Page 36 of Knight’s Absolution

She disappeared.

One moment she was in front of him, the next she was gone. Completely.

Luna couldn’t hold in her cry.

She was being torn in a thousand directions. It was too much, too many emotions all at once. Gunner must think she’d lost her mind. Maybe she had. She didn’t want him to see her like this.

“Luna, fuck…” Gunner's voice sounded panicked.

She lifted her head to say something, anything, to the knight watching her break down in front of him.

He stood there, statue still, jaw tight, eyes filled with alarm. It was as if she was looking at him through water. She’d lifted her shield, had blocked him out without even realizing she’d done it.

That had never happened before, not once. And never that easy. The panic subsided a little.

“Luna, please. Please don’t…please don’t…hide from me.”

Luna stared at Gunner through her shields, her block so thick, she was completely invisible.

She hadn’t used her powers since she came here. It felt wrong to use them when she’d caused so much pain with them. When she’d hurt so many people.

“You’re still here? Aren’t you, love? You haven’t left…you haven’t left me, have you?”

Left him?

What did he mean by that?

She moved so she stood directly in front of him, and he unknowingly looked right back. Her hand lifted the way it had the night he came to her house, her prison, the night Sir had locked her away. The urge to touch his handsome face, to take comfort in the warmth and texture of his skin, was so incredibly strong.

Luna dropped her hand and walked around him, taking in his expression, the way he held his strong body so rigid. He was upset. Even to her, still learning about emotions, there was no missing it.

Why?

Why did he care?

“Please, Luna. Please, come back.” He trembled. “I’ll leave you alone. I’ll give you space. I’m sorry, love. I’m so sorry.”

She didn’t like seeing him like this. It…it hurt to see him like this.

“Luna, you don’t need to hide.” He gripped the back of his neck, a haunted look taking over his amber eyes. “Please don’t hide from me.”

She backed up until she was on the other side of the room, then let her block fall away.

His head snapped up, eyes locking on her as soon as she was visible. He staggered back a step, then came forward two before he stopped himself.

She couldn’t meet his eyes. “I…I hadn’t meant to do that.”

“That’s okay,” he said in a raspy voice, chest pumping as if he’d been on a run. “It was my fault. I pushed.”

Luna shook her head, but Gunner was already backing away, heading for the door. He turned back to her before he walked out. “I won’t do that again, love. You don’t ever need to protect yourself from me.”

Protect herself from him?

He was the only person she felt safe with right now.

She opened her mouth, but the words wouldn’t come. Then it was too late.

He walked out and closed the door behind him.