“Fire.” His gaze settled on Astra’s bewildered expression. “Always Fire.”
“I need everyone in this room to start talking, now,” Astra hissed, her blood boiling in her ears. The tension in each of their carefully guarded hearts hit a point that even the strongest of their shields couldn’t contain, drowning her in purples and reds.
“As,” Lunelle said, her voice falling into a softer note. “You need to get back home. It’s not safe for you here.”
“Mother above, not you, too. I’m so sick of everyone telling me what I need to do with zero explanation!”
“The basement is yours,” Maeve said to Astra, moving for the stairs. “I just got things cleaned up down here, Fire Queen. I don’t want to return to a disaster.” Maeve climbed the steps behind the barkeep.
Mirquios gravitated toward one of the worn armchairs, settling in as Lux strode to the end of the basement, distancing himself. The Tether whispered a complaint in Astra’s ribs and she watched as his hand drifted over his chest. Lunelle sank into the seat to Astra’s right, her heart as heavy as ever.
Astra looked at each of them. “If someone doesn’t start speaking, I’ll volunteer you.”
They exchanged glances, but no one spoke.
“Very well.” Astra turned to her sister. “Ladies first.”
Before we speak, Lunelle’s soprano voice rang in her ears. I need your promise that Mother never finds out about anything you hear.
Not telling Mother things is one of my favorite hobbies, Lunelle. Go.
Lunelle reached for her sister’s hand, locking their fingers together like they did as little girls. “May the Mother bless us,” she said.
“Within and Without Oestera’s knowledge.” Astra smiled, the catchphrase of their youth springing back to the forefront of her mind easily.
Lunelle’s eyes narrowed. “Fine,” she inhaled. “I don’t know where to start!” She let the breath back out, releasing months of tension. “There is no easy way to say what I want to, and I had planned on having a few more answers before we did this—” she tossed a glare at Mirquios, who blushed a deep shade of crimson, “—but frankly, we’re running out of options and time.”
She hesitated, her eyes squeezing against tears as a navy well opened within her chest.
“Just tell her,” Lux cut in. “She can handle it.”
Lunelle moved forward, her eyes lowered as she spoke. “I don’t think Selenia is who we think she is.”
“Princess—” Luxuros groaned, but Lunelle shook her head.
She continued. “I spent a lot of time with… people who think differently in Pluto. They heard rumors when Leona died that Selenia sold her out to the Solar God in the Court Above. He didn’t know what she got out of it on her end, but the Outer Courts all hold it as common knowledge that Selenia betrayed Leona and Solan, leading to her death.”
Astra paced as Lunelle spoke, the buzzing in her bones a confirmation that Lunelle was right. She turned to Lux. “Does she know about the Shadow Bargaining?”
Lux shook his head. “I figured you’d want to brief them.”
“Shadow Bargaining?” Lunelle rose from her chair.
“Ivonne Bloodmoon was researching Selenia. She thinks Mother is covering up the fact that Selenia traded her Shadow to the Nether Queen for some of her power.”
“What would she need more power for? She’s already an Ascended Lunar Goddess!”
Astra sighed. “That’s where we got stuck, too. Lux and I brought a dozen texts back with us from Ellume but we can’t think of a motive. The Outer Courts believe it had something to do with Leona?”
“Will you show me in the morning? I tried to prod Mother on Selenia a few times, but she always clammed up.”
“Of course.”
A silence fell between them, their hearts clouding over with the possibilities.
Lux cleared his throat from the corner of the basement. “There’s something else.”
“Luxuros,” Mirquios warned.
