Desiree barely slept that night.

Every time she closed her eyes, the council hall came back to her. The echo of Elder Kael’s voice, the weight of the words Luna training, the way every gaze had settled on her as though they were already measuring her worth.

She lay still on her bed, Adrian tucked safely against her chest, his small breaths steady and warm. His tiny fingers curled around the fabric of her nightdress as if anchoring himself to her.

I accept.

The words replayed in her ...