I failed.
* * *
By the timethe sound of water going down the drain came from the bathing room, a half hour had passed.
Having changed and shifted back into my wings, I checked with Tristan. There was no news of Ciro’s whereabouts yet, but the guard was still searching.
I sat at my desk, quill in hand, as I jotted an entry in my journal. It was a habit I had taken up after losing Athena, and right now, it felt like the only thing keeping me sane.
Below today’s date, I wrote one word.
Tethered.
The bathing room door creaked, and I slammed the cover shut, quickly dropping the quill in the inkwell before turning around to greet Luna.
An apology for my earlier behavior was on the tip of my tongue, but words failed me as I laid my eyes on her. Her long brown hair was still damp from the shower and it ran in an intricate braid down her back.
Her hair accentuated the roundness of her ears, and she wore a long black dress with a scoop collar that was just low enough to provide a glimpse of the swell of her breasts. Long, bell-like sleeves covered her hands, mimicking the shape of the dress as it puffed out around her hips.
“What do you think?” she asked, running her hands down the dress nervously. “I had my eye on it earlier, and it seemed warmer than the Ipothan gowns I’ve been wearing… Does it look bad?”
Her voice trailed off as she ran her hands down the dress.
The chair rattled as I shoved myself to my feet. Reaching out behind me, I steadied the furniture without looking. Crossing the room, I took Luna’s hand in mine and bowed, pressing my lips to the back of her hand.
“The dress is beautiful, and you’re stunning,” I said honestly.
“Oh,” she whispered. Blood rushed to her cheeks, and she smiled. “Thank you.”
“Luna, I need to apologize. I acted like an ass earlier.” I tightened my grip around her hand, my thumb rubbing the back of her palm. “The Tether wasn’t your fault and I shouldn’t have assumed the worst of you.”
A long moment passed as her brown eyes searched mine.
“I accept your apology.” She raised a brow. “There is a chance—a very slight one—that I wasn’t helping matters with the way I pushed you.”
I shook my head. “Let’s put it behind us, shall we?”
After all, we were stuck together now.
Forever.
She sucked her bottom lip through her teeth. “All right,” she whispered. “It’s forgotten.”
A knock came from the other side of the door. Luna jumped, and I dropped her hand before spreading my wings and hiding her from sight.
Crossing over to the door, I yanked it open.
I snapped. “What is it?”
Tristan stood on the other side of the door. His eyes were wide as he stared at me, his mouth opening and closing like a dying fish.
A knot grew in my stomach as the guard shifted from one foot to the other. “I… uh…”
Good gods, this was going to take all night. “Spit it out.”
The vampire paled, swallowing a lump in his throat, and he barely choked out, “Ciro is gone.”