Reclaiming My Broken Luna by Selene Souchon

Chapter 398: Tied by Blood

Astrid's POV

I stared deep into Asha's eyes, clouded with emotions she clearly struggled to

suppress.

The faint shimmer of tears made her gaze softer, more vulnerable than I had seen

in years.

My heart wrenched for her, for the conflict I knew was tearing her apart.

"It's alright, Asha," I said gently, cupping her hands to steady the tremor in them. "I didn't bring him here to hurt him."

Asha let out a shaky breath, her shoulders slumping as though a heavy weight had been lifted.

I leaned towards her when I noticed her eyes squint in thoughts as if she still had something to say to me.

She retreated back from the intensity of my gaze. “I-I... I just,” she hesitated., her pale eyes drifting away from me.

"It's okay," I said softly, breaking the silence.

I squeezed her hands gently, willing her to look at me again. If you want to see him, you're free to go."

Her head snapped up, her expression startled, as though the offer itself had caught her off guard.

sharp before softening into a murmur. "I cannot do that... it's

the faint tremble in her

speak about her brother again, nor have I seen her shed a tear about

was like he disappeared completely from Asha's life, but it doesn't change the fact that Andros once existed in Astrid's life. He was once

is a criminal, he is still your brother after all. It's been a long time since you have last seen him. I know

away

miss him," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "But the crime he had committed is too much. He deserves his punishment and he deserves to be abandoned

also punishing yourself too," I muttered, stealing her attention. "If you want to see him, then just see him. Don't think about proprieties

her lips parting as though she wanted to argue, but instead, she

murmured, though there was a terror in her voice. "But

hands from mine, stepping back slightly. She turned her face to the side, biting down on her lower

her voice trembling but sincere. "know this isn't easy

to

for sparing his life

for understanding, and I could see how much she was trying to hold herself

my voice steady despite the whirlwind of emotions inside me. "No matter what he's

a deep breath, forcing myself to push through the weight of the truth. "But I can't

I don't blame you for it. He... he's made choices that I can't defend either.

lowering my voice as I spoke. "The

intentions. To find out if he had made more deals with the

furrowed slightly, her lips parting in surprise. "Do you think he

I admitted. "But I couldn't risk leaving him out there, not after everything we've been through. If

handle it. Just... promise me, Astrid. Promise me you'll give him a chance to explain himself