Liora's POV
Something inside me went quiet after that day.
Not broken. Just... still.
I stopped fighting what I couldn't change, what I couldn't control. Stopped waiting for Jax to explain. Stopped caring about Seraphina's triumphant smiles.
Instead, I did what I'd always done. Survived.
Mira found me in the kitchen three days later, helping prepare meals for the orphan house.
"You don't have to do this," she said.
"I know." I kept chopping vegetables. The repetitive motion was soothing. "I want to."
"The Luna doesn't usually…"
"I'm not like other Lunas." I looked up. Met her eyes. "And I need to be useful."
She studied me for a long moment. Something like concern flickered across her face.
"Okay," she finally said. "Then let me help."
We worked side b
