*Xelina*

Evening descends over Lunemar territory, wrapping the estate in a hush that feels heavy and expectant. I find myself alone once again in the cellar, its quiet darkness both a refuge and a prison.

Tonight is my birthday, and it is also the night of the Moonbinding Ball. It’s supposed to be a night of celebrating the Moon Goddess, but I was never meant to attend, left behind in the stillness while the rest of the household prepared for the revelry.

Mireth and her daughters departed hours ago, adorned in shimmering silks and glittering jewels, their carriage wheels echoing sharply on the stone path as they vanished into the...