The Moon Goddess’s Daughter

Chapter 003: No time for boys

003.

Two Days Later…

“I’m gonna miss you, Dad!!!” Lyra cried, holding Bryce like he would disappear if she left him.

Isadora, on the other hand, was too excited—all she wanted was to leave already. Naya walked forward and embraced her. Isadora smiled, hugging her back. “I’m gonna miss your chocolate cookies, Aunt Naya.”

Naya smiled and ruffled her hair. “I’m going to miss you girls too, baby. But if it makes you feel any better, I will get them delivered to you girls whenever I make them,” she leaned in to whisper this one. “I’ll ask Charlotte to also make a few for Cee.”

Isadora beamed. “I love you.”

Naya kissed her forehead. When Lyra finally left Bryce, she rushed in to have a group hug with Isa and Naya.

Dominic arrived with luggage for Isadora, a gesture that made the girl roll her eyes and groan. She knew her father had packed those princess ball gowns she didn’t like. She was actually happy with one suitcase. “Seriously, Dad,” she facepalmed, and Lyra chuckled.

“You might need them,” Lyra commented.

Isadora just shrugged. She walked to where Dominic stood and hugged him. “I’m going to miss your constant nagging and overprotectiveness, Dad,” she wrapped her hands fully around him even though they didn’t actually fit. “But most of all, I’m going to miss you.”

Dominic felt like she was leaving him forever. If she had let him, they wouldn’t have stayed at the dorms. But Isadora already promised to behave. Now that she was going, he couldn’t help being emotional. “My little moonfire,” he kissed her forehead. “I will miss you more. Please stay out of trouble.”

“You got it!” Isadora gave him a salute.

“And please,” he held her hands and gave her a serious look. “No one must know your real identity, okay? They mustn’t know you are the daughter of the Moon Goddess. No matter what happens, keep your appearing powers hidden.”

Isadora nodded. He’d been telling her this for two days now, and her ears were starting to bleed from listening to it too much. “I understand what’s at stake if they know, Dad. You gotta trust me, okay?”

“I trust you,” he gave her a small smile. “It’s them I don’t trust.”

“I’ll be fine,” she assured him.

Dominic pulled Lyra in for a hug as well, and it took all the willpower he had to finally let them enter the car. When they were in and out of the palace gates, Lyra couldn’t control her tears anymore.

Isadora couldn’t help laughing. “Why are you acting like we’re going to our husbands’ houses? It’s just school, and it’s only a two-hour drive from the palace.”

Lyra fanned herself with her hand dramatically. “I know, but we’re staying at the dorms, remember? Which means we aren’t going to see our parents until after the semester is over or if there is an important event in school. I’ve never been away from home that long, Isa,” she sighed. “I’m nervous… and scared.”

Isadora moved close and hugged her. “You don’t have to be. You have me. I will not allow anyone to bully or scare you.”

Lyra smiled, feeling a little better. “I have to admit, I’m also excited. Royals Academy has the most gorgeous men,” she beamed with a dreamy expression on her face.

Isadora simply chuckled and shook her head. Lyra’s constant mood swings weren’t shocking anymore. The girl could be angry one minute, and the next minute she was talking her ear off about boys. She didn’t understand what their deal was with all this boy stuff. The ones she’d come across back at the pack were sights for sore eyes, coupled with their disgusting attitude and the feeling that the world revolved around them.

And she didn’t even want to get started on the ones her father had set up dates with.

Just thinking about them made her want to chew her fingers.

“Isa?” Lyra called, and she hummed. “What if you find a boy you like at Royals Academy? Will you date him?”

Isadora scoffed. “That’s not possible. I have no time for boys, Lyra. All I want to do is train, learn, get my powers, and finally fulfill my destiny. Boys are distractions.” She rolled her eyes.

Lyra clicked her tongue like she was trying to imagine something. “I’d like to find my Prince Charming.”

“You read too many fairytale books, Princess,” Isadora sneered. “This is reality.”

****

They arrived at the dorms, and while the room was being set up for them, Lyra was too excited that she dragged Isadora out so they could have a tour of the place. Isadora smiled as she looked around. Royals Academy was indeed magnificent and beautiful. It looked like something straight out of a fairytale, and even though it was a school for training and grooming, it didn’t look like that from the outside.

She’d read about it, but seeing it in person filled her with joy and excitement. She couldn’t wait to go on adventures and discover new places.

“This place is huge, Isa!!” Lyra exclaimed, twirling while Isadora smiled and watched her.

They got to the volleyball court, and while Isadora seemed uninterested, Lyra gushed as she looked around, especially at the boys who were playing.

“Wow, I had no idea they do sports here too. I thought it’s going to be strictly training, you know,” Lyra commented.

“See? That’s why I asked you to read the books, but you called them boring.”

Lyra faced Isadora. “That’s because they are boring,” she grimaced. “Who wants to read the history of a school when they could just read novels with happy endings instead?”

Isadora laughed, but it was short-lived because, in a split second, she saw the ball flying toward Lyra. Before Lyra could blink, Isadora was behind her, catching the ball before it could hit her best friend. Lyra turned, her eyes wide with shock.

Isadora frowned. “Hey! Watch where you throw the ball!” she snapped.

The boys turned, and one of them walked toward her to take the ball. Her eyes widened when she saw him, her heartbeat picking up. He was… he looked so good. His golden-brown hair caught the sunlight in a way that almost looked unreal, every strand seeming like it was spun from gold itself. His eyes, a deep emerald green, locked with hers, and for a moment, she forgot how to breathe.

There was something unsettling about his gaze—it wasn’t just that it was piercing, it was that it felt like he could see straight through her. His jaw was sharp, the kind carved from stone, and his posture screamed confidence without him even trying.

“I—sorry about that,” his voice was smooth, low, and steady, carrying an effortless charm as he stopped in front of her. “Didn’t mean to almost take your friend’s head off.”

He extended his hand, palm open, waiting patiently for her to drop the ball into it. Isadora blinked, still holding it tightly like she hadn’t realized she was clutching it. Slowly, she placed it in his hand, her fingers brushing against his briefly.

“Thanks,” he said simply, flashing her a small smirk that made something strange twist in her stomach. He tucked the ball under his arm. “See you around.”

And just like that, he turned and walked back to his friends, shoulders relaxed and stride confident.

Isadora remained frozen, her eyes still fixed on his retreating form, while her heart betrayed her with its erratic rhythm.

Lyra, of course, didn’t miss a thing. She leaned closer, lips curling into a mischievous grin. “What was that you said about boys being distractions?” she whispered teasingly, her eyes glinting with amusement.

Isadora shot her a glare, but the faint heat creeping up her neck betrayed her far more than words ever could.