|ORION|Ailana knows better than to summon me. I would never answer, but she has something-someone of mine that I cannot ignore.As I materialized in the moon palace, the familiar scent of smoke and dust assaulted my senses, signaling that something was gravely amiss. Servants scurried about, their movements frantic and panicked as they attended to the aftermath of the chaos.Ignoring their chaos, I strode purposefully through the grand corridors, my mind focused solely on one thing: finding Ailana. She was the one who had me summoned, the reason I had been drawn back to this place despite my reluctance to return.As I reached the throne room, the scene before me confirmed my suspicions. Ailana stood at the center, her expression grim as she surveyed the destruction that surrounded her. Beside her stood Raeya, her features etched with concern as she conversed quietly with her friend.Terielle, Eloise, and Saoirse stood at the other end of the room with two people I didn't recognize. Th

|ORION|Dead ends. Everywhere I turn, nothing but dead ends. My frustration boils beneath the surface, a seething rage that threatens to consume me with each passing moment. Despite my tireless efforts, I've been unable to find Astraea.Every lead I pursue fizzles out into nothing, leaving me with more questions than answers. The weight of my failure hangs heavy on my shoulders, a constant reminder of my inability to protect the one I love.I ran my hand through my hair, the frustration gnawing at me.“Where the fuck is she?!” As I pace the confines of my chamber, memories of Astraea flood my mind—her laughter, her smile, the warmth of her touch. Each memory only serves to fuel my frustration, driving me to push harder, to search more relentlessly for any sign of her whereabouts.But the truth remains elusive, taunting me with its elusiveness. And with each passing day, the fear that I'll never see Astraea again gnaws at my insides, threatening to consume me with despair. I may hav

|ORION|I teleported back to the base with her in my arms. Kallias and the guards had killed all the cloaked beings.I stared at the cloaked being that the guards held, my blood boiling. “Why is he alive?”“For interrogation.” I nodded as the guards teleported back to Zorzaris leaving me with Astraea in my arms and Kallias.His eyes fixed on her as they held fury, “ What did they do to her?”“I wonder too, let's return to Zorzaris.” He nodded and we materialised in Zorzaris. The healers were already on standby and they rushed to me, taking Astraea from my arms and towards her chamber to treat her.Eloise and Terielle had also returned from the Moon Palace Eloise sobbed at the sight ofAstraea. As the healers whisked Astraea away to tend to her wounds, I watched with a mixture of relief and anguish. My heart clenched at the sight of her battered form, the bruises and bandages a stark reminder of the horrors she had endured.Kallias stood beside me, his expression dark with fury. “She's

|ASTRAEA|My voice.My voice was back and he kissed me. As he dropped us back on land, I hit his chest crying again.It's such a fine line between feeling everything and nothing at all."You talked, you smiled. Baby That's progress."He whispered holding my waist.I slammed my fists on his chest crying so badly, "Why did it take you so long to find me?" His shoulders tensed as I kept hitting my fist."Why? What What if I had die-" His finger brushed my lips keeping me shut as his Obsidian eyes glared at me.“Really Star? death? You think I would let death take you? I will fight for you to the end, Yeah?” He whispered in my ears as I nodded, sniffling.We sat beside the lake, I brushed my legs in the cold water while he watched me.“Take off your clothes.” My eyes widened at his words as he kept a straight face. “Show me your scars.” My hands instinctively wrapped around my body, I was insecure. I didn't want him to see how bad I looked until I was completely healed.“But why?”“I want

|ASTRAEA| “Let it go!” Eloise and I dashed through the vibrant landscape in our wolf forms, the sun casting a golden glow over the meadows, I couldn't help but feel a surge of exhilaration coursing through my veins. "Your wolf is stunning," Eloise remarked, her voice filled with genuine admiration as she brushed her fur against mine. I let out a playful snort, rolling my eyes at her comment. "Don't inflate Asana's ego any further," I teased, a smile tugging at the corners of my mouth. As we continued to run side by side, the wind whipping through our fur and the scent of wildflowers filling the air, I felt a sense of freedom and joy unlike anything I had ever experienced before. It was moments like these, when I was surrounded by the beauty of nature and the warmth of friendship, that I truly felt alive. After a while we shifted into our human form, resting on the grass. “I’m happy you have totally recovered. We sh-” "Astraea." Raeya's gentle voice interrupted, drawing my atte