Chapter 24
Luna
I always hate the silence, but tonight, it’s worse. It wraps around my throat and squeezes. The kind that makes every thought louder, every memory sharper, and every doubt impossible to ignore. It creeps into my chest and settles there.
The silence I remember from when I was little—lying in bed, waiting to hear the front door open, knowing no one was coming to check if I was okay.
On top of that, nothing helps with my headaches, not my meds, not lying down in the dark, not when I’m this stressed. I keep thinking about the locked cabinet, the missing files, and everything else related to Ellias.
I curl deeper under my blanket, but it doesn’t help. I feel…wired. Cold. Restless. And there it is again—that pull toward the Shadow Rink.
I shouldn’t go, but it’s the only place here where I can breathe. Even if there’s a chance of him being there. I push the blanket off and sit up with a quiet groan. I just need to skate.
I pull on my fleece-lined jumpsuit, tugging the hood over my ears, and lace up my boots. I grab my gym bag with my skates and head out.
The walk to the Shadow Rink is a blur until I’m sitting on the bench, switching out my boots for my skates. Next thing I know, I’m pushing off onto the ice, and for a few minutes, everything is okay.
My blades glide across the surface as I breathe in through my nose. A pain presses behind my left eye, but I keep going.
Then I hear the sound of another set of blades hitting the ice, coming toward me. I don’t have to turn around to know it’s him, and I hate the way my heart stutters.
The low sound that comes from him tells me he’s pissed.
I ignore him, taking a slow, wide curve, but I’m getting dizzy now, white spots swimming behind my eyes. I stop, bringing my hands to my knees.
“Luna?” he finally says.
“Go away, Zayden.” I try to skate away from him, but I barely make it to the benches before I throw up.
This is so embarrassing.
“Shit, Luna.” He skates toward me.
“I’m fine. Just leave me alone.” I try to get up. I don’t want him seeing me like this. But my knees buckle, and my head throbs like someone hit me with a hammer. Everything fades, like I’m falling in slow motion. Strong arms catch me and lower me gently onto the bench.
A cool hand presses against my forehead. “Fuck. You’re burning up.”
He kneels in front of me, not even caring about the mess a few feet away from him.
His hands brush against my ankle as he switches out my skates.
Then I feel him beside me. He shifts me until my head is leaning against his shoulder.
“I got you. Just stay like that for me for two seconds so I can switch out my skates.”
“I don’t need you—” I try to argue with him, but my head falls into his shoulder anyway.
He finishes and turns toward me. One arm wraps around my knees as he lifts me off the bench.
“Put me down… I can…” I shove at his chest, but he’s already moving.
“I don’t need you…” I say again, the words barely making it out.
“Damn it, baby, just stop fighting me for a sec.” He exhales hard through his nose.
Baby?
Great, now I’m hallucinating.
I close my eyes and rest my head against his shoulder as he carries me the rest of the way. I don’t have the strength to fight anymore tonight. I can fight him in the morning.