Page 60 of Luna's New Reign
But watching Bambi’s face scrunch up with anger as her magic beats around her ispriceless.
Mateo’s voice cuts through the air like thunder, each syllable cracking like a whip against the walls of the packhouse. Asani is just as vocal, his frustration bubbling over as he paces, hands running through his dark hair. River, Remi, and Maverick all hover nearby, their tension palpable, but they aren’t as loud as the other two.
And Nepheline?
She stands at the center of it all, her shoulders squared, her eyes flashing like a storm brewing in the midnight sky. Her magic coils around her like smoke, beautiful and terrifying.
“You’re not doing this,” Mateo growls, his gaze fixed on her as if sheer will alone will stop her. “Your body can’t handle it. You can’t handle it.”
Nepheline’s jaw clenches, her fists trembling at her sides as she glares back at him. “Can’t handle it?” she spits, her voice cracking with fury. “You have no idea what I can handle, Mateo.”
Mateo doesn’t flinch. His stance is solid, immovable. “I do know. Iwatchedwhat happened when you tried to trek with us to the pack of the Forbidden. You couldn’t evenstandby the time we pulled you out of there.”
Her face contorts, the tears building in her eyes now glinting in the soft light. “And you think I don’trememberthat?” she snaps, her voice rising. “Every damn day I’m reminded of my limits, of what myOmegacan handle. You think I don’t remember what it felt like when I thought I’d lost you? When I thought I wasalone?”
Mateo falters, just for a second, but Asani picks up where he left off, his voice softer but no less firm. “Neph,” he says carefully, stepping forward. “We’re not saying this to punish you. But you’re already carrying so much. Locke—your magic—the baby…” He shakes his head, his expression pained. “We’re trying toprotectyou.”
“I don’t need your protection!” she screams suddenly, and her magic surges outward in response, brushing against all of us like a living thing. Her chest heaves, her eyes wild and wet with unshed tears as she stares at us. “You all act like I’m some fragile thing to be locked away. I’m not! I’m not weak and I’m not breaking!”
I can’t watch this anymore. I can’t watch her tear herself apart like this, fightinguswhen all we want is to keep her safe. I can’t donothing.
So I move.
Before I know what I’m doing, I move in front of her, my hands trembling as I rest them on her shoulders. The sound of the argument fades into a low hum behind me as I look at her.
“Bambi,” I whisper, my voice rough, my throat tight.
Her furious eyes snap down to me, the tears finally spilling over as she looks at me—reallylooksat me. She’s trembling, her magic still crackling faintly around her, but I don’t care. Iwon’tcare.
“Is that how you see yourself?” I ask softly, my voice cracking. “You think we’re locking you away because you’re weak? Because you’re… less?” I shake my head, feeling my own chest ache. “You’re so fucking precious to us, Neph. We’ddieif you did.”
Her lip quivers, her hands falling limply at her sides as she stares at me, broken and furious all at once. “I’m dyinginside,Darius,” she whispers, her voice so soft I almost don’t hear it. “Knowing that Locke is out there—knowing he’s in pain, being used for someone’s agenda… I can’t justsit here.”
I surge forward, cupping her face gently between my hands, her tears slipping over my thumbs as I tilt her head up to meet my gaze.
“Then let us find a way to get him,” I murmur, my forehead brushing against hers. “Let us bring him back. And when we do, you can nurse him back to health. You cansavehim, Neph. But you have to let us help you.”
She shudders in my hands, her breath catching as fresh tears spill over her cheeks. “He’s in so much pain,” she whispers brokenly. “I can feel him now. It’s like he’s calling out to me.”
I nod, brushing my thumbs over her cheeks as my own throat tightens. “And I’m sure he can feel you, too.” I lean closer, pressing a kiss to her lips—soft, lingering,reassuring. “Help him remember who he is, Bambi. Help himhold on.”
She lets out a shaky breath, her forehead resting against mine as her hands come up to curl around my wrists. Her magic flickers and fades, the smoke-like tendrils pulling back as her body relaxes, exhaustion overtaking her fury.
Silence settles over the room, the kind that feels too fragile, too close to breaking. I don’t look at the others—I can’t. My focus stays on her, the way her breathing slows, the way her tears dry on her cheeks.
Finally, her voice breaks the quiet, so soft it’s barely more than a whisper.
“Promise me we’ll find him.”
I don’t hesitate. “I promise.”
Behind me, I hear Mateo’s low exhale, the others shifting quietly as I stay there, kneeling in front of her, my hands cradling her face as if she might slip away if I let go.
Because she’s right.
Locke is out there. He’s in pain.
And this darkness—thismonsterwe’re fighting—isn’t done with us yet.