AgnesI woke up with a jolt to the sound of my alarm blaring in my ears. My hand shot out to silence it, and as I did, I felt the weight of the book from the restricted section sliding off my chest and onto the bed. I groaned, rubbing my eyes as the events of the previous night came rushing back.I
AgnesThea glanced back and forth between the two of us, her teddy bear clutched tightly to her chest.“You’re supposed to be in bed, young lady,” I said with an incredulous laugh. Her bedtime was over an hour ago. “And you have school tomorrow.”But to my surprise, Elijah shook his head. “Actually,
However, I shook my head. “I always made the best coffee at the diner. Besides, it’s just coffee.”James stared at me, but didn’t argue further. Truthfully, I just wanted a good excuse to get away from the crowd for a few moments. And it would make a good impression—a calm and selfless Luna preparin
AgnesMy steps came to an abrupt halt the moment Olivia walked into the room.She looked radiant as always, her sleek blonde hair gently tousled from the wind. Her long legs were prominently on display beneath her skirt, and her heels were just ever so slightly too tall, making her stand out amongst
“You’re Agnes, right?”The sound of a soft voice caught my attention, and I turned to see a petite, stunning woman with red hair that trailed all the way down to her hips and a striking set of blue eyes. Thea gasped as soon as she saw her.“Luna Evelyn!” Thea cried out, releasing my hand and rushing
AgnesI hesitated, wondering if I had truly heard someone crying or if it was just my ears playing tricks on me. But when I heard it again, a soft sob coming from the stall at the end of the row, I quietly moved forward and lifted my hand to knock.The stall door swung open before I could knock, and
She snorted. “You’re braver than I am, then. I’m too afraid to go out into the world with no savings and no job opportunities. I need to prepare first.”“Then prepare,” I said, chewing my lower lip. Suddenly, I had an idea. “You know, Olivia was supposed to model the star outfit for the fashion show
AgnesOver the following weeks, every waking moment went into the finishing touches on the fashion show.What had started as a small charity event for single mothers and families had grown into something far bigger than I had ever imagined, all thanks to the support and enthusiasm of the other Lunas
“Of course. The flowers, the lighting, even the table settings—it’s all beautiful.” I tilted my head, studying his expression. “Why do you look so pleased with yourself? Did you have something to do with this?”Before he could answer, Thea tugged on my dress, pointing excitedly to a group of childre
AgnesAll eyes turned toward us.I felt my face heat under their collective gaze. Looking around at the other women in attendance, I realized with a start that my gown was by far the most elaborate in the room. The structured bodice with its window to my heart, the crystal beadwork catching every fl
I looked up at him, puzzled. “Why not?”“It’s a surprise,” he said simply. “Trust me on this.”As I turned the locket in my hand, I thought I heard something rattle inside. Curious, I shook it gently, and there it was again—a tiny clinking sound, like something hidden inside.“What did you put in he
AgnesI woke to a gentle knock on my bedroom door. Blinking away sleep, I glanced at the clock. 7:30 in the morning. The gala wasn’t until later that evening, but my stomach fluttered with anticipation anyway. Today was the day I’d finally wear my creation, against all odds.“Come in,” I called out,
Eventually, Thea’s boundless energy drew her away to chase a butterfly, leaving Elijah and me sitting beneath the cherry tree. Petals drifted down around us like pale pink snow, catching in my hair and on Elijah’s shoulders. We sat in comfortable silence for a few minutes, watching Thea run between
AgnesMy fingers trembled as I attached another crystal bead to the bodice of the gown. I’d been sewing for hours, but my mind refused to settle down no matter how much I tried. The same questions kept circling like vultures, picking at my flesh until it was raw.Could it really be true? Was Mason m
“Agnes?” Elijah squeezed my hand gently. “Are you okay? You look pale.”I forced a smile, pushing aside my suspicions for now. “I’m fine. Just shocked about the witch. And thank you, for waking me up from that nightmare. It was…” I shuddered, remembering the little skeleton in Thea’s bed. “It was ho
AgnesSunlight streamed through the bedroom window, illuminating Elijah’s dark eyes. It was morning. I was in bed, safe although terrified, and the house was just as it always was. Warm and cozy, embers still glowing in the fireplace, and not a cobweb or a skeleton to be seen.Elijah’s face hovered
Just then, a soft rustling sound came from the bed, drawing my attention. There was a small form under the covers, quivering slightly. Like she was hiding under the blankets, scared. Or maybe holding in laughter. It was hard to tell.“Thea?” I said, relief flooding through me. “You scared me, honey.