Page 83 of The Forgotten Life of Ella Moon
Moon’s laughter filled the space. “Thereisn’t a god in the heavens or underworld that believes that.”Moonstepped closer toThane. “It’swritten in the sharpness of your cheeks and in the darkness of your eyes.Allthings created to break my daughter.Youtake that which is not given freely to you.”
“He took nothing that was not given to him,”Aurorareminded her mother.
Moon ignoredAurora. “Tellme,Thane, why does my daughter have to risk her life to break the curse?Whywas it not you?It’syours.Youare the reason for it.”
“You want to know?”Thaneasked, pushing off the door and stepping onto the balcony. “BecauseI’ma coward.Isthat what you wanted to hear?ThatIwas afraid that she would leave me?”Thanewould not look atAurora.
“No.Iwant to hear you will not let your father destroy her.Thatyou’ll love, honor, and forsake all others, evenDeath, for her.”Moonturned dark with her anger. “Butyou can’t, can you?”
“Mother, enough,”Aurorashouted.Shecould feel the heartbreak starting.Theanger brewing in her forThanenot trusting in her love. “Thisis not your concern.Iwant you to leave.Now.”
“Fine.Butremember this, my dearest.WhatDeathdoes to you, your father will do to him.”MoonlookedThaneup and down. “Andwhen there is nothing left of your precious darkness, don’t come crying to me.”Moonfaded into the darkness.
Neither of them said anything as her mother’s scent of moonflower hung between them.Thetension had returned inThane.Themuscles in his back were taut with the truth.Andthe truth left a bittersweet taste on her tongue.
“Aurora, what did you?—”
“Don’t, please.”Aurorawasn’t ready to lose him yet.Shedidn’t want to fight before she had to end the life of someone dear to her. “CanIhave this last moment, please?”
“We can’t keep ignoring this.”Thanewalked over to the railing.
“I know.”Auroralooked out at the garden.Itwas a little like its creator—half finished.Itwasn’t maintained like the gardens of the heavens.Tallgrasses that were sharp enough to cut mixed with delicate moon flowers and winter roses.Itwas a place to get lost in.LikeThane. “Wecan talk about it after the curse is broken.Ifear if we talk about it now, we’ll end right back where we started.”
Thane stepped closer to her, pressing a kiss to the back of her neck. “Inbed?Orin that field?”
Aurora turned to face him, studying the stardust that shimmered on his lip and throat.Thedark lashes that rested against his cheek. “Wouldyou change that day?Wouldyou have found another to love?”
“Not for all the stars in the sky.”Thanestudied the last bracelet around her wrist. “Youknow this one will be the hardest, right?”
Aurora looked down at the last one. “Doyou know who it is?”
“No.”Thanemoved to the railing.
“I fear it will be one ofElla’sfriends, someone she loved.”Itwas easier forAurorato think of them asElla’sfriends.Toput that part of her life to the back of her mind.Tolet it get lost with all the other useless information she had gathered.Likehow much a soul weighs.
“Then don’t do it.”Thaneinhaled.
“I don’t have a choice.”Shepaused, grappling with the new emotions her time asEllahad left her with.Regretthe biggest.Longingand loss next. “YouandIhave so many lifetimes together.”Auroraturned and looked out across the garden.Justpast the horizon and after theBetweenwas the mortal world.Itchanged so quicklyAuroramarveled at how mortals accepted change.Godswere slow to embrace it. “Theyhave one.”
“Aurora—”
“Thane, please, the bargain has been made.NowImust finish it or pay the price.”Sheturned back to the garden.Themoon was setting inManere.Andsoon her father would be leaving the mortal world.Thosemoments in between day and night had beenElla’sfavorites and nowAuroraknew why.Becauseit meant the god standing next to her would be in the heavens.
“What was the deal you made with my father?”Thanedidn’t look at her.
“That’s not important.”Aurorapushed off from the railing. “Weshould go before it’s too late and no one remembersElla.Sheshould say her goodbyes.”Sheowed them that much.Sheowed poorEllathat much.Thegirl with no memory would soon have one.Auroratook one last look before turning to leave.
Thane grabbed her arm. “Itdoes matter; tell me.”
Aurora looked at the black ball gown lying on the floor.Theone thatEllathought proved she was worth missing.Andit did.Justnot in the wayEllahad thought.Shelooked atThane, who stood very still.Hischest barely rose with each breath.AllofManereseemed to hold its breath, waiting for her next words.
“Me.”Shelooked at him.Thetears in her eyes blurred the world around her. “Yourfather will get the secrets of the stars.”
Thane looked at his hand on her arm, then to her fingers and then back to her face. “Butthose are written on your…”
“On my bones.”Thanelet go of her, stepping away. “Andas my mother pointed out, my father will never let that happen.SoagainLifeandDeathwill wage a war.Itseems we were both wrong.It’snot us your father wants to destroy; it’s my father.Weare just the means to an end.”
“Why would you do something so foolish?”Thanekept backing away from her. “Why?”Hebreathed out, shaking his head.
