Reclaiming My Broken Luna by Selene Souchon

Chapter 325: Future Hope Astrid's POV

I stepped outside, the cold air biting at my skin as I tried to clear my head.

The sky was a dull grey, and the world around me seemed muted, like everything had been drained of

color.

Giselle's execution had already taken place by the time I arrived. Her body had been taken away, and there was no trace of her left-no lingering presence, no echo of her voice.

She was gone. And yet, the weight of her words, the darkness she had awakened inside me, still clung to my soul.

I should have felt relief. I should have felt free. But I didn't.

I saw Killian across the courtyard, his face lighting up with a smile the moment he saw me.

He ran toward me, his expression filled with joy, completely unaware of the storm that raged inside me.

I wanted to return his smile, to let his warmth melt away the cold fear gripping my chest, but I couldn't.

I felt... detached. Distant. As if there was a wall between us that hadn't been there before.

"Astrid!" he called, reaching out for me. His arms wrapped around me, pulling me into his warmth, but I barely felt it.

He pulled back slightly, his eyes searching my face, still smiling. "Where have you been? I was looking for you."

I swallowed, trying to push down the dread that bubbled inside me, but the weight of the truth was too heavy to ignore. I forced a smile, but it didn't reach my eyes.

"I... I needed some air," I muttered, my voice sounding hollow, even to myself.

Killian's smile faltered for a moment, his brow furrowing as he studied me. "Are you okay? You seem... distant. Is there anything bothering you? You know you could trust me, right?"

I tensed at his words, guilt clawing at me. He was so open, so loving, and here I was from him.

Hiding this dark secret that would destroy everything we had been working toward.

hiding the truth

me, and his expression softened. "It's Giselle, isn't it?" he asked, his voice gentle, as if he had already decided that my

to worry about her anymore, Astrid. It's over.

finally move on. We can build a life together, like we've always wanted.

me, should have made me

He had no idea.

festering inside me, the monster I was destined to become. There

him. I wanted to open my mouth and confess everything,

cursed? That I was going to lose control, to become something that would destroy

could I break his heart when he was so full

this way. At least he and Ryker could still be happy

have to carry on my own for their happiness, even for

the fear in my eyes, Killian reached for my hand, squeezing it gently. "Astrid, whatever it is, we'll get through it together. You don't have to face

weight of the

feel the space between us growing, even as he stood right there, holding

something else,

us.

"Astrid!"

heads snapped in the direction of the voice, and I saw Nova running toward us, her arms wide open,

breaking through the clouds, chasing away the darkness, even if

of my worries, all of the fear that had been gripping me, seemed to melt away at the

My expression softened, and

thinking, I returned her smile. For the first time since Ibad left Giselle's room, I felt

source of

her, my steps quickening as the

she wrapped her arms around me in

everything felt normal.

here," I muttered, still

still raced from the earlier conversation with Killian, but seeing Nova brought a strange comfort I hadn't

grinned at me, her arms still loosely wrapped around me as if she

I saw Drystan standing a few feet behind

concern.

say anything, allowing Nova