Chapter 39

ARIA'S POV

A collective murmur spread through the crowd, and I saw heads turning, necks stretching, and people leaning forward in their seats as the object was wheeled out onto the stage.

The Moonstone itself was breathtaking — a large, translucent stone set in the handle of a beautifully carved cane, with a design so delicate that it seemed almost unreal.

There were gasps of admiration as the cane came into full view, its surface shining under the auction hall lights. The Moonstone gave off a pale blue glow that seemed to shift and change as the light hit it, almost as if it were alive.

It was mesmerizing, and I could see that I wasn’t the only one who thought so. The room was utterly captivated.

“It is absolutely perfect for the distinguished gentleman or lady,” the auctioneer continued, “or perhaps for someone who understands the deeper power it holds.”

That last part — those words about power — hung in the air. They all knew the rumours about the Moonstone’s mystical properties. B