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.

too sharp before softening into a

the faint tremble in her jaw and the way her eyes flickered in unspoken

was banished, I've never heard Asha speak about her brother again, nor have I

left, it was like he disappeared completely from Asha's life, but it doesn't change the fact that

he is still your brother after all. It's been a long time

my words. She looked away again, her fingers tightening against mine as though she

do 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 by us,

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 anything

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

she murmured, though there was a terror in her voice. "But not

her hands from mine, stepping back slightly. She turned her face to the side, biting down on her lower lip as though the action could keep her

after a moment, her voice trembling but sincere.

keep him alive and to set

for sparing his

a quiet plea for understanding, and I could see how much she was trying to

despite the whirlwind of emotions inside me. "No matter what he's done, that fact

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

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

as I spoke.

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

her lips parting in surprise.

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

again, her gaze falling to the ground, understand. And I trust you to handle it. Just... promise me, Astrid. Promise me you'll