The Luna Queen's Rebirth #2

Chapter 121

My heart pounds so hard it feels like it might split my ribs.

"I only wanted you to be free," I say, my voice quieter than I intended.

Ellie's eyes harden.

"No," she says. "You wanted yourself to be free. You wanted to prove your parents couldn't control you."

"That's not true."

"Then tell me what it is."

I shouldn't look at her lips.

I do anyway.

"The truth," I murmur, "is that you don't make any sense."

Something flickers across her face before she schools her expression.

"You keep telling me you hate me," I continue, the words rough and impossible to stop, "but every time we're alone... every time it's just us... You hold on to me like I'm the only thing keeping you alive."

The color drains from her face.

"That's not true."

"It is," I say. "God... I'm so tired of this."

She turns, clearly intending to leave.

Before she can, I catch her wrist.

Her pulse races wildly beneath my fingers.

I lift her hand, pressing her knuckles against my jaw, my teeth clenched so tightly they ache.

"Then tell me it meant nothing," I demand. "Tell me what happened in the pit meant nothing."

Her lips part.

For one impossible second, I think she's going to answer.

"Dominic."

Lucas's voice slices cleanly through the silence.

He steps into the glow of the lanterns as though he'd been waiting for the moment, positioning himself between us before I can react. His shoulder brushes mine—not enough to start a fight, just enough to force distance.

Ellie jerks her hand away as if my touch burns.

"Lucas, stop," she says immediately, but her voice is thin.

"No," Lucas replies without taking his eyes off me. "I'm done watching this."

Every trace of restraint leaves me.

"Get the hell out of my face," I growl.

He doesn't move.

"You're yelling at her."

"I'm talking to her."

"You're cornering her."

Ellie throws up her hands.

"Hello? I can handle myself."

Lucas ignores her completely.

"Not right now."

Her eyes flash.

"Excuse me?"

The fact that he doesn't even look at her—that he decides what she needs without asking—twists something dark inside me.

"You don't get to decide that," I say coldly.

"And you do?" Lucas fires back.

He gestures toward Ellie.

"After everything you just said? Look at her. She's shaking."

"It concerns me when you trap her and call it honesty."

"I'm not shaking," Ellie snaps.

But the tremor in her voice betrays her.

Lucas never looks away from me.

His jaw is locked.

His shoulders are squared.

Like he's preparing for a punch.

"You really don't see it, do you?" he says quietly.

"See what?"

"What you do to her."

I step forward.

He mirrors me instantly.

"What do I do?" I growl.

"You've been circling her for weeks like a damn vulture."

"At least I don't pretend I don't care."

The words hit like a fist.

Around us, conversations die.

Guests spill from the gala into the courtyard, drawn by raised voices and unfolding drama.

Lantern light dances over curious faces.

I don't care.

All I can see is Lucas standing between me and Ellie as though he has every right to be there.

"You think you know her?" I snap. "You think you understand her better than I do?"

Lucas lets out a bitter laugh.

"I know you don't."

"Stop it," Ellie pleads. "Both of you."

Neither of us listens.

"I've had enough," Lucas says.

Something changes in his voice.

The caution is gone.

"So here's the truth."

He points toward me.

"You never really liked her. You liked the idea of her. The bond. The control."

Every word lands harder than the last.

"The second she stopped fitting the version you wanted..." His voice hardens. "You punished her."

"That's not true," I snarl.

"You used her."

"No."

"You used her to fight your parents. To feed your pride. To prove whatever point you were trying to prove."

My hands curl into fists.

"You don't know what you're talking about."

Lucas doesn't hesitate.

"I like her."

His voice rings across the courtyard.

"I always have."

Silence crashes down around us.

"I just never shoved it in her face."

He shakes his head, disgust written across every line of it.

"And watching you tear her apart because you don't know how to love someone without trying to own them..."

He exhales sharply.

"I'm done."

Something cracks inside my chest.

I turn to Ellie, anger and hurt blurring together until I can't tell which is which.

"So that's it?" I demand.

"Were you with him all along?"

Her eyes widen.

"Dominic, that's not—"

"It proves everything!"

The words pour out before I can stop them.

"The pit. The way you looked at me. He's always there."

I laugh bitterly.

"You let me believe there was something between us."

She opens her mouth.

For the briefest moment, I see it.

The truth.

Balanced on the edge of her lips.

But then...

Her shoulders sink.

The fight drains out of her.

She doesn't argue.

She doesn't defend herself.

She just looks... exhausted.

Empty.

Done.

Without another word, she turns away.

She reaches for Lucas's arm.

Not because she has to.

Because she's choosing to leave.

The sight hurts more than anything she could have said.

Lucas hesitates for only a heartbeat before following her.

Neither of them looks back.

I don't chase them.

I remain beneath the lanterns, surrounded by whispers, stares, and half-finished conversations.

Watching the space she left behind slowly close, as though she'd never been there at all.