Rejection Of The Moon Goddess

Cracks in the Bond

Elara slammed the bathroom door so hard the mirror rattled.

She gripped the sink with both hands, knuckles turning white, staring at her own reflection. Her chest rose and fell too fast. She turned on the cold water and splashed her face, but it did nothing to cool the heat crawling up her neck.

The bedroom door opened behind her.

Darius stepped in, his raven hair messy, golden-brown eyes tired. He loosened his tie with one hand and tossed it onto the bed.

“Elara? What’s going on?” he asked, walking closer and reaching for her shoulder.

She spun around, water still dripping down her cheeks. “Lira’s telling everyone I’m cursed, Darius. That I’m the reason we don’t have a baby yet.” She grabbed his shirt with both fists. “She said it loud enough for half the guests to hear at the luncheon today. And they were nodding. Like they agreed with her.”

Darius exhaled through his nose and covered her hands with his. “She’s just running her mouth again. You know how Lira is. Always stirring things.”

“But it’s working!” Elara pulled her hands free and started pacing, barefoot across the carpet. “People are looking at me differently now. Whispering when I walk by. I tried again this morning… that stupid breathing exercise the doctor suggested. Nothing. Still nothing.”

She stopped pacing and turned back to him, breathing hard.

Darius rubbed the back of his neck, eyes avoiding hers for a second. “Come here.”

He reached out and pulled her into his arms, pressing her against his chest. Elara buried her face in his shirt, inhaling his familiar scent.

“Why does she hate me so much?” she whispered against him. “What did I ever do to her?”

Darius stroked her hair slowly. “She’s jealous. She’s always wanted what she can’t have. And right now… she wants my attention.”

Elara lifted her head and searched his face. “And is she getting it?”

He frowned. “What kind of question is that?” He cupped her cheeks with both hands. “I’m here with you. Every night. Every morning. I come home to you, Elara.”

She gripped his wrists tightly. “Then why have you been so distant lately? You barely touched your dinner last night. You keep checking your phone like you’re waiting for bad news.”

Darius let go of her face and turned away, walking to the window. He gripped the frame with one hand. “There’s a lot of pressure right now. From family. From… everyone. They all want the same thing.”

“A baby,” Elara said quietly. She walked up behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist, pressing her cheek to his back. “They want me to give you a baby. And I’m trying, Darius. I’m really trying.”

He turned in her arms and pulled her close again, kissing the top of her head. “I know you are. We both are.”

Elara tilted her head up, eyes glassy. “Then tell Lira to stop. Tell her to stay away from me. From us.”

Darius sighed and brushed his thumb across her bottom lip. “I’ll talk to her. I promise. But you can’t let her get inside your head like this. You’re my wife. That’s what matters.”

She rose on her toes and kissed him, slow and desperate. Darius kissed her back, hands sliding down her back, pulling her tighter against him.

When they broke apart, she rested her forehead on his chin. “I just want us to be enough. Like we used to be.”

“We are enough,” he murmured, voice rough. He kissed her again, deeper this time, walking her backward toward the bed.

Elara let him, fingers working on the buttons of his shirt. “Then show me. Please.”

They fell onto the sheets together, tangled and breathless. For a while, everything else disappeared.

Later, as they lay facing each other, Darius traced lazy circles on her bare shoulder.

Elara watched him closely. “You still look worried.”

Darius hesitated, then reached over and took her hand, squeezing it. “There’s a full pack— I mean, a full family assembly tomorrow. We both need to be there.”

Elara’s fingers tightened around his. “What’s it about?”

He looked away, jaw tense, and didn’t answer.

“Darius… tell me.”

He stayed silent for a long moment, then finally said, voice low, “We need to a

ttend the full assembly tomorrow. I can’t explain it right now.”