Astoria’s POV
For a few seconds, neither of us moved. His eyes stayed on me, glued to the left side of my face. The stinging returned in slow, steady waves, like my skin was pulsing from the inside. I didn’t want to think about how it looked, so I tried to look away, but his stare followed me like a shadow.
My fingers tightened around the hem of my dress again before I finally let it go. Something in me clicked into place—not strength exactly, but the tiny bit of courage a drowning person has when they realize no help is coming.
I swallowed hard.
“Radien… I know the tradition,” I began. My voice shook; I hated that. “A Luna is not supposed to be blemished. They say it’s a bad sign. I understand. So… I will step down. You can take another woman as Luna. I just…” My throat closed up. “I
