167: A revelation

Alora’s POV

Shortly after the Moon Goddess left, the hooded goddess entered. She moved with a quiet, steady grace over the floor. She approached silently, then held out two neatly folded sets of clothes.

“Put these on,” she said, her voice soft but leaving no room for question.

I exchanged a glance with Rune, and we both dressed quickly, the fabric strange but surprisingly comfortable. It felt odd, the simple act of wearing clothes again, and I sensed Rune’s protectiveness bristling under the surface.

As soon as we finished, she gestured for us to follow her through the stone corridor, leading us to a dimly lit chamber.

A table was set, two plates filled with food, and though my stomach was tight with tension, I realized how hungry I was. We sat down and ate, though Rune watched her carefully, his suspicion plain.

Finally, she turned to him. “I need to speak to her alone.”

Rune tensed, his hand drifting protectively toward mine. “If you think I’ll leave her here alone with you—”

She