Bound by the Moon

start Agatha had promised. Groaning, she swung her legs out of bed, the chill biting at her skin as she fumbled for her thicke

ipher. They were old, the colors muted from years of wear. There was a tiny window that offered a glimpse of the forest, shrouded in early mo

n't exactly eager to face the day, but she had a job to do. Agatha's stern face fl

e didn't comply. The thought of crossing Agatha'

out platters of fruit, warm bread, and pitchers of steaming coffee. The room smelled of fresh pastries and something earthy, like the w

hrough the quiet, sharper than th

h lurching at the reprimand. She forc

na stammered. "

ioned to a young man who was passing by with a stack of linens. He was

Hart to the guest rooms. She'll b

tic glance. "Don't worry about Agatha. She's a tough cookie."

he couldn't shake the sense of un

tanding near the fireplace, his sharp eyes following her every movement. For some reason, that intense

hat seemed to stare at her as she passed. The lodge was much larger than she'd realized, each room dark and im

. "They're a bit unnerving at first, but you get used to it

it was the age or something else entirely that made her sk

gestured to the rooms. "These are the guest rooms. The ones in

h-profile" felt like there was more to it. But she didn't press for more details. She was a

r a set of linens. "You start with the first room on the right. I

ristine, as though the guests hadn't yet arrived. Luna set to work, trying to focus on the task at hand. But the feeling of being watched neve

he finished the last bed, she

s Ha

black shirt and trousers, his jacket discarded on a chair, his sleeves rolled up to reveal strong forearms. His silver-gray eyes locked onto hers, as in

a said, her voice bet

. His gaze lingered on her for a moment longer than was comfortabl

ked, his tone smooth, but there was

es, thank you. It's...

't quite reach his eyes. "It's more

ected him to say something l

lmost disinterested air. "This place isn't just a lodge. It's older than you

There was something about the way Kael spoke, the way his gaze

ng strange about this place?" she

t the corners of his lips. "Strange is a relative term. But yes, there are t

soft howl, far off in the distance. The wind outside rat

ing," he said quickly, turning toward the door. "But be

at he meant. She only nodded, her mind reelin

his shoulder. "The full moon is tomorrow night

er thoughts-and the lingering sense that she had just scratched

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version is m