Jade’s POV
The fire had died down hours ago.
The courtyard was mostly quiet now: just the occasional boot scuff on stone, the rustle of guards cycling shifts, the distant hum of the river below. But the sacred circle still glowed faintly, like the earth itself hadn’t quite let go of what happened tonight.
The Luna ceremony had ended in a storm of howls.
Applause. Cheers. Relief.
And for good reason.
Brielle had stepped into power like it had always been hers. Like she'd been waiting for the rest of us to catch up.
She looked radiant under the moonlight. Composed. Fierce. Untouchable.
Jake had looked like a man completely leveled by love and rebuilt in her name.
The whole thing was... perfect.
So why did I feel like I’d been hollowed out and left behind?
I stood at the edge of th
