Itwasacloudlessnight.

Thefullmoonhunginthesky,yetnotasiarwasvisible.Thedarknesswasabsolute,pure.Yetthemoonitselfwasdim,shroudedinahazyhalo,asifveiledingauze.

Threadsofmoonlight,fineanduntouchable,slippedthroughthehalf-opengsswindowandthelooselydrawnfloralcurtains,spillingintothequietbedroom.

Atfirst,thelighthadsettledonthecream-coloreddesk,castingafainttriangurglow.Butnow,thatglowseemedalive,twisting,slidingoffthedesk,creepingacrossthehardwoodfllidihew,andfinallyclimbingontothewhitefour-posterbedwithitspartedcurtains.Thereitpausedbesideaslender,palehaingatopthesheet.

Reyasummonedwhatstrengthshehadleft,pushingherselfuprightagainsttheheadboard.Shecouldfeelhervitalenergysurginguntrolblytowardherabdomen.Asshemoved,thesheetslipped,revealingherbare,gauntshoulders.Herskihanthemoonlightitself,fwless,smoothaspor,almostglowingfaintlyinthedark.

Thistime,itwasingfaster.Stronger.

Sheslowlyraisedherarm,themovementsosluggishitwasbarelyperceptible.Itwasn''''''''tthatshedidn''''''''twanttomovefaster.Herbodysimplydidn''''''''thaveenoughenergylefttotroleventhiswispofhazymoonlight.

Damnit.Ofallnights,whymusttheskyfuntalunarhalotonight?

Drawingasharpbreath,shesuddenlyliftedherhand,pressedhermoonlight-entangledfioherforehead.Instantly,asmallpurplishbirthmark-likespotbetweenherbrowsfshedcrimsonlight.

Shestruggledtutetheenergyflow,fherselftosteadyherbreath.Themoonlightrosefromherforeheadlikeaglowingstrandofgossamer,suspehestiflingairofthebedroom.Oetheredtoherbrow,theotherstretgtowardthegapiains.

IfLuweretoseethis...

No.Notimetoworryaboutthat.

Theweightinherlowerabdomengrewheavier,bulgingfaintlybehesheet.

Almostthere.Almost.

Reyacouldn''''''''tsitupproperly.Shebentherlegs,half-reingagainsttheheadboard,herfeetphemattress,herhandsgrippingthecarvedbedframe.Sweatbeadedonherforehead,heramethysthairgingtohercheeks,makingherdelicate