Chapter 8: The Name Written in Blood

Kane's face went white.

For several seconds, neither of us spoke. The only sound in the room was the faint ticking of the clock beside the healer's desk.

I watched the realization spread across his face, followed by disbelief.

“Evelyn…” His voice was barely a whisper. “What are you saying?”

I reached into my pocket and pulled out the broken pieces of my moonstone pendant.

“I'm saying that Vera lied.”

Kane stared at the shattered stone in my palm.

“Elder Elias wasn't only her story to tell.”

His jaw tightened. “You have no proof.”

I almost laughed.

After everything he had done to me, those words hurt less than they should have.

“You want proof?” I asked quietly. “Then go to the old Wren archives. Ask for the sealed birth records. Ask why Elder Elias ordered them hidden twenty-six years ago.”

Kane didn't move.

I continued, “And while you're there, ask why your precious Vera needed a forged bloodline record to become Luna.”

The color drained from his face again.

Before he could answer, the healer entered the room carrying a sealed envelope.

She looked at Kane, then at me.

“This arrived from the council.”

Kane took it immediately and opened it.

His eyes moved across the page.

Then stopped.

“What is it?” I asked.

He didn't answer.

I stepped closer and took the document from his hand.

It was a council order demanding that Vera and her unborn pup undergo a bloodline verification before the next Luna ceremony.

At the bottom was a warning.

If the records were found to be falsified, Vera's claim to the Wren bloodline would be revoked.

Kane looked at me.

For the first time since I had known him, I saw fear in his eyes.

“The council knows,” he said.

“They know something is wrong.”

I folded the document and handed it back.

“Good.”

He stared at me. “You knew this would happen?”

“No.” I looked toward the window. “I only knew that lies eventually run out of places to hide.”

Kane took a step toward me.

“Evelyn, if you're really Elias's daughter…”

“Then what?” I interrupted. “You'll restore my position?”

He fell silent.

I shook my head.

“I don't want your Luna title.”

His expression changed.

“Then what do you want?”

I looked directly into his eyes.

“My life back.”

He opened his mouth, but no words came.

I turned away from him.

For months, I had begged him to choose me.

Now that the truth was finally forcing him to look at me, I realized something important.

I no longer wanted to be chosen.

I wanted to leave.

Behind me, Kane whispered my name.

I didn't turn around.

“Evelyn, please.”

I closed my eyes.

“You should have said please before you broke me.”

Then I walked out of the healer's room, leaving Kane standing alone with the truth he had spent so long protecting everyone else from.