Chapter One Hundred and Eighteen - Luna Of My Heart - Damian's POV

As soon as I'm good and awake, I move from the bed and we get dressed to go out and see the damage. When we step outside, the first thing I notice is the air smells like blood and burned wood. There is a huge fire just off to the side of the property, where I supposed they are burning those we can't bury. Maya and I take a seat on a bench in the garden. My elbows are on my knees with my hands clasped together. My knuckles are white from how hard I clench them together. But then I look at her. She is sitting beside me with a mournful expression on her face. At any moment, I expect tears to flood down her cheeks. My Luna. My mate. Ethan comes into view and catches my attention. When he's close enough, I look up at him with a grim expression. 'How are patrols?" 'Two more confirmed dead and one is missing. We can't find Lance." I breathe out slowly. It should hurt more than it does, but I think I've run out of places to put the pain. 'She saved us, you know? We would all be dead if she hadn't awakened her powers. Thank you for getting hurt," he says, with a low chuckle. I huff out a breath. 'Yes, I know. I didn't exactly mean to get hurt, though." 'She's more than we expected," he admits, keeping his voice low. 'No one thought that the human girl you brought would do this, so it has changed everything." 'This was always a part of her. We just didn't know it until recently," I say, glancing back at her. 'She's special." Ethan doesn't say anything else. He just walks away, toward the burn pile. 'Where do you think Lance went?" Maya asks, her voice hesitant. 'I don't know," I admit, my jaw tightening. 'There is no telling. One of the vampires could have dragged him off and left him somewhere we haven't searched yet," I almost growl out the words. It hurts so badly to not know. 'Tonight, you'll officially become luna, though." 'So, I'll finally get my formal title," she says, chuckling low as she slips her fingers between mine. 'It sounds nice." 'It is nice," I reply, turning my body toward her. 'But it's more than just a title. It means they'll look to you just like they look to me. It's strength." She leans back, her eyes scanning the burn area. The sky is gray with smoke while the sun still rises. 'I don't know if I'm ready for this, but I know with you by my side, I can do anything." 'No one is ever ready and certainly not me," I say honestly. 'But you have already come so far. You've earned this spot and not only that, but I'm never letting you go." She doesn't answer for a while. We just let the silence stretch between us as the smoke and flames rise higher. I don't push her. Sometimes words aren't what we need. It's time together and a simple touch of our hands to keep us grounded in the moment. Then she whispers, 'Do you think they will ever see me as one of them?" I pause. Not because I'm unsure of my answer, but because I want her to hear this fully. 'Some saw you as a human. Some as my mate. Now?" I lean closer, pressing her hand to my chest. 'You are the Luna of my heart and a beacon of hope to them." She turns to face me, her eyes filling with tears. 'Wow, that is more than I could have ever asked for. I don't feel like I'm a symbol of hope." I brush her hair back gently. 'Hope isn't about being unbreakable. It's about showing up and being there, even when you're shattered. You did that and so much more." She closes her eyes, and I know she believes me, even if it's only a little bit. We stay in the garden until the sun rises higher, casting the world in a warm gold. The fire continues to burn in the distance as the last of the clean up takes place. One by one, the names of the fallen are spoken aloud and buried with those who were our enemies were named as best as we could. As soon as the last names are called, Maya and I head back inside, where we spend the rest of the afternoon preparing for her ceremony. She asks random questions that I tell her not to worry about. Then she'll ask what kind of clothes she needs to wear, to which I tell her she can go in my clothes and no one will care. It's a simple time, and though we laugh and cut up, the moment still feels heavy. So much was lost so we could have our freedom. So many deaths coat our hands, though it wasn't directly us, who caused them. I catch her in the bathroom at one point, asking herself if this is all her fault, because she cast the spell originally to cause the curse. 'No, it's not your fault. Now get ready to go." She looks back at me with tears in her eyes. 'But I cast it." 'If Lorcan killed me, then it's on him. You cast the curse because you loved me and wanted us to be reunited." 'It was selfish," she says, before looking away. 'Maybe, but anyone could have cast a curse on us, love. Plus, it's not even you who did it. It's an older version of yourself that no longer exists anymore. What's done is done and now we are free." As she finishes getting ready, I do the same. Though there is a slight tension in the air, it quickly fades as she steps out. I take one look at her and smile. 'You look ready for this." 'I'm not," she laughs sheepishly before looking down at my t-shirt and shorts. 'We're matching at least." I laugh. 'Yes, that we are. Now let's make you my luna."