Page 55 of Of Shadow and Moon

A group of Alebrijes scurries past, their vibrant forms adding to the surreal beauty of the garden. One, a creature with the body of a lizard and the wings of a butterfly, pauses to look at me with intelligent eyes before continuing its journey.

Selestina moves again, heading towards the fountain at the heart of the garden. The fountain is a masterpiece, with water cascading from the mouths of stone hellhounds, creating a soothing melody. I position myself behind a large statue, my gaze fixed on her. She’s setting another trap, her hands deftly placing something behind the fountain.

Sprites play among the flowers, their laughter blending with the sound of the water. One lands on Selestina’s shoulder, and she brushes it away absently, her focus unwavering.

Selestina hides behind a bush, grabbing her witch friend, her eyes fixed on the path. I move closer, blending into the shadows.

Kaelion strides into the courtyard. He walks confidently, unaware of the traps she’s set.

Kaelion, now covered in syrup, glitter, feathers, and flour, storms forward, triggering the final two packets. One explodes in a shower of confetti, the other in a cloud of itching powder. He scratches furiously, his face contorted in rage.

By this point, Selestina is on the ground, belly laughing so hard she can barely breathe. Nasarea collapses next to her, laughing just as hard. They clutch their sides, tears streaming down their faces.

I watch from behind my glamour, my heart pounding with a mix of desire and need. Selestina’s laughter is like a drug, so fucking intoxicating and infuriating.

Kaelion screams at everyone in his path, his fury echoing across the courtyard.

His eyes lock onto Selestina, and I see shock, then rage, and finally, amusement. She tips her head at him, her smile wide and mocking.

Kaelion’s eyes widen, then narrow, a dark smile curving his lips.

We aren’t the only princes tempted by our little siren, but the other heirs to Tonalli don't know how deep my obsession runs.

And how much I’m willing to sacrifice to make hermine.

Chapter 31

Selestina

The training grounds are full of the sounds of sparring students, quick breaths, and the steady, low voice of Professor Karr as he watches his trainees with a hawk-like intensity.

I sit on a mat near the edge, stretching my legs, trying to shake off the ache of yesterday’s drills, though the soreness clings stubbornly to my muscles. Next to me, Nasarea sits in silence, a tension around her that feels strange, almost out of place.

I glance across the room and meet Nazriel’s gaze. He’s seated across the training area, his back straight, his focus pinned to Nasarea with concern.

Evaline, as always, is by his side, practically pawing at him, tracing her fingers up his arm, leaning in close, her voice a constant murmur. Yet Nazriel doesn’t seem to notice her, his gaze is fixed on Nasarea, and then to me.

I roll my eyes at him, a silent message to cut it out, to stop staring like some obsessive puppy. He raises a single brow, his lips twitching with a hint of amusement, but he doesn’t look away. I huff, forcing myself to turn my attentionback to Nasarea, her silence drawing me in more than Nazriel’s unyielding stare.

I watch her carefully. Nasarea is usually sharp, her words edged with sarcasm, but today there’s a restraint in her, an invisible weight pressing her down. She moves stiffly, her gaze fixed on the floor as she stretches, her shoulders slumped, her face set in an expression that’s a little too distant.

“Something’s wrong,” I say softly, turning toward her. Concern in my eyes.

She snaps her head up, her dark eyes narrowing, defensive and her voice sharp. “Nothing’s wrong.” She bites out. “Don’t act like you know everything about me now that we arefriends.”

I watch her, unfazed by her prickly tone. There’s something deeper here, something pulling at her, and for once, her mask of cold indifference isn’t enough to hide it. “Maybe not,” I murmur, lowering my voice so the others can’t hear, “but I know enough to see when something’s wrong. We may have only been roommates for a couple of months, but I know you well enough to see that today’s different. You’re not yourself.”

For a moment, her eyes flash with irritation, her lips pressed tight, but then she sighs long, as though the breath itself is weighted. Her gaze shifts, softening just a fraction, and she looks away, her hands clenching and unclenching. “It’s the one year anniversary,” she says finally, her voice so low I almost miss it. “Of my mother’s death.”

I blink, trying to process it. “I… I’m sorry, Nasarea.” The words feel inadequate, but they’re all I can offer in the face of such raw grief and terrible friendship skills. I feel like such an asshole. Should I pat her shoulder? No. No, that’s probably weird.

She gives a small nod, her shoulders relaxing slightly, and for the first time today, she meets my gaze. “Thank you,” she murmurs, her voice softer, carrying an edge of something vulnerable, something tender. “She was… important, obviously. To my brother and me.”

“I didn’t realize,” I say quietly, struggling to reconcile the fierce, unbreakable Nasarea I know with the girl who sits here now, subdued, carrying a loss that’s clearly etched into her. “I didn’t know she was… gone.”

My gaze trails back to Nazriel. That infuriating man. That utterly hot and infuriating man. He also lost his mom one year ago. He continues to stare at me with such a raw intensity that I feel like I can see right through the asshole persona. He’s hurting too. And he is only trying to protect his sister from their father. I don’t know what it’s like to care so deeply for someone like that, but I understand feeling like you have no choice. That someone else pulls the puppet strings. That you’re just another pawn in this game of chess.

I break the gaze and look back at Nasarea.

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