I Am The Luna

ZAIA.

Blow after blow…

The pain in my body is screaming at me to stop, to take a break and breathe… but I don’t want to.

I refuse to.

This is a way to release the rage inside of me and it’s… empowering.

“Zaia… let’s take a break.” Atticus’s breathless voice comes as he grabs my fist, yanking me against him, and twists my arm behind my back. “That’s enough for today.” He says, looking down at me.

His hair is drenched in sweat, as is his body. I’m the same. The hairs that refused to stay back are sticking to my face and I can feel the trickles of sweat dripping down my bare stomach as we stand there chest to chest.

“No. I’m not… but if you want to go, I’ll continue with one of my guards.” I say quietly, breaking free and turning away from him, about to summon one of my men when he grips.

hold of my elbow and forces me to face him.

“Zai “There’s concern in his eyes as he

obst s me, but I refuse to let people see the cracks within me…

I raise an eyebrow and tilt my head.

“What’s wrong Atticus? Can’t you handle me?” I ask challengingly as I slowly tug out of his hold and cross my arms.

He smirks slightly before sighing and shaking his head.

“Alright then, Red, let’s go again.” He says as he adjusts his sweatpants and re-ties the string. He’s shirtless, and he’s getting a lot of attention from the other females here and a couple of the guys.

He would make a good partner. I just hope he finds the one and gets that happily ever after he deserves without being hung up over me.

“Checking me out?” he asks, cocking a brow.

“I appreciate the view, but no, I was just thinking you aren’t getting any younger. I want to see you settle down.” I say as I fall into stance. I’m proud to say I’m a fast learner and this time I make the first move.

“That won’t happen,” he replies as he blocks me

“Ok, I’m done, even if you aren’t. I give up.” Atticus says breathlessly as I pin him to the ground, I’m straddling his stomach a dagger to his throat. He raised his hands in surrender, dropping them onto the ground beside his head as he looks up at me.

Hours have passed and we are the only ones left in the training hall. I know I pushed him today, but I feel a little calmer, or maybe that’s because I’m just exhausted.

“You went easy on me, didn’t you?” I ask, tilting my head.

“Honestly? No. I didn’t because this isn’t a joke, and I don’t want you to underestimate the

enemy or a real match. Not that you don’t know how to handle yourself on the battlefield,” he says quietly, slapping the side of my thighs. ” You did good Red.”

I suddenly become aware of our position and dropping the dagger, I climb off him groaning at how achy my body is.

my arm ling me onto the ground

hits the mat beneath me as I lay

hearts as we recover is loud in the room, but it’s oddly

between us until he

says, making me turn my head to look

any younger. Find a good woman. Life is

would that be fair to the woman?” he asks, his smirk

ask. “I mean, you can be a little annoying,

I have any right to give him advice when my own relationship is

I am in love with someone else?” his voice is

worth it,” I say q…etly as I

there’s no end… I’ll still wait.”

going to return those feelings… don’t waste your life over me. It’s foolish.” say, about to stand up when

“Hey, look at me.”

you get it? I

look into his eyes, trying to keep my

I respect that. But you don’t have the right to say whether they are a waste of time or foolish, because that’s my choice and I

“Atticus…”

hurting and I’m not trying to make matters worse or use

grabbing my arm pulling me onto the

beneath me as I lay there

as we recover is loud in the room, but

silence between us until

down…” Atticus. says, making me turn my head

younger. Find a good woman.

to the woman?” he asks, his smirk fading

do you mean?” I ask. “I mean, you can be a little annoying,

that I have any right to give him advice when my own relationship is something I can’t

fair to the woman I settle for when I am in love with someone else?”

look across at him. “I’m not worth it,” I

still wait.” He

your life over me. It’s foolish.” say, about to stand up when he takes

“Hey, look at me.”

you get it? I can’t

into his eyes, trying to

can’t choose who you love, and I know you will never reciprocate those feelings, and I respect that. But you don’t have the right to say

“Atticus…”

emotional state to forward my gain, but just remember, you are

not the one

look away, ashamed that I let it get

tonight, Atticus,”

He replies softly as

kick off my shoes and step into one of the showers. Switching it on, I sink to the

If only…

Love hurts…

the one who doesn’t care for me, and the one who

Valerie’s voice comes into my mind, telling me that the kids are asking

so… for them, I get up and push

you sure you still want to

Atticus asks.

the report of Mom’s postmortem, my mind

bones, along with so

ready to test out the Moon Dust, but the

Mom had been sick.

Cancer…

to this report, she’d been sick for a while… and it seemed that the poisoning around my

out who administered the poison back then,” I say quietly. “I’m assuming it could be the man Annalise was speaking to in your pack. Gerard

that could help. We do have footage of every New Year’s ball and I have had the tapes searched. Some files were deleted, but we are trying to recover them. Someone should show up, the main hall was definitely

to know…”

was sick. Did she never

gives my shoulders a gentle squeeze as she stands behind me and I shake

She never

like I didn’t even

kept you in the dark?” Jai sounds a little

to worry me… Even