The sickened luna’s last chance

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That was fair, I supposed. It didn’t make it hurt any less that my mother had been by my side all along, unable to tell me who she truly was even during my darkest moments, though.

“All those times I lamented over having lost my mother,” I half–laughed, half–sobbed. “You were right

there.”

Lilith sighed and reached into her blouse, withdrawing the locket that she had once given me–the locket Sophia had crushed. The locket I’d nearly died in the vault to retrieve. She unclasped it and held it up, pressing the tiny button on the side to pop it open and reveal the cameo of the woman holding the baby.

“This cameo,” she said, “is of us. It was a gift from my mother–your grandmother–when you were born. It was the one thing I was able to retrieve from the house before your father sold most of my things and locked up the few valuables I had left.”

“Which are now burnt,” I whispered, tracing my fingers along the locket.

Lilith clasped the necklace around my neck. “They were only things. A few expensive jewels and some trinkets. But this… this is yours, now. I wanted to give it to you before because I wanted you to feel connected to your mother in some way, even if you didn’t know it. Now that you have your own son, I

think it’s even more fitting.”

My sight went blurry again, but I blinked away the tears as I clutched the locket. “My son-”

“Alexander named him Lucien,” Lilith said gently.

smile at that, although it faded quickly. “He needs his mother. I

something.”

tell everyone who you really are. I understand more than anyone.” Lilith took me by both shoulders and looked at me sternly. “But you mustn’t. If you do, both Alexander and Lucien will face the

this whole ordeal. “But what am I supposed

I can live like you

It’s so… lonely.”

away and stared at her lap for a long moment before finally continuing, “But it’s all we can do. Losing a child–it’s far worse than the cards we’ve

course. I hated that she was

we have

am for it, even if

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Chapter 233

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us after that. I had so many questions, but one burned at the forefront of my mind like a wildfire. “Lucien,” I said, “is he

“Since then, Alexander hasn’t put him down. Partially because he cries whenever he’s not being held. And, Ella…” She met my gaze again. “You should know that he’s… sickly. He was born too soon, and his lungs weren’t fully developed. He might have trouble breathing for the rest

even as I felt my heart shatter a little more. This never should

stayed in Alexander’s employ to remain close to Lucien,” Lilith went on. “I don’t fully trust Alexander after what

to find a way to get