Page 29 of Luna's New Reign
I glance back out the window, unable to help myself. From here, I can see Nepheline just beyond the clearing, standing with Victoria near the edge of the crystal forest. The trees shimmer faintly in the light, the branches casting pale shadows across the ground.
Nepheline’s posture is rigid, her head tilted slightly as Victoria says something I can’t hear. Lawrence and Darius hover nearby, just close enough to intervene if something goes wrong, though they seem to have settled into an easy rhythm.
And then I see it.
Her nose scrunches up, the way it always does when someone says something that annoys her. It’s adorable and it makes my chest ache in ways I don’t have words for. But before I can even think about smiling, Nepheline’s expression shifts, her lips curling into a snarl that echoes through the clearing.
I stiffen immediately, every instinct in me screaming to go to her.
Ilara lets out an exasperated sigh. “Again?Focus,Maverick!”
I tear my gaze away from the window, though it takes every ounce of willpower I have. “It’s hard to focus when my mate’s about to rip someone’s head off,” I mutter.
“Your mate isfine,” Ilara replies coolly, though there’s a faint smirk tugging at the corner of her lips. “You think Victoria doesn’t know how to handle her? Besides, both of their Betas are with them.”
I huff out a breath, but Ilara’s right. If anything, Victoria has proven she knows exactly how to keep Nepheline on edge—enough to push her but never enough to break her. I’ve watched it happen every morning for the past week.
Nepheline stands with Victoria for hours, honing her control, learning to use the power flowing through her. It’s incredible to see how much she’s grown. She’s steadier, more confident, but still… she’s Nepheline. My fiery, stubborn mate who grumbles under her breath and stomps away when she’s had enough.
And then she comes straight to me.
My lips twitch at the thought. Nepheline has always been affectionate, but lately, it’s something more. She’s clingy in a way that doesn’t bother me—if anything, I live for it. The way she stomps into the house, finds me wherever I am, and demands cuddles with all the authority of a Luna who knows her mate can’t say no.
There’s not much sex. It’s not even about that. She just wants to be close, to feel safe, and I’m more than happy to give her that.
“Do you want to keep staring out the window, or do you want to keep your magic from blowing up in someone’s face?” Ilara interrupts, pulling me back into the moment.
I shoot her a glare. “I’m not blowing anything up.”
“Not yet,” she replies flatly. “Which is why you need to get it under control now.”
I grumble something under my breath but step back into position. Ilara narrows her eyes at me, clearly unimpressed.
“You’ve been walking around like a ticking bomb for weeks now,” she says, her voice softer but no less sharp. “Magic isn’t something you can keep ignoring, Maverick. It will demand your attention one way or another.”
I know she’s right. I feel it, deep in my bones. The magic isn’t just a part of me anymore—it’s apresence.It hums beneath my skin like it’s alive, waiting for me to lose focus, to let it spill out of me in ways I won’t be able to take back. I haven’t passed out in a while with a vision so heavy that it takes over my body but it’s only a matter of time. I run a hand through my hair, trying to shake off the frustration building in my chest. “It’s just—”
A familiar sound outside cuts me off.
The back door slams, followed by the unmistakable sound of stomping feet.
I don’t even have to look to know it’s her.
Nepheline storms into the kitchen, her hair slightly windswept, her cheeks flushed with frustration. Her magic clings to her like a second skin, crackling faintly in the air as she locks her fiery hazel eyes on me.
“I’mdone,” she declares, her tone firm as she marches toward me. “Victoria is the most infuriating person I’ve ever met, and if I have to listen to her voice for one more second, I’m going to scream.”
I don’t fight the grin that tugs at my lips as she stops in front of me, her arms crossing over her chest. “I thought you were learning to control your magic,” I tease.
She glares at me, but there’s no real heat behind it. “I’m learning. I just hate her voice.”
I chuckle softly, opening my arms, and Nepheline immediately steps into them, her body melting against mine. She presses her face into my chest with a little sigh and I wrap my arms around her, holding her close. Ilara mutters something under her breath, but I don’t pay her any attention. Nepheline’s here now, in my arms, and nothing else matters.
“You’re clingy today,” I murmur, brushing my lips against the top of her head.
“I’ll stop when you complain,” she mutters back, her voice muffled against my shirt.
“Never.”