Chapter 41: Luna Cassia

Content warning: hints of r@pe and abuse.

I softly knock on the door of the Lunas’ room, and I hear her say, “Come in.” I enter and close the door, lowering my head in submission to her, then sit in the chair beside her bed.

“How are you feeling, Luna?”

“Oh, I’m fine, thank you, Athena,” she says, but her cheeks flush and her hands nervously play with the blanket that covers her. I take a chance and reach out to place my hand on top of hers. Her hands stop fidgeting as she looks at me, her eyes welling up with tears.

“You can trust me, Luna. I promised I would protect you,” I say, trying to comfort her with my touch.

She takes the hand that isn’t holding mine and covers her eyes as she sobs. I get out of the chair and sit beside her on the bed. Jeopardizing my position by doing this without her permission, I lean in and hug her tightly. She gasps softly in surprise, but then hugs me and sobs into my shoulder. My heart breaks for her.