“You’re finished at the hall, aren’t you? Come to the healer’s den and bring us home.”
He spoke as though it were the most natural thing in the world.
As though the future Luna should go out into the rain to fetch him and Rosalie.
As though I were some omega servant to be summoned whenever he pleased.
As though the humiliation of yesterday had never happened at all.
I almost laughed.
“There is a feast tonight for the stewards,” I said evenly. “I do not know when it will end.”
There was a brief pause, as though he had not expected refusal.
“You can bring us back first and return afterward.”
My fingers tightened slightly around the moonstone.
“You can ask for a carriage.”
Then I cut the connection.
I did not care whether he was angry.
That evening, I remained at the hall and shared supper with several stewards I was on good terms with. The long table glowed warmly with firelight, and cups of spiced wine passed easily from hand to hand. Someone told a story about a patrol captain slipping into the river during drills, and laughter rippled down the table.
For the first time in days, I smiled without effort.