Chapter 11
Chapter Eleven
Luna
I settled into Seb's smooth-riding sedan, and the tension finally drained from my body.
Seb handed me a bottle of water without a word. I took it and drank hard, feeling my heartbeat slow.
I held Laila close and stared out the window. The sunlight stabbed at my eyes.
Six years. I thought I'd stopped caring. But the moment I saw Cassian, my fingertips nearly gave me away.
That scene in the restaurant was about to become my nightmare. Cassian stood across from me, his hormone-thick presence cutting through my skin.
Inside, I was drowning. Outside, I stayed cold and distant.
But what broke me wasn't his stare. It was the way Laila responded to him. That instinctive pull.
The kind that comes from blood, completely unguarded. Like a slap across the face, shattering the composure I'd maintained for six years.
Why? I'd severed every connection, scrubbed that man's shadow from my life. But that damn blood in Laila's veins screamed at her to get close the second she saw him.
Helplessness washed over me. I remembered clearly—Cassian lifting Laila, her nestled against his shoulder, trusting and open. She never acted that way with strangers. Laila was five. She didn't understand blood ties, but instinct drew her to him.
That bond terrified me like nothing else. I was afraid Cassian would crash into my world and take Laila away.
I squeezed my daughter tighter, buried my face in her curls. Her hair was soft, smelling of sunshine and candy. I breathed deep, grasping for safety.
"Mommy." Laila looked up at me, her bright eyes reflecting only my face. "Who was that man?"
The question hit me hard. I forced a smile and ruffled her hair. "Just an old friend of Mommy's." I couldn't let her curiosity grow.
Laila fiddled with her doll. "He felt familiar. He looked like he really liked me. But his eyes were weird."
"Baby, he probably just thought you were cute."
Laila tilted her head. "Will he come play with us again?"
"No." I cut her off fast, so fast even Seb glanced over.
"Laila, that man is very busy. He has his own life. And we're not staying here long anyway. We have more shows in other fun places. Don't you love traveling?"
"Yes!" Laila cheered and dropped it.
But I knew. Cassian had left a shadow in her mind. That made me anxious.
I paused, then tried again. "Laila, don't get too close to strangers, like you did with that man. Bad people kidnap children. It's dangerous."
"Is that man a bad person, too?"
Damn it, why did we circle back?
"Baby, the point is to remember what Mommy said."
Thankfully, Laila didn't push further. She just nodded sweetly.
Seb drove in silence.
Once Laila fell asleep—she always did in the car, leaning against me with her head tilted, breathing steady—Seb finally spoke, voice low. "You okay?"
"I'm fine."
He didn't respond right away. Then, "That man. Is he the one you mentioned before?"
Seb knew some things about me, but not much. I'd never detailed those memories. He knew I'd been married in D.C., knew it wasn't a good memory.
He'd never asked about Laila's father. He never did. That's what made him so easy to be around.
"Yeah."
He nodded. Didn't pry. Just said, "If you need help, tell me."
"Okay." Warmth spread through me. This feeling of not being alone felt good. "Thank you, Seb... Sorry for dragging you into this."
"You don't need to say that with me," Seb said quietly.
He was always such a gentleman. Sometimes, watching him with Laila, I thought he'd make a great dad someday.
Seb had changed me in subtle ways. He'd taught me to center my life on myself, showed me what it really meant to love myself.
I smiled. "Well, thank you again." For everything.
He glanced at me, then back at the road, smiling too. "You're welcome."
D.C. slid past the window—familiar streets and trees blurring by, reminding me of when I used to navigate this city constantly. I'd loved it once.
But now I just thought: one more month. After the performances, Chicago. Leave here. Everything back on track.
I wasn't worried about running into Cassian. He meant nothing to me now. I was just afraid... he'd investigate Laila's background. The thought of him confirming her identity and taking her from me made me unable to breathe.
It's okay, Luna. I held Laila tighter. I'd protect her no matter what.
After Seb helped move our luggage from the hotel to the apartment, he said he needed to swing by the Royal Ballet to confirm rehearsal details. I thanked him and got out with Laila.
"Luna." He stopped me.
I turned.
He looked at me, worry still in his eyes. Finally, he just said, "Call me if anything happens."
I nodded. "I will. Don't worry."
Laila had woken up, energy restored. She climbed down from my arms and stared up at the building.
"Mommy! Our new home is white!"
The property manager was a round woman waiting at the entrance. Her eyes disappeared into crescents when she smiled. "Hello, I'm Martha. If you have any problems with the apartment, come to me anytime. Mr. Loran called ahead. I prepared some things for the little one."
I thanked her, once again silently grateful for Seb's thoughtfulness.
Martha winked and pulled out the keys. "Come on, let me show you. First floor, no stairs, perfect for families with little ones."
She led us inside and pushed open the door.
The apartment the Royal Ballet arranged wasn't large, but it was warm.
Sunlight poured through the windows, flooding the living room with light. Light wood floors, white walls, beige sofa, and south-facing French doors opening onto a small yard.
Laila froze for two seconds, then shot between Martha and me, spinning a fast circle in the living room, her dress blooming like a flower.
"Wow, it's so pretty!"
She dove onto the sofa, buried her face in the cushions, then bounced up and ran to the window.
Then she saw the yard.
Stone pavers, a small maple tree in the corner, and under the tree on the grass—
"A swing!" Laila's shriek nearly blew the roof off. "Mommy! There's a swing!"
Laila always got excited about new things. I shot Martha an apologetic smile. She just chuckled and waved it off.
Laila pressed against the glass, nose flattened.
The swing was simple—two ropes and a wooden plank—but it looked solid. Laila stared at it like it was the most precious thing in the world.
"Can I go?" She looked back at us, eyes bright as stars.
Martha opened the door, smiling. "Of course, sweetheart. That's for you."
"Thank you!" Laila hugged Martha, always remembering her manners.
She ran to the swing, circled it twice, then carefully climbed on, gripping the ropes tight. Her little legs pushed off the ground, and the swing lifted gently.
It went higher. Laila laughed, golden curls flying in the wind.
I leaned against the doorframe, watching her, corners of my mouth lifting.
Sunlight fell across her, lighting up her laughing face. In that moment, all the heaviness from the restaurant entrance seemed to fade just a little.
After Martha briefed me on the apartment basics, she left.
The kitchen had ingredients Martha had stocked. I made Laila's favorite burger and called her in to eat.
Laila ate with gusto, cheeks bulging. She was always so easy to please.
"Mommy." She swallowed and said through a mouthful, "Aunt Chloe said she's taking me to the amusement park tonight."
"Okay." I poured her water. "Are you tired? Still want to go?"
"Yes!" She sat up straight. "I've never been on a Ferris wheel!"
That twisted my heart. Because of work, I didn't spend as much time with Laila as I should.
"I want to go with you, too," I said. "But tonight I have to—"
"I know," she interrupted, eyes bright. "Mommy has to rehearse beautiful dances so next time Aunt Chloe and I can watch your show together."
I touched her little head. "Right. So tonight Mommy will rehearse, and I'll come home early so we can sleep together, okay?"
"Okay." She nodded. "Mommy, I want another fried egg."
After lunch, we played for a while. Then I washed Laila's face and changed her clothes. Still early, so I let her play with puzzles on the sofa.
My phone buzzed—Chloe calling. Probably coming to pick up Laila.
I answered. She said she was heading out, then hesitated before speaking directly.
"Luna... are you okay? I'm sorry, I didn't know Cassian was meeting clients at that restaurant today."
"It's fine. He doesn't matter to me anymore." I clenched my fingers. "Just don't let anything slip about Laila."
Long silence on the other end.
"I understand. Luna, I won't say anything to him." Chloe paused, then continued.
"But did you see it? The connection between Laila and Cassian. That... blood bond. She was so comfortable with him. When he held her, he was shaking all over... Maybe you need to think about what comes next. Laila's going to grow up."
"I know." That was my biggest headache. "But I can take care of Laila."
"Luna, I'm not taking his side. After you left today, I chewed that idiot out good." Chloe's voice softened. "I just want to ask. If Cassian changed, if he could be a good father, would you tell him?"
I closed my eyes. "I don't think so. Chloe, I can't gamble everything on some vague possibility. Besides, I'm only in D.C. for a month."
"I understand." Chloe sighed and muttered another curse at Cassian. "Then, my friend, I'll help you keep this secret."
After hanging up, I leaned against the wall, chest rising and falling. I knew Chloe worried about Laila's future, but she'd respect my decision.
I'd already decided. The moment the performances ended, I'd be gone. Out of D.C. I couldn't give Cassian any opportunity.
The D.C. evening sky was starting to turn orange, that light falling on the street below, stretching shadows long.
At seven, I handed my daughter to Chloe and took a cab to the theater for rehearsal.
The Royal Ballet's rehearsal space was downtown, also the venue for this residency collaboration—the Kennedy Center. The rehearsal hall's floor-to-ceiling windows faced the river. At night, the water sparkled with lights.
"Luna!" Amy spotted me from far away and hurried over. "We've got a dozen media outlets coming tomorrow. We need to run through every detail."
"No problem."
I changed into my pointe shoes and walked into the rehearsal hall.
The moment the music started, I took a deep breath and pushed all the noise out of my head.
Arms up, toe to the floor, turn.
Once, twice, three times.
I repeated it over and over. Sweat soaked through my practice clothes, and my legs started to weaken, but I didn't stop.
My body spun and leaped, but my soul felt left somewhere else, always thinking of Laila.
"Luna, you seem a bit off today. Mentally, I mean." During the break, Seb handed me water backstage, voice gentle. "Is it because of this afternoon?"
I shook my head. "I'm fine. Just tired. I'll get it together."
He didn't push, just said, "Don't force it. I'll drive you home after rehearsal."
I didn't refuse. I nodded and drank some water.
Stop worrying, Luna. Laila's with Chloe. She's safe. I kept telling myself, adjusting my state.
At ten o'clock, the rehearsal finally ended. I opened my phone to find lots of video messages from Chloe.
In the videos, Laila's smile stretched ear to ear. She played and waved happily at the camera. The last message—Chloe said she'd take Laila to the arcade for a bit longer, might be back late.
Watching Laila's happy face, I replied, "Okay." Then I changed, grabbed my bag, and walked out the theater's employee entrance.
The night wind cut cold. Heavy clouds made the streetlights look even more yellow. When Seb dropped me at the apartment building, light rain had started.
I texted Chloe first, told her it was raining, and to come back early. Then I grabbed my umbrella and got out, telling Seb not to bother walking me.
I pulled out my keys and approached the apartment. Lifting the umbrella to open the main door, I froze.
A tall figure leaned against the wall, hands in pockets, ash-blond curls already dampened by rain. He looked up, saw me, and his eyes lit up instantly.
Cassian.
He stood there like he'd been waiting forever. Suit jacket draped casually over his shoulder, shirt collar open two buttons, exposing the line of his collarbone with water droplets trailing down.
I felt nailed to the ground. My heart pounded like it would explode.
He took a step forward, voice rough. "Luna."