The ballroom glittered like a jewel box, filled with the rustle of silk, the clink of crystal, and the murmur of a hundred conversations. Adrian stood near one of the tall windows, a glass of wine untouched in his hand, his eyes scanning the crowd with practiced detachment.
Luna Celeste moved through the room like a ship cutting through water, Mira at her side, introducing the young woman to every notable family in attendance. Mira smiled gracefully, curtsied at precisely the right moments, and said all the proper things. She was perfect—poised, beautiful, exactly what a Luna should be.
And Adrian felt nothing.
He turned his gaze back to the window, staring out at the darkening forest beyond the estate grounds. The sun had set fully now, leaving only the faint glow of lanterns to hold b
