When The Luna Broke Her Chains novel Chapter 14

Chapter 14 How A Luna Learns To Lie

[XENA]

Cassian’s arrival is so sudden that both Astrid and I stiffen at the same time.

Finished

before

The doorway darkens, and he steps inside with that familiar, heavy presence that used to excite me… I learned the truth. His gaze sweeps over me first, then shaps to Astrid–catching the tear streaks she didn’t wipe well enough. Her chin wobbles as she tries to hide it.

He ignores her. His attention drops to the spilled green lurry on the floor, face twisting, something akin to irritation washing over.

I speak before he can. “Forgive her, Alpha Cassian,” I say quickly. “She’s a little shaky this morning. I’ll have someone clean it.”

Cassian clears his throat, but his gaze flickers back to Astrid anyway before returning to me. “I thought you might still be sleeping,” he says. Then, without warning, he leans in and presses a kiss to my forehead.

I don’t flinch outwardly, but inside, something brittle goes cold.

“You look beautiful,” he murmurs.

Astrid stands to the side, stiff and trembling, her eyes burning with something that looks embarrassingly close to yearning. A beta hovers behind Cassian, just at the threshold of the room.

I force a soft smile. “Thank you,” I breathe, already knowing what this sudden tenderness is.

He realized he slipped yesterday–let the mask fall for a moment. And now he’s scrambling to put it back on and playing the doting husband so I won’t bring up the Severance again. He’s trying to fit me back into the mold of obedient Luna.

“I couldn’t sleep much because of regrets,” I lie. “I kept thinking about… what I said to you yesterday.” I lower my voice conspicuously, letting the implication hang.

Cassian’s eyes cut toward Astrid. A muscle ticks in his jaw. His hand comes to rest on my arm, a gesture that used to feel tender–now it feels like a shackle.

“Healer,” he says sharply. “Leave.”

She doesn’t move at first. Her eyes flick between us, a mix of helplessness and offense evident in her gaze.

Cassian snaps, “What are you waiting for? Didn’t you hear me?”

She jerks like he struck her and scurries out, nearly tripping over the threshold.

I almost feel pity for her. Almost.

I inhale slowly as Cassian turns back toward me, forcing warmth into my smile. “It’s alright,” he says, smoothing his thumb over my arm as though comforting me.

I flutter my lashes, playing the part. “I was wrong. I shouldn’t have said what I said. It was… stupid of me.”

Two can play at this game. Especially now when it has finally been revealed to me….

His smirk gives him away. He thinks he has me back under control. Back where he wants me. “You’re my

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12:21 Thu, Jan 22 GAD.

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Chapter 14 How A Luna Learns To Lie

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wife,” he says, voice rich with false affection–like the title should mean the world to me.

I manage not to snort.

Cassian glances over his shoulder and gives a curt nod. His beta steps forward and unfurls a cloak–a pale imitation of my ceremonial Luna cloak.

Cassian turns to me expectantly.

I let out a gasp, soft and trembling. “You found it,” I whisper, snatching it gently from the beta. “Alpha Cassian… you’re incredible.”

He beams. “I wanted to surprise you when you woke. But seeing you smile now is better.” His gaze lingers on me. I know he’s trying hard to make himself appear affectionate. “You’re beautiful,” he repeats, brushing his fingers against my cheek.

This time, the smile strains so hard my jaw aches. I glance down at the cloak. Two seconds is all it takes. A fake. A poorly crafted counterfeit. Barely a shadow of the real one.

Disappointment carves a hollow in my chest.

If it was my real ceremonial cloak, I’d be one step closer to claiming Severance. Well, one of the several thousand steps ahead of me.

I swallow and lift my gaze. “The young woman’s child–the one I gave the cloak to–I hope he’s alright now.”

Cassian freezes. Only for a heartbeat. Then he nods. “Of course. I made sure they were taken care of. You were kind to them.”

Hah. I have my confirmation.

He hoped it was a clean lie, but I caught him. Because the woman I helped was frail, wrinkled, with white hair, and childless. There was no boy. Cassian knows nothing of it because he never checked. Never cared to find the real cloak. He probably gave a brief description of what he could remember and brought the first one that most resembled his memory.

He studies the room idly, and my pulse spikes when his gaze drifts toward the far corner–toward the little fortress of chests and tapestries where the pup is hidden

I shift subtly, stepping directly into his line of sight. “Will I see you at breakfast?” I ask lightly. “Or… have you already eaten?”

I catch it–the quick flicker of irritation in his eyes. Barely a second, but unmistakable. He hates these questions. He tolerates my presence only when I am silent, compliant, and pleasing.

“Sure,” he grumbles. “If nothing else comes up.”

He turns and leaves without looking back.

The moment the door shuts, I release the breath strangling my lungs. Then I rush to bolt the door. My hands shake as I return to the corner. The pup stirs, tiny whimpers rising from behind the fabric wall. I lift her gently.

“Vera,” I whisper again, stroking her narrow spine. The name slips out more easily this time. Her golden eyes blink up at me, trusting, unafraid.

12:21 Thu, Jan 22

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Chapter 14 How A Luna Learns To Lie

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Finished

“Maybe there’s more than one way to free myself,” I murmur, holding her close as the cold morning light. spills over the room. “The Goddess can’t be so cruel to me.“