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“Bella?” Layla asked, looking confused.
“She needs to know,” Bella said as they walked out of the old house and retreated to Jake and Layla’s house next door.
On the front porch, on that cold February night, Bella said, “A funny thought popped into my head, and I felt the power seeping out of me, as if I’d rejected it. I’m going to need to spend a couple of days regaining the power, and I’ll research her daughter, and then we’ll return.”
Karl put his hand on her shoulder. “We got the coach and the kidnapping victims all out of the house. Max and his men are sorting them all out. They all need to be checked on in the hospital, and then they need to be returned to their families.”
“We have three days to research her daughter and return,” Bella said. “I’m so sorry I ruined this for all of us.”
“I would rather see her go peacefully. That woman is twisted, but the remorse we saw is real. Let’s find her the information, and go back in two nights, while the moon is still full,” Layla said, resting her hand on Bella’s shoulder. “You did the right thing.”
Bella shook her head. “If only I could believe that.”
Chapter Sixteen
The warm Texas breezewhispered gently through the trees as Bella stepped onto the town square, her black hair glowing under the silvery moonlight. She took a deep breath, trying to coax the familiar comfort of the moon’s presence that she had relied on for so long. Bella closed her eyes and focused on her breathing, the air cool and fresh against her skin, the scent of wildflowers filling her lungs.
“All right, Bella,” she murmured to herself, seeking solace in the familiarity of her own voice. “Let’s dance.”
With her heart pounding in her chest, Bella began to move gracefully to the silent rhythm in her head. Her body swayed and spun, arms sweeping through the air like tendrils of moonlight. The tips of her fingers brushed the rough pavement beneath her feet, grounding her in her newfound vulnerability.
“Beautiful,” a voice said from behind her, and Bella’s movements faltered.
She turned to find Karl leaning against a nearby tree, his blue eyes fixed on her with an intensity that made her shiver. He looked every bit the protective marine he’d once been, but there was something more vulnerable about him now—something that drew Bella in.
“Karl,” she breathed, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment at having been caught in such a personal moment.
“Couldn’t sleep,” he admitted, pushing off the tree and taking a step toward her. “Saw you out here, and I couldn’t look away.”
Bella felt a flutter of nervous excitement in her stomach as he approached, but she quickly pushed it aside. “This is just...something I do when I need to reconnect with the moon. It helps me feel strong again.”
“Can I join you?” Karl asked hesitantly, his gaze never leaving her face.
“Of course,” she said, a shy smile playing on her lips.
Karl stepped into the moonlit square, and together, they began to dance. Bella marveled at how easily he moved, his body strong and sure despite the uncertainty that lingered in his eyes. As they danced, she found herself losing track of time, the world beyond the town square fading away until it was just the two of them, dancing under the watchful eye of the moon.
