Page 91 of Reign By Wrath

Chapter Nine

“Luna?”

A knock sounded at the door. I burrowed deeper under the covers, wishing her away.

“Luna, baby.” Mom stepped inside. I felt the bed dip. “Sweetie, what do you think about coming downstairs with me? We’ll weed Winter’s garden together.”

“No.” I barely recognized that nasally, raspy grunt as coming from me.

“You’ve been locked in this room for two weeks. Ever since we came back from the funeral. I know it’s hard right now—”

“Hard?” I didn’t bother lifting my head from under the covers. “My boyfriends are in jail. Victor’s missing. My sister committed suicide. And my dad’s dead! Yeah, I’d say it’s been pretty fucking hard.”

“Baby.” Mom rubbed my leg through the covers. “I’m so sorry for everything that’s happened. If I had one wish, it’d be to take your pain away. Please, just come out for a little bit. We’ll have chocolate chip pancakes on the veranda. Maybe talk if you feel up for it. Or sit in silence if you don’t. But you have to leave this room,” she said. “It isn’t healthy to lock yourself away like this.”

I kicked away. “That’s rich coming from you.”

Quiet smothered the room.

“You’re right,” she whispered. “I did the same thing. Shutting myself in a room alone with my grief. That’s why I know it doesn’t help, Luna. Isolation and loneliness never helped anyone deal with trauma. Love and support do. The people who love you are here for you.” Tugging down the duvet, she placed a soft kiss on my forehead. “We’re here when you’re ready.”

I buried my face in the pillow, smothering a sob as she left. Yes, my mom and stepdad were here. But Winter wasn’t. Alistair wasn’t. Rafael wasn’t. Cato wasn’t. Wilder wasn’t. Lucien wasn’t. Victor wasn’t.

Everleigh went to war with my father, but it was me who lost everyone I loved.

“—not now.”

“I will speak to her.”

I raised my head, crust-covered eyes blinking at the door.

“I told you—” Mom made an effort to keep her voice down. “—she’s ready.”

“Nonsense. She’s a Burkhardt.” My door flew open. “She’s too strong to let anyone or anything defeat her.”

Astoria Burkhardt walked inside my room and, without so much as a glance behind, shut the door in my mother’s face and locked it.

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