Luna felt her chest tighten. "And when I die?" she asked, not as a question, but as a challenge.
"That's enough," Damien snapped. His eyes flicked to hers, burning with grief.
Luna wasn't angry at him. She understood how much pain he was trying to keep buried beneath that hard, royal shell. But she also knew she needed to understand what was at stake. She pressed on, ignoring his outburst. "And when I die?" she repeated.
"That's enough. Veyron, come…I'll take you home…Now," Damien insisted.
Luna stood. "Damien…"
He stopped, only halfway turned, but he didn't meet her gaze. His shoulders were rigid, his breath uneven.
"I'm not mad at you," she said quietly. "I get it. This is a lot to face."
"You think I can't face it?" he snapped, whirling around for just a moment, eyes gleaming. "Watching you talk about dying like it's already decided? Like your life is some price tag we're supposed to haggle over? That…" He broke off, jaw clenching. "That I can't do."
