Lachlan merely shakes his head before striding over to us. Evander is right behind him, but Tane whistles, his head tilted up, taking in the entirety of the space.
“This is a crazy find,” his loud voice echoes around us.
My attention slides sideways to see Mathilda beaming at him.
Lachlan and Evander come to a halt on the opposite side of Luna, and they sheath their swords.
“We saw the corpse of something outside and expected the worst. But it was nae this …” Lachlan trails off.
“How long has she been down here, though?” Evander asks, studying her bindings.
I shrug. “The real question is—why?”
“Let’s find out, shall we?” Lachlan shoots me a wink and, ever so gently, wipes the rune off her forehead.
My mouth drops open. “Is it really that easy?”
“I dinna think so, but it was worth a shot.” He shrugs, peering down at a still sleeping Luna.
I roll my eyes at his cavalier attitude.
But Luna’s eyes flash open, and a heartbeat later, we’re all jumping away from her as she lurches upright. A blood-curdling scream tears from her lips that has my ears ringing and blood running cold.
Evander takes a step towards her, stroking a comforting hand down her arm, trying to calm her. “Luna!” He shouts over her scream. “It’s alright, it’s just us!”
But her scream isn’t one of terror; it’s more like a bellow of rage. Veins push against her moon-white skin and red rims, her gray-green eyes. She rips at the shackles, her nails tearing at her skin. Ruby red blood wells up and spills down across her pale skin. Evander tries to stop her, his hands grappling for hold against her clawing.
“Help me!”
Tane and Lachlan jump into action and work as fast as possible to restrain her. But even with the two of them helping him, they still can’t seem to keep her still as she fights like a wildcat, tearing at the chains.
Mathilda and Mina are both frozen in shock. Staring at Luna with wide eyes and open mouths. I take a few steps, positioning myself at the foot of the slab, away from her hands but clearly in her line of sight.
With all the authority I can muster, I shout her name.
Her wild eyes flick to mine.
And then she just stops.
Her face crumples, and her entire body seems to shrink in on itself as she goes slack.
“Bryn?” Her voice rasps out between her dry, cracked lips.
That name will never cease to slice through me.
My brows furrow, though, as she genuinely looks like she’s seeing a ghost. But she’s met me before. Why doesn’t she remember?
“I’m Bryn’s daughter,Lena, remember?”
Luna’s head shakes side to side, her unbound white hair rippling with the movement. Like a cloud crossing the moon. A look of wrathful vengeance flashes across her eyes, darkening the gloom of her face.
“I don’t know you. I only know your mother.”
Lachlan and Tane stare at her with carefully blank expressions, slowly removing their hands from her body as she turns her terrifying gaze onto them.
Evander breaks the silence. “Luna, what is the last thing you remember?” His voice is intentionally soft as he tries not to seem like he’s interrogating her.
Luna’s attention settles onto his face, her eyes narrowing into slits before recognition sparks in them.
