A Fractured Bond
Kaelen hesitated, the unspoken truths sitting heavily between them. But before he could respond, a soft voice cut through the tension.
“If you have questions about me, Luna,” Eira said, stepping into the room with an almost ethereal grace, “perhaps you should ask me directly.”
Isla turned, her gaze locking onto Eira. The air in the chamber seemed to shift, growing heavy with the unspoken challenge between them.
“Then tell me,” Isla said, her voice steady but laced with suspicion. “What’s your real reason for being here?”
Eira’s expression remained calm, her faint smile a mask of serene confidence. She inclined her head slightly, her silver hair gleaming in the firelight. “To ensure that the Moon Goddess’s will is fulfilled,” she said, her voice even and measured.
Isla’s lips pressed into a thin line. “And what does that mean?”
Eira’s smile deepened, just enough to unsettle. Her pale eyes glinted with something unreadable. “That’s something only time will reveal.”
Kaelen shifted uncomfortably in his seat, his posture tense. Isla caught the movement, her suspicion sharpening. “You trust her without question,” Isla said, addressing her father. “Why? Is it because you owe her, or because you don’t have a choice?”
Eira’s gaze flicked to Kaelen, her smile unwavering. “Your father and I have an understanding, Isla. One that has kept your family alive.”
Kaelen stood abruptly, his tone clipped. “This conversation is over. Eira’s loyalty has been proven time and again. We have more pressing matters than questioning motives.”
Isla rose as well, her chest tight with frustration. “Maybe you don’t care to ask questions, but I do. If I’m supposed to trust her, I need to know she’s not working against me.”
Eira’s serene demeanor faltered for the briefest moment, a flicker of irritation passing through her pale eyes. “Trust is earned, Luna,” she said coolly. “And I assure you, when the time comes, my loyalty will not be in question. Can you say the same about yourself?”
The words struck a nerve, and Isla’s fists clenched at her sides. “I’ve earned my place in every way that matters,” she shot back. “I don’t need you or anyone else to question it.”
Eira inclined her head, her expression once again unreadable. “Then perhaps you’ll come to see that we’re not so different after all.”
As she left the room, her footsteps echoing in the quiet hall, Isla turned to Kaelen. “If you keep protecting her, it’s only going to push me further away,” she warned.
Kaelen sighed, his shoulders slumping. “You don’t understand the full picture yet, Isla. When you do, you’ll see that she’s not your enemy.”
“Then stop keeping me in the dark,” Isla said, her voice trembling with anger. “Because right now, it feels like I’m standing alone.”
She stormed out of the chamber, the firelight casting long shadows across the walls as her father remained behind, his head bowed in silence.
