Page 90 of Courting Death & Desire
Astra rolled her amber eyes.Not telling Mother things is one of my favorite hobbies, Lunelle. Go.
She reached for her younger sister’s hands, closing the space between them, though she felt like knives were clawing their way out of her ribs.
“May the Mother bless us,” she offered, hoping their old joke might disarm Astra.
“Within and Without Oestera’s knowledge.” Her sister smiled, the exact effect Lunelle aimed for.
There was no use in delaying it.
“Fine. I don’t know where to start!” Lunelle released a breath, letting the tension melt from her shoulders. “Astra, there is no easy way to say what I want to, and I had planned on having a few more answers before we did this—” her eyes narrowed at the king, “—but frankly, we’re running out of options and time.”
She tried to force the tears back. She hated burying Astra in more feelings that weren’t her burden to carry.
The commander spoke up, his gaze cold as it fell to Lunelle.
“Just tell her. She can handle it.”
Lunelle nodded toward Luxuros. He’d been clear earlier in the day. If they didn’t tell her sister, he would.
She wanted to tell her. She knew she needed to. But what came out was something completely different from what she intended.
“Astra. I don’t think Selenia is who we think she is.”
“Princess,” Luxuros growled, but Lunelle shook her head—she’d get there.
She continued, “I spent a lot of time with the rebels in Pluto. Their captain heard rumors back when Leona died that Selenia sold her out to the Solar God in the Court Above. He didn’t know what she got out of it on her end, but the Outer Courts all hold it as common knowledge that Selenia betrayed Leona and Solan, leading to Leona’s death.”
Astra turned to Luxuros, a burning question on her tongue.
“Does she know about the Shadow Bargaining?”
Shadow Bargaining.Lunelle shivered at the term—it certainly couldn’t be a positive thing. Nothing was when Selenia was involved, she realized.
“I figured you’d want to brief them,” Luxuros said.
“Shadow Bargaining?” Lunelle rose from her chair.
“Ivonne Bloodmoon was researching Selenia. She thinks Mother is covering up the fact that Selenia traded her Shadow to the Nether Queen for some of her power.”
“What would she need more power for? She’s already an Ascended Lunar Goddess!”
Astra sighed. “That’s where we got stuck, too. Lux and I brought a dozen texts back with us from Ellume, but we can’t think of a motive. The Outer Courts believe it had something to do with Leona?”
Lunelle straightened her back, her shoulders still tense with the unspoken secret she could only hold quietly within her chest for another moment. She turned toward her sister.
“Will you show me in the morning? I tried to prod Mother on Selenia a few times, but she always clammed up.”
“Of course.” Astra’s face fell, her heart sinking.
The commander’s head tilted, his fiery gaze darting between the women. His lips parted, and Lunelle braced herself.
“There’s something else,” the commander urged.
“Luxuros,” the king warned.
Astra’s brows furrowed. “What is it?”
Her silvery stare hit the floor, unable to look Astra in the eye.
