Chapter 6: The Public Executioner

The days after the grove were a blur of gray numbness. The bond was a constant, dull throb of pain, a physical manifestation of the chasm between Kaden and me. Thorne watched me like a hawk, his satisfaction a palpable thing. I had played my part perfectly—the grieving widow turned avenging Luna. The ice that had entered my heart after the fight with Kaden made the performance easier. I felt hollowed out, a shell going through the motions. Then came the summons. A formal meeting between the...