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

    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