Chapter 131
Lirael
I slid off the bed and moved toward the door on autopilot. He stepped aside to let me pass, and I paused in the doorway, some impulse I couldn't name making me turn back.
"From the North Cliff altar until now," I said quietly, the words coming out before I could stop them, "thank you. For everything." It wasn't enough, wasn't adequate to express the complicated mess of gratitude and resentment and confusion I felt. "I hope you and your future wife will be happy."
His jaw tightened, but he didn't respond. I turned away, heading down the hallway toward the stairs.
"You walk out of here today," his voice came from behind me, low and rough, "and I won't come looking for you. I won't come looking for you ever again!"
My foot froze on the first step, and a sudden tightness seized my chest, making it hard to breathe. I pressed my hand against my sternum, trying to ease the pressure, taking deep breaths that didn't seem to help.
Behind me, I could feel him waiting, hoping I'd turn around. The bond between us pulsed with his desperation.
I forced myself to take another step down. And another. Each one felt like tearing something vital loose inside my chest, but I kept going.
The sound of something shattering echoed from upstairs—glass or ceramic, I couldn't tell—followed by more crashes.
Several maids appeared in the foyer as I reached the bottom. One of them stepped forward.
"Miss, please," she said softly. "Whatever happened, maybe you should stay and talk to him. He's been different since you left. Unhappy. We've never seen the Alpha like this before."
"He'll have his own wife someday," I said, my voice coming out steadier than I felt. "Someone appropriate. Someone who fits into his world."
"But—"
"Thank you for your concern." I moved past her toward the door.
I paused at the threshold, looking back at the staircase, at the upper floor where more crashes echoed, and I found myself hoping he would find happiness someday, that he would move on, and most importantly, that he wouldn't take out his anger on my people, wouldn't hunt down the few remaining moon elves out of spite.
Then I stepped through the door and into the night, closing it firmly behind me.
---
Two Months Later
The afternoon sun streamed through my office windows at Gray Enterprises. I'd spent the last eight hours in back-to-back video conferences, and my eyes burned from staring at screens. The last meeting had finally wrapped, and the silence felt like a physical relief.
I stood and moved to the windows, looking out over Ark City's skyline as it transformed for the evening. A cup of cold coffee sat on the ledge, untouched.
Two months since that night at Sebastian's estate. Two months since I'd walked out his door. Two months since I'd heard his voice or felt his presence.
In that time, I'd thrown myself into work with single-minded intensity. I'd developed three new software platforms for Gray Enterprises—security protocols that had made us the most sought-after cybersecurity firm on the West Coast. Damian and I had traveled to Tokyo, Singapore, Berlin, New York, always moving, always working, always too busy to think about amber eyes and dangerous smiles.
And in all that time, I hadn't seen Sebastian once. It was as if he'd simply disappeared.
Marcus had reached out once, three weeks ago: The Alpha wants you to know he's honoring his word. You won't hear from him unless you reach out first.
I'd deleted the message without responding.
"Miss Lirael?" Amy's voice came through the intercom. "I have the final quarterly reports for your signature."
"Send them in," I said, settling into my chair.
Amy entered, setting a thick folder in front of me. "These are the last ones. Once you sign, we're all clear for the Christmas break."
"Thank you, Amy." I flipped open the folder, signing each document. "And thank you for all your hard work this quarter. There'll be a significant bonus in your next paycheck."
Her face lit up. "Really? Miss Lirael, you didn't have to—"
"You earned it," I said, handing the folder back. "You've been invaluable."
"Thank you so much!" She clutched the folder to her chest, then hesitated. "So, um, do you have plans for Christmas Eve? Tomorrow night?"
I shook my head. "Damian had to fly to London this morning. Emergency at one of the European facilities." I tried to keep the disappointment out of my voice. "So I'll probably just work late here."
"On Christmas Eve?" Amy looked scandalized. "Miss Lirael, you can't spend the holiday alone in an empty office building!"
"I've never really celebrated Christmas anyway," I admitted. The Hartfields certainly hadn't bothered. And the three years at Genesis... well. Better not to think about that. "It's just another day."
"Well, that's just wrong." Amy planted her hands on her hips. "You should definitely come to my place! My boyfriend's working late—his boss is apparently some kind of control freak who doesn't believe in holidays—but my family would love to have you. My mom makes the best roast turkey in the city, and we always play board games after dinner."
"That's very kind," I started, ready with my usual polite refusal, but something in her eager expression made me pause. "Actually, that sounds nice. If you're sure your family won't mind."
"Are you kidding? They'll be thrilled!" Amy beamed. "It sounds perfect. Normal."
After Amy left, I turned back to the window, trying to ignore the hollow feeling in my chest that had nothing to do with Damian's absence and everything to do with the bond that still pulsed faintly at the edge of my consciousness.
My phone buzzed with a text from Amy: Address is 1247 Maple Street, Moonfall District. Dinner's at 7! Wear something comfortable—we're very casual!
Moonfall District.
My hand tightened on the phone. Of course it would be in Moonfall District. The neighborhood Sebastian had renamed six months ago. I'd been avoiding that area for two months, but apparently, the universe had other plans.
I checked the time—nearly six. If I left now, I'd have just enough time to go home, change, and make it to Amy's by seven.
"Stop being ridiculous," I muttered to myself, grabbing my coat. "It's just a neighborhood name. It doesn't mean anything."
---
The drive took longer than expected—holiday traffic everywhere. I followed the GPS directions, watching the neighborhoods gradually shift from downtown towers to more residential areas.
"Turn left in 500 feet," the GPS announced. "Entering Moonfall District."
The name still made something twist in my chest. The district had been called Riverside before Sebastian had purchased half the commercial properties and pushed through a city council vote to rename it.
Moonfall. It was a message, had to be, though I couldn't quite decipher what he was trying to say.
"Turn right on Maple Street," the GPS instructed. "Your destination is on the right in 500 feet."
I slowed, scanning house numbers, but something else caught my eye first—a massive building on the left side of the street, all glass and chrome with Art Deco touches that seemed wildly out of place. Lights blazed from every window, and I could see elaborate displays of cakes and pastries arranged like edible art.
A sign above the entrance read "Moon's Shadow Patisserie" in flowing silver script.
And the logo...
I pulled over abruptly and stared. The logo was enormous, backlit, impossible to miss—a silver full moon with a black wolf silhouette positioned in front of it, the wolf's head tilted back as if howling.
Silver moon. Black wolf.
"What the hell?" I breathed, my hands tightening on the steering wheel.
"Miss Lirael!" Amy's voice made me jump. She'd appeared at my window, bundled in a red coat. "You found it! We're just across the street, number 1247. But isn't that place gorgeous?" She pointed at the patisserie. "It just opened last month. They say the owner spent millions on it! The desserts are supposed to be amazing, but they're so expensive I haven't had a chance to try anything yet."
"Who owns it?" I asked, though I already knew, could feel it in the way the bond suddenly pulsed stronger in my chest.
"Some reclusive businessman, I think?" Amy shrugged. "Nobody's ever seen him. Very mysterious! Come on, my mom's waiting!"
I let her pull me from the car, but I couldn't stop staring at the patisserie as we crossed the street. Moon's Shadow. A silver moon and a black wolf. Millions of dollars spent on a dessert shop in a residential neighborhood?