----Skylar POV----
It had been a few days since the night of the fête, and still, there was no progress with Astoria. She had completely shut herself off, refusing to speak to or even see anyone.
Edmund was outraged by her behavior, but his threats fell on deaf ears. She simply didn’t care. And she knew he wouldn’t take any serious action against her—not while Aster was involved. So, she remained cloistered in her castle, refusing to step outside or let anyone in.
For now, we let her be. The preparations for the Luna Queen Ceremony demanded our full attention. Everyone was busy with something or another, all part of the plan carefully laid out by my mother.
Tonight marked the rise of the Red Moon, and the palace was alive with bustling energy. Tomorrow, at dusk, the ceremony would take
