C24 The shadow behind the goddess

The cavern trembled no more. Only the smell of soot, ash, and blood lingered in the broken air.

Lucas sat against the jagged wall, his arms wrapped protectively around Zoe. She was asleep now, her breathing steady, her tiny hand gripping his shirt like an anchor.

Vashti knelt beside them, brushing hair from Zoe’s forehead. For once, her gaze wasn’t the gaze of a Luna—it was softer, raw, human