Moonlit vow

bled around her glass, though she held it firmly, refusing to betray the fury simmering beneath her calm exterior. She smiled tightly, her eyes scanning the crowd, picking out familiar faces, whi

to pounce. She tightened her grip on her glass as her gaze landed on Finn. His easy smile and familiar laugh re

eyes of her best friend, Sienna. Her silken red dress clung to her frame l

er words clipped as she met her friend's gaz

ng. Now, it felt like the brush of a dagger. "We'll toast to you and Finn, then. A perfec

ough he were hers to claim, made Lyra's heart thud with something uncomfortably close to suspicion. She'd heard rumors, whispers

id nothing. She felt like an outsider in her own life, a puppet dancing on strings someone else controlled. And then he tu

ack. Her world, this future they'd all crafte

s carried her out of the ballroom, the din of music and laughter fadin

on her, she told herself. There was no way-no way-she could be seeing what she thought she was seeing. Finn loved

n, that feeling of wrongne

her thoughts. "Tr

e her. Dark-haired, his suit sharp, tailored, but there was an edge to him t

cold, guarded, but he merely smirk

tone. He took a step closer, and she felt an odd rush of... recognition? The air

ame on his tongue. "The heiress everyone whispers about. T

k she'd carefully crafted. She felt bare, exposed. "And

glint in his eyes suggested otherwise.

be toyed with by some arrogant stra

r, yet it resonated, curling around

eped in mystery, whispered in the kind of stories no one wanted to believe

Her words were bold, but her pulse

the way you're standing here, away from your own engagement party." His voice lowered, a dark e

e now, too close, his scent filling her senses-woodsy, earthy,

e talking about." Her wo

ear. "I think you do, Lyra. I think you're beginning

e wanted to admit. Before she could respond, h

for a heartbeat longer than necessary. And then he was gone, leaving her

n, standing too close, their heads tilted together, whispering. Her stom

oward them, her heart pounding

se crossing his face before he nodd

her smile almost pitying, before

quieter corner. His tone was soft, the kind of voice he

you and Sienna?" she aske

dened. "What?

t, her body trembling with barely-contained rage. "I

aced with irritation. "Sienna's been my friend as lo

itterly. "I'm not blind, Finn. I

eyes. "This is why I didn't want to do th

"What do you mean, you

e it's you, Lyra. Maybe you're the problem. A

she thought she knew. She'd seen glimpses of this before, hints of a cruelty that had seemed s

spered, the realization hitt

en, as if in slow motion, he turned and walked away, leaving her