This Chapter is dedicated to Jennifer_McKern. Your presence here is so refreshing. ✨️

My dearest Jennifer, there are readers... and then there are people like you. The kind who make writing feel less lonely.

I don’t think you understand how much your support means to me. Every comment, every reaction, every coin, and every moment you spend reading this story leaves a mark on my heart. Sometimes, writing can feel exhausting and uncertain, but then I see your name at the top of my readers, and suddenly, it all feels worth it again.

Writers never forget readers who make them feel seen too. You are deeply appreciated, more than you know. ✨️🤍💜

....

Aire immediately panicked inwardly. She clutched her fists secretly. Her chest tightened slightly.

"What?" she asked again, quieter this time.

Michelle’s fingers withdrew slowly. "There’s a mark," she said. "Behind your ear."

Aire blinked. "A mark?" she asked, faking oblivion as her heart raced. The mark had appeared after the curse, and the mere thought of it embarrassed her.

She never thought that one day, soemone else will notice it.

Michelle nodded gently. "Yes."

Aire’s hand lifted instinctively, brushing back her own hair, and rubbing that spot, as if trying to feel it.

Her fingers hovered over the spot. She had noticed it, but no one had ever pointed it out.

"What does it look like?" she asked, trying to believe it was normal.

Michelle smiled faintly. "It’s the shape of a half moon," she said softly.

Aire stilled. Her fingers remained there for a moment longer before lowering slowly.

"A half moon..." she repeated under her breath. Immediately, she reached for the top of her hair, and freed the strands of her hair from a messy bun, to letting then pour over her shoulders.

Her cheeks warmed slightly. She appreciated being seen. It felt so intimate that a faint blush crept up her skin before she could stop it.

However, she couldn’t risk another eye seeing it. Mitchell might think it’s nothing, but perhaps, someone else might be able to link it to the curse.

She doesn’t want that. At least, not now.

Michelle noticed, yet she didn’t comment. However, her gaze softened just a little more.

"It suits you," she added quietly.

Aire let out a small breath that almost sounded like a laugh.

"I didn’t even know it was there," she lied smoothly through her teeth, as she unconsciously counted her fingers.

Michelle tilted her head slightly. "Some things are meant to be discovered by others," she said.

Aire glanced at her again. That made her smile. She smiled genuinely this time. Before she could respond, she got interupted.

The door opened sharply.

A guard stepped in, his presence immediate and firm.

"Luna, Your Grace." he called, giving his deepest bow of respect.

Aire turned instinctively. "Yes?"

"There is someone here to see you," he said.

Aire’s brows pulled together slightly. "Who?" she inquired, genuinely suprised by that information.

The guard hesitated just for a fraction.

"Your uncle." He replied.

Aire stilled. "My uncle?"

"Beta Kole." The guard replied again, clarifying what he had just said.

What Aire felt after hearing that name as her visitor was a more complicated feeling than she has ever felt.

Her fingers tightened slightly around the book in her hand.

She hadn’t seen him in private for a long time. Not since before everything changed and then she left that house behind.

He had never been kind, but he was still family.

A strange warmth flickered through her before she could stop it. She felt the warmness embrace her inside.

"He’s here?" she asked quietly.

"Yes, Luna." the guard replied patiently, bowing softly again. "In the south wing visiting room."

Aire nodded slowly. "I’ll come."

The guard bowed slightly and stepped back.

Aire turned to Michelle. "I should go," she said.

Michelle inclined her head. "Of course."

Aire hesitated for a moment. "Thank you," she said softly, with genuine appreciation.

Michelle smiled. "It was my pleasure."

Aire turned and walked toward the door.

The south wing felt different, quieter, and more contained when she got there. She has never been here before.

Aire followed the guard down the corridor. Her steps echoed softly against the polished floors.

Her fingers curled slightly at her sides. She didn’t know what to expect. She tried not to expect anything, as expectation had always been the beginning of every disappointment for her.

But still....

The guard stopped before a door.

He knocked once, then pushed it open.

"Luna," he announced.

Aire stepped in.

Beta Kole stood near the window. His back was to her at first.

The moment the door closed, he turned. His eyes landed on her immediately. They were sharp, and didn’t soften a bit. They assessed her.

Aire stilled at the sharpness of his gaze. She didn’t know what she had been expecting, but she didn’t expect his eyes to still hold those unkind feelings towards her.

"Uncle," she said quietly.

He didn’t respond to the greeting.

Instead, his gaze moved over her slowly, taking in her appearance, her posture, and the way she carried herself now.

"Luna," he said finally.

The word did not sound respectful, but evaluative.

Aire swallowed.

"I wasn’t expecting you," she said. "I would have prepared something for you. Anything."

"I don’t need to be expected," he replied flatly. "You ate my free meals, and states under my roof for days. Don’t act formal now."

The warmth she had felt earlier faded away immediately.

Aire straightened slightly. "Why are you here?" she asked, her voice still soft and hopeful.

He didn’t waste time.

"I need something from you." He said, straightforwardly.

Aire’s fingers curled slightly. "What?"

"A match," he said.

She blinked. "A match?" she asked, visibly confused.

"For Hannah." He added, his eyes sternly fixed on Aire.

Aire’s expression didn’t change immediately.

"And a seat," he added. "On the council."

Aire stared at him. For a moment, she thought she had misheard him. Her brain couldn’t process what she just heard.

"You came here," she said slowly, "to ask me to arrange a match... and secure a council position?"

"Yes." He said with no hesitation.

Aire exhaled slowly. "That’s not something I can just—"

"You can," he cut in.

Aire stilled. She blinked twice. "I can’t," she corrected, her voice calmer now. "That isn’t within my control. I almost have no power here."

"You are Luna." he pointed out firmly. "You make it your control."

Aire shook her head slightly. "That’s not how it works."

"It is now."

Aire’s jaw tightened faintly.

Her chest felt tight again but not the same way as before. She didn’t feel hurt this time, but frustrated.

"You don’t understand—"

"I understand perfectly," he interrupted again. His gaze hardened. "You have influence now," he said. "Use it."

Aire held his gaze. "And if I don’t?" she questioned, raising her chin, as she tried to speak.

She almost couldn’t speak before him. She could still remember his back handed slaps on her face that has happened over a thousand times in the past.

Silence stretched between them.

"Then you prove exactly what I already think," he said.

Aire’s brows pulled together. "What is that?"

"That you are still exactly what you were," he replied coldly. "Just dressed differently."

Aire swallowed at the severity of the words. His words tried to create claws to tear her down but to her surprise, her spine straightened.

Her gaze didn’t drop.

"I won’t do it," she said, refusing him for the first time ever. Her voice was quiet, yet firm.

Beta Kole’s eyes narrowed slightly. "You don’t have the luxury of refusing." He warned.

Aire’s fingers tightened at her sides. "I do."

"You think this position protects you," he said slowly, almost mocking.

Aire didn’t respond.

"You think being Luna makes you untouchable." He said again, stepping forward, towards her.

Still, she said nothing.

Beta Kole stepped closer.

"It doesn’t," he said, two steps away from her.

Aire’s gaze held his, unwavering.

"Then I suppose we’ll both find out," she replied softly.

Beta Kole immediately paused in shock.