A Y L A
The word Luna landed like a blow.
They were choosing a mate.
For Raiden.
My eyes flicked to him instinctively. He hadn’t moved, hadn’t spoken, but his jaw was clenched tightly now, his breathing shallow, uneven. Sweat glistened faintly at his temple. He looked like a man being forced to watch his own fate unfold while too weak to stop it.
The Seer turned slowly toward Liora first.
The Seer lifted her staff once more, the sharp tap against stone slicing clean through the murmurs. Silence fell so quickly it felt unnatural, as if the hall itself had been commanded to hold its breath.
“Before the rite begins,” she said evenly, her gaze moving between us, “the candidates will be given one final chance to speak.”
Her eyes settled on Liora first.
“Do you have any final words befo
