Page 148 of The Moonborn's Curse

"I wasn't supposed to be here, you know. Not like this."

Seren tilted her head. "What do you mean?"

Ryn gave her a side glance. "She means she's a reward."

Ana snorted. "Was... Made to be handed out like a shiny bauble to a demigod or one of those self-important divine followers. 'Thank you for your loyalty, here's a golden fuckdoll with magic hair.'"

Seren blinked. "Wait—seriously?"

"Oh, very." Ana leaned back, lips curling in a half-smile. "But let's just say... I caught one of the gods with his pants down. Literally. And his wife would not have been pleased."

Ryn smirked into her glass. "Blackmail. Classy."

"I call it bargaining." Ana stretched like a cat. "He owed me a favour. I used it to buy my freedom. Best trade I ever made. Now I get to decide who touches me, not some celestial contract."

Seren's mouth parted, stunned.

Ana shrugged, suddenly a little sad behind the sass.

"I just... if I ever sleep with someone again, I want it to be my choice. Not because I was forged for it. Not because they earned me. Because I want to."

"Fuck them all," she whispered.

"Fuck them all," Ryn echoed, raising her glass.

They all looked at Seren.

She repeated dutifully. "Fuck them all."

Ana gave her a glowing grin. "Look at our baby fox, all grown up. Grown teeth now."

Then, after a pause: "Hey. You should move in. We have space. Ryn won't complain. I mean—she'll grunt, but that's her love language."

Seren hesitated.

She thought of Talis. How kind he was. How he looked at her sometimes like he wanted to say something but never did.

She didn't want to lead him on. Didn't want to keep sleeping in a house filled with his unspoken affection.

So, she said, "I can cook."

And that sealed the deal.

Chapter 55

Seren

The Hollow Moon was quiet. The last chairs were stacked, the counters wiped down, and the door was locked behind her.

Everyone else had errands—Ana was off picking up a cursed lipstick she swore made your ex weep in regret. Ryn had grunted something about a family reunion and vanished like smoke.

Griff and Rhea?

Gods knew where. Seren had once walked in without knocking and caught Griff inhaling a pair of lace panties like it was fine wine. She always knocked now.

Tonight, she was alone.

Almost.

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