The Luna Queen's Rebirth (Ellie and Dominic) novel Chapter 96

Chapter 96

I don’t know them, but I do. From the memory. Still, I find myself stepping forward into a knot of mostly unfamiliar faces-management-track students I’ve only ever passed in hallways or worked around, never with.

Their jackets are cleaner. Their posture more assured. They cluster instinctively, already talking over one another before we’ve even fully assembled.

Then Karina’s name is called.

Stiffening, we both roll our eyes at the exact same time.

Great. I forgot she was on my team. Things were different back then. She hated me, but there wasn’t as

much bite.

Karina steps into the circle, chin lifted, gaze already sweeping the group like she’s taking inventory. Around her, the others fall into conversation immediately.

“Alright,” says Bren, tall and broad-shouldered, already acting like he’s in charge. He has the kind of voice that expects to be listened to. “Let’s sort roles fast. I’ll take the moutain! Speed matters.”

Beside him, Tamsin-sharp-eyed, restless, fingers always tapping-nods eagerly. “Yeah, I’ve seen him take down a bear.”

“Yeah,” mutters Bren, arms crossed confidently. “It wasn’t even hard.”

Tamsin elbows him. Bren smirks.

Karina doesn’t look at me when she speaks, even though she’s a healer, she seems to know them. “We’ll need someone reliable for the forest leg.”

Their banter rolls on without me, easy and familiar, like they’ve run drills together a dozen times already. I stand half a step back, hands tucked into my sleeves, listening rather than inserting myself where I’m clearly not expected.

When there’s finally a pause, I take it.

す

“I’ll take the river segment,” I say calmly. “I’m a strong swimmer.”

For a moment, it almost feels like it might stick.

Then Karina waves me off.

୮

“No,” she says lightly. “Tamsin’s better suited for water crossings, he’s on the swim team. You’ll take the forest.”

I meet her eyes, hard. “I rather the water.”

“I know,” she replies, already turning away. “But this makes more sense.” Right guys?

The nods and agreements roll him, and I don’t argue because outside looking in, this made the most sense.

Outwardly, I just nodded along. Inside, a small panic hums beneath my ribs.

+25 Bonus

Alright. I got the forest. But, on the positive side, I knew about the trap.

My gaze, with out meaning to flicks across the clearing.

Dominic’s team is gathered near the starting mountain path. He rolling a jacket onto his shoulders, readying to start the hike up, and positioned at the mountain. He was already surveying the climb up, pointing to his teammate which face he was going to take.

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