Anwen

I stand in the open gate as the milky white Haze silvers with the rising moon. Not everyone finds their mate during their first Haze. I keep reminding myself of that.

This is my first time in public since Father’s death, other than mandatory political appearances. I can’t believe my siblings are acting so normal. We lost our parents. And, fine, I accept that Father was a crueler man than I thought, but that doesn’t make his loss mean nothing.

The moon hits its apex, and a wild drumbeat seizes my blood. For the first time in days, the strange ache of Father’s death fades out of my mind....