Page 110 of The Moon's Fury

Layna watched in silence.

He slit my mother’s throat.

He slit Mama’s throat.

He slit—

He—

He—

Blood. So much blood.

Soraya doesn’t know. Soraya doesn’t know.

Mama—

She’s gone.

“Layna?” Zarian called. She startled, turning to look at him.

“Talk to me,” he implored, placing a hand on her back. “You’re not alone, my love.”

“Do you think it hurt?” she whispered through the lump in her throat. “When he… He—” Zarian pulled her against him, tucking her head beneath his chin.

“No,” he murmured. “It was over quickly. I doubt she felt anything.”

She swallowed thickly. “I just wish I had more time. To make things right with her.”

“She knew you loved her. And she lovedyou. I know things were complicated these past few months because of … me. But even that was out of love. She only wanted the best for you.”

Zarian kissed the crown of her head. He grabbed a piece of the rabbit meat and brought it to her lips. She turned her face away, but he was persistent.

“You need to eat, my love.”

Still, she refused.

Zarian sighed. “Fine. I won’t eat if you won’t. And this poor rabbit will have died for nothing.”

She gave him a baleful glare and received a smile in return. With a sigh, she relented and allowed Zarian to feed her bites of the cooked rabbit. Her stomach rumbled loudly while she ate, as if to say,Finally. She hadn’t realized how famished she was until she began eating. By the end, she had finished nearly three-quarters of the plate on her own.

She watched as Zarian put out the fire. Grief whispered in her ears, ever present, but she felt more grounded now that her stomach was full.

Zarian sat across from her. Tears welled again, quiet and aching, but she blinked them away, giving him a watery smile. Her gaze focused on his battered face.

She motioned him closer. “Let me heal you.”

He shook his head. “It looks worse than it feels.”

“I’m all right,” she huffed, sitting up on her knees. “Don’t worry.” Hands raised, eyes closed, she called to the gentle, serene cable inside her.

It didn’t answer.

Brows furrowed, she tried again, focusing harder, straining to listen to the humming of her power.

Silence. Her heart began to race.

“Everything all right?” Zarian asked, concern coloring his voice.