300
~Thorne's POV
I stared at Elara for a long moment. Slowly, I leaned in and pressed my lips to hers. It wasn't gentle or hesitant; it was desperate, almost like I was trying to make up for lost time. When I pulled back, I whispered, "I'm sorry… for making you feel like you weren't enough. You are enough, Elara. You've always been enough."
She laughed softly, a sound that warmed something deep inside me. "Thorne… It's fine."
She tilted her head, eyes sparkling with mischief and care. "But I have another suggestion for you."
I raised a brow. "Another suggestion?"
"Yes," she said. "You should ask about your mother from Great Luna Seraphine. Your stepmother."
I blinked, caught off guard. "Seraphine? Why didn't I think of that?"
She smiled knowingly. "Probably because you never thought about it, or maybe because your father forbade you from talking about her."
I exhaled, feeling a mix of relief and shame. "You're right. I never thought of it because of him."
