Lily stood rooted to the spot, her cheek still stinging from the slap that had landed with surprising force.
The pain was across her face, but what hurt more was the shock that Lexa, of all people, would hit her so openly.
She hadn’t even fully processed what had just happened when she felt her mother’s anger rising beside her.
“How dare you?” Lily’s mother hissed, her eyes flashing as she stepped toward Lexa. “You lay a hand on the new Luna? You have crossed a line.”
But Lexa was undeterred. She shot a glare at Lily’s mother, clearly unfazed by her position or her anger.
“The new Luna?” she scoffed. “Lily doesn’t deserve that title. She doesn’t deserve anything. I know she must’ve done something to rig the ceremony.”
Lily’s heart skipped a beat, the absurdity of the accusation making her want to laugh.
“Rigged the ceremony?” she repeated. “Lexa, do you even hear yourself? I would never choose this fate. Not in a million years.”
“Oh, you’re clever, Lily, I’ll give you that. Playing
