Chapter 7

As I toss and turn on the bed, I tell myself to wait, to be patient. But the mother in me is restless. The moon-amber is gleaming on the bedside table, urging me to use it. I think of Rowan and his words: Hold on to that one word. Mama. Hold onto the love you bear for your children. That’s the truth. The rest is shadow.

I’m holding onto just that. My love for my children. And it is this love that drags me out of bed in the middle of the night and towards the nursery.

The guards outside glare at me before their gaze drops on the moon-amber, then something seems to flicker in their eyes before they part, allowing me to pass. I don’t waste time, knowing the crystal can only break through glamour for a few seconds.

Inside, the nursery is dark, even though the hearth is still burning. It’s as if the fire in it provides no light. I shiver at the strangeness of it, inhaling the scent of milk and lavender that clings to the air. The moon-amber is clutched tight in my palm.

I can’t find Finn, but Ivy’s there. I can recognise her silhouette even if it’s just the fading moonlight illuminating her. She stirs in her bed, her soft dark curls spread across the pillow. She has Kade’s black hair, but her eyes are an icy blue like mine. My heart hammers as I kneel beside her and press the warm crystal against her chest.

For a second, the air shimmers. The veil cracks. Her tiny lashes flutter, and she blinks at me. “Mama?”

The word breaks me open. I gather her close, tears spilling before I can stop them. “Yes, my baby. It’s me. I’m here.”

Her small hands clutch my dress, her little nose burrows into my neck. My scent runs through her—my blood, my child. “I’m scared, Mama. She scares Finn,” the words tumble out of her mouth.

“Who scares Finn?” I ask immediately despite already knowing who she’s talking about.

Before I can hold her longer, the glamour slams back, the hearth dimming at the exact same moment before blazing once more and yet, it gives out barely any light. Ivy stiffens in my arms. Her face twists in confusion, then fear.

“Let me go,” she whispers. “You’re not my mama. Mama Izel said—”

The door bursts open. Kade fills the threshold, tall and cold, golden eyes burning like fire. Behind him, the guards bear cruel looks on their faces, the earlier confusion wiped away.

“What are you doing here?” His voice cracks like a whip.

I rise slowly, still holding Ivy. “She knew me, Kade. For a moment, she knew me. Can’t you see what’s happening? Are you so blind?”

“You disobeyed me.” He crosses the room, plucks Ivy from my arms as if I’m nothing. Our daughter clings to him, whimpering.

“Kade—”

His glare silences me. He strokes Ivy’s hair, but his words cut like steel. “You frighten her. You do not belong here.”

“She is mine,” I whisper. “My child.”

“She belongs where she feels safe.” His jaw tightens. “And that is not with you.”

He turns on his heel and carries Ivy out. I follow into the corridor.

Izel waits there, her auburn hair tied into an elaborate long braid, silk robe gleaming in the torchlight. When Kade places Ivy in her arms, her smile is sweet and triumphant.

“Mama’s here,” she coos, rocking Ivy close.

Kade doesn’t look at me when he barks. “Stay away, Freya. That is an order.”

Izel starts to walk away with Ivy, but I fall at Kade’s feet, stopping him.

“Kade… please! Why are you doing this to me? Why are you treating me like I mean nothing to you? I’m your wife in the Goddess’s eyes! Ten years, Kade—ten years we’ve been married. We have two beautiful children together. I’ve always loved you, cared for you endlessly. I’ve obeyed you, been the dutiful Luna, never once questioned your authority. So, tell me—what changed? What made you turn to her? What killed the love you once had for me? Because I know you loved me once. I know you did.

“Do you remember when Finn was born? You held him all night because I was too weak to move. Do you remember how you taught Ivy to say ‘mama’ first instead of ‘dada,’ just because I was upset that Finn took forever to call me ‘mama’? Do you remember Ivy’s first steps? She ran straight to you—and you brought her to me, and we laughed like we’d never known sorrow.”

His expression flickers. I reach for it, desperate.

“I was there. Beside you. Through every winter, every battle, every night loving you, caring for you. I was your wife. Your Luna. I gave up everything, sacrificed it all so I could do my duty to our pack—to you. Doesn’t any of that matter? Do you not care at all?”

His hand twitches at his side, and for a moment I’m sure he’s reaching for me.

But then Izel interrupts, still holding Ivy in her arms, “You’re wasting your time, my love.”

Kade’s eyes flick to her, and when they return to me, they resemble ice. “The past is gone. Stop clinging to it.”

The softness in me burns away at the cold cruelty in his voice. I straighten my spine, getting to my feet, every shred of warmth gone from me. “You can strip me of the title. You can lock away my crown. But you will not take my children from me, Kade.”

His jaw clenches. “You have no choice, Freya.”

“I do,” I tell him. “At the Blood-Moon Conclave, I will seek Silver Severance.”

His face hardens, but I don’t flinch. Not this time.

“You cannot,” he says.

“I will.”

I stride past him, back into the shadows of my chamber, clutching the moon-amber. The stone still pulses faintly warm, like a promise.