Chapter 54 : : : : : What Happened to Alec?

*Ember*

Before I realized it, two weeks had passed since Alec had left me in Moon Haven. Every minute since he rejected me had felt like a knife in my chest. My whole body ached. It was almost impossible to get out of bed some days, but I forced myself to get up because lying there, thinking of him, crying, and wishing that things were different would do nothing. I got out of bed and headed to the main hall, where Chastine made us gather every day. The beauty of the Palace of the Moon still left me breathless sometimes. There was a peacefulness and tranquility to Moon Haven I had never experienced.

There was nothing to really distract me from the ache in my chest and the way Alec’s rejection seemed to rattle in my ears.

“Good Morning,” I said, nodding at the young women who had gathered today. Chastine called them all acolytes. They were around my age and were still in training to become full maidens. As usual, they looked at me warily. One of them gave me a tight smile and look