Rebirth of the Broken Luna A Second Chance at Luna's Heart novel Chapter 296

Chapter 296

OLLIE

Dad appeared beside them, placing a gentle hand on Riley’s shoulder. My twin brother stiffened at the contact but didn’t pull away,

which was progress of sorts. A month ago, any unexpected touch would have sent him into a defensive crouch, ready to fight or flee

depending on what his training told him was the best survival strategy.

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They were walking toward the car now, Riley’s steps slow and reluctant while our parents flanked him like bodyguards. I straightened

up in the backseat, trying to think of something to say that might help. Riley had been living with us for weeks now, sleeping in the room

next to mine, eating at our dinner table, but he still felt like a stranger wearing my brother’s face.

The car doors opened and Riley slid into the seat beside me without making eye contact. His medication made him calmer than he

used to be, less likely to snap or withdraw completely, but it also made him seem distant, like he was viewing the world from behind thick

glass.

“Hey,” I said quietly as Dad started the engine. “Lake’s going to be okay. The doctors said his brain activity has been stable.”

Riley nodded without looking at me. “I know.”

“And we’ll come back first thing in the morning.”

Another nod, this one accompanied by a slight shrug that somehow conveyed both acknowledgment and the complete futility of trying to comfort him. I wanted to reach out and touch his arm, to offer some kind of physical reassurance, but Riley didn’t like being touched unexpectedly. He tolerated it from our parents because their touch came with rules and expectations, but casual contact from me

seemed to make him uncomfortable.

“I brought my portable gaming system,” I tried again, pulling the device from my backpack. “We could play something together when

we get home. Co-op mode.”

This time Riley did look at me, his expression unreadable. “I should sleep. Tomorrow’s going to be a long day.”

It was a polite dismissal, delivered in that carefully controlled tone he used when he was managing my feelings rather than sharing

his own. I’d gotten used to it over the past month, but it still stung. My twin brother was sitting eighteen inches away from me, but he

might as well have been on another planet.

Mom twisted in the front seat to look back at us. “Ollie, why don’t you tell Riley about what happened at lessons today? That thing with Marcus and the science project?”

I could tell she was trying to create normal sibling conversation, the kind of casual sharing that happened in healthy families. But

Riley’s attention was already drifting back to the window, watching the hospital disappear behind us as we pulled into traffic. Mum and

Dad had agreed that I started lessons here in Alpha Zade’s territory so I wouldn’t be far behind when we get back to Silver Creek. I can

only imagine the tons of projects Mrs Henderson had kept aside for me.

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12:53 Thu, Jan 29 M

Chapter 296

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93

“Marcus accidentally set his eyebrows on fire during chemistry lab,” I said anyway, because disappointing Mom felt worse than talking

to someone who wasn’t really listening.

“Mrs. Patterson had to use the emergency eyewash station, and now he looks like he’s always surprised.”

Riley made a small sound that might have been amusement. “Is he okay?”

“Yeah, just singed. He’ll probably have to draw on eyebrows for a few weeks.” I paused, then added, “He asked about you. Wanted to

know when you’re coming for lessons too.”

“I’m not,” Riley said simply. “Lumina is arranging for tutors when we get to Silver Creek.”

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12:53 Thu, Jan 29 M…

Reborn From Regret A Second Chance at Luna’s Heart