Rejected Luna: Rise of the Moon Sovereign
Akira's POV
Smoke curled through the dark, carrying the name “Akira Nightfall” spoken again, drawn out, heavy. The hush between words stretched thin. A pause breathed before the next phrase slipped free: “You never missed a chance to arrive in shadow, in silence, in spectacle.” That old habit hadn’t faded.
Everything stopped. My hold on Ronan’s hand grew hard enough that I could feel his bones move inside it. Still, he stayed right there.
A whisper of metal slid free. Elara stood still, eyes scanning the dark. Her fingers tightened around the hilt before she spoke again. The question came out quiet, edged. Moonlight flickered across steel, just enough to show the truth: she was ready.