*Part 1: Breather – 8:00 PM, Luna’s Solar*
The trial was over. The palace was quiet in that way it only got after a storm.
Elara found Aria in the solar, sitting by the window with her knees pulled up. Elias was asleep on the couch, curled up like he used to when he was ten.
Elara didn’t knock. She just came in and sat on the edge of the window seat.
“You’re quiet,” she said.
Aria shrugged. “Tired.”
Elara studied her daughter. Moonblood eyes, sharper than any Lycan’s. Ward marks faintly glowing under her skin from overuse.
“You did good today,” Elara said.
Aria looked down. “I didn’t do anything. You and Darius handled it.”
“You traced him,” Elara said. “You broke his ward from 40 miles away. You gave us the proof we needed.”
She reached out and tucked a strand of hair b
