“My estate, in the Berkshires” Orion replied, his voice firm, decisive. “It’s secluded, heavily guarded. It’ll give us time to figure this out and keep you safe.”

I blinked, trying to process everything. “You want me to come with you? For how long?”

“A week,” he said, already moving toward the door. “Maybe longer, depending on how things unfold.”

I followed him, my mind swirling with questions. “Orion, I don’t know if this is—”

“Luna,” he interrupted, turning back to me with a look that silenced my hesitation. His eyes softened, filled with something more than just concern. “I need you with me. I need to keep you safe. I don’t trust anyone else with your protection.”

My breath caught. The intensity in his gaze was undeniable, and I realized that this wasn’t just about protecting me from the Marcosias. There was something deeper here, something neither of us had fully acknowledged yet.

“Okay,” I whispered, my voice barely audible.

He nodded, relief flickering across his features. “Good. I’ll help you pack. We are to leave in an hour.”

“I’ll get the car ready, and also call for the estate to be prepared for your coming, sir,” Jake said, and left. We left to gather my things. My mind was still racing, when his voice stopped me.

The drive to the estate was quiet. The sun had already set by the time we arrived, the darkness outside adding to the ominous feeling that had settled in my chest.

The estate was enormous—remote, surrounded by dense forest, and guarded by high, imposing gates. It felt like a fortress, and for the first time since we left, I felt a tiny flicker of safety.

Orion led me inside, his hand lightly resting on my back, as we walked through the grand entrance.

“I’ll show you to your room,” he said, his voice tight, his mind clearly still preoccupied with everything that had happened.

I followed him through the spacious halls until we reached a large, luxurious bedroom. The bed was massive, draped in soft linens, and the view overlooked the dark forest below.

“This is … beautiful,” I said softly, trying to break the heavy silence between us.

Orion nodded, but his gaze was distant. “It’s safe,” he murmured. “That’s what matters right now.”

I turned to face him, my heart pounding as I stepped closer. “Orion … about earlier—before everything happened. We need to talk about us.”

He exhaled, his eyes meeting mine. “I know,” he said quietly. “But right now we have to focus on staying ahead of Marcosias.”

I placed a hand on his chest, feeling his heartbeat beneath my palm. “And we will. But we can’t ignore what’s happening between us, either.”

Orion’s gaze darkened, his hand coming up to rest on mine. “Luna, I want you. God, I’ve wanted you since the moment we met. But with everything going on … I have to figure out how to protect you from what’s coming.”

I stepped closer, until I was inches away from him. “We’ll figure it out. Together.”

His resolve cracked, and before I knew it, his lips were on mine, fierce and demanding. All the fear, the tension, the unspoken desire between us spilled out in that kiss, and for a moment, the world outside ceased to exist.

But as we pulled apart, reality crashed back in.

“I’ll protect you, Luna,” Orion whispered, his voice filled with raw emotion. “I promise you that. I won’t let you have the same fate as Katherine”

“Who is Katherine?”

Chapter 8

Orion

The name alone was like a knife twisting in my gut. Katherine. Miranda’s mother. The one person I couldn’t save. I closed my eyes for a brief moment, steeling myself for what I knew I had to say. Luna deserved the truth.

"Orion, what happened to Katherine?"

“She was killed," I said, my voice rougher than I intended. "By Marcosias’s father and his clan.”