"And when you see Luna," Magnus added, his voice suddenly tight, like he was using all his willpower to keep from breaking, "tell her I love her."
Kyllian's heart ached. The weight of those words, coming from a king who rarely expressed affection aloud, hit harder than any command or decree. He bowed deeply, not just out of protocol, but out of respect for the man beneath the crown.
"I will, Your Highness," he said softly.
And as he turned to leave, he couldn't help but wonder, how many more secrets lay buried beneath Luna's smile? And how long did they really have before all the truths came crashing down?
*****
Luna practically melted into the plush couch the moment they entered Damien's castle. Her body slumped, every muscle surrendering to exhaustion. Her head lolled back dramatically as she groaned, "Is this your everyday?"
Damien chuckled from where he was loosening his tie. "Yes. And just for the record, you only did a third of it. Maybe a quarter, if we're being honest."
