go?"
She froze.
"Twenty-one times," I said. "Took me twenty-one times to learn. Now it's time to live for myself."
Our shadows disappeared into the night.
Through the glass window, Kael sat on the terrace, holding the bottle of moonlight wine. Seraphine's soft voice murmured beside him, but he wasn't listening to a word.
He stared in the direction we'd left, brow furrowed tight.
Before, when things like this happened, Nora would cry. Scream. Break down.
This time, she'd been calm. Like a completely different person.
That calm made him inexplicably restless.
