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.

a little too sharp before softening into a

her jaw and

her brother again,

Asha's life, but it doesn't change the fact

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

inhaled deeply, her shoulders stiffening as though bracing against my words. She looked away again, her fingers tightening against mine as though she

barely above a whisper. "But the crime he had committed is too much. He deserves his punishment

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

as though she wanted to argue, but instead, she nodded, the smallest movement

though there was a

slightly. She turned her face to the side, biting down on her lower lip as though the action could keep her emotions

a moment, her voice trembling but

to keep him alive and to set

sparing his life for my

a quiet plea for understanding, and I could see how

said softly, my voice steady despite the whirlwind of emotions inside me. "No

truth. "But I can't ignore what he's done

for it. He... he's made choices that I can't defend either. Father needs

my voice as I spoke.

To find out if

her lips parting in surprise. "Do

out there, not after everything we've been through. If he has something to

gaze falling to the ground, understand. And I trust you to handle it. Just... promise me, Astrid. Promise me you'll give him a chance to explain