---- and light fish dishes. He used to know that. "Thanks," I said, pushing the plate away. "I'm not very hungry." Throughout the entire dinner, Kaelen's attention was almost entirely on Seraphina. He roared with laughter at every boring story she told. I was completely ignored, like a decoration at the table. "Oh, right, Lyra," Kaelen finally turned to me, " About the next ceremony... what do you think about the next full moon...?" Suddenly, Seraphina clutched her stomach, her face twisting in 'pain.' "Oh, my stomach hurts so much..." "What's wrong?" Kaelen immediately asked, completely forgetting I was even there. "Maybe I ate something bad at lunch..." she whimpered, leaning against Kaelen. "I feel awful... " ---- "T'll take you back," Kaelen said, standing up immediately. Then he remembered me and said awkwardly, "Lyra, you..." "Go ahead," I said calmly. "Seraphina's health is more important." He hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "I'll be back soon. " I watched him help the 'frail' Seraphina out of the restaurant. She turned her head and gave mea smug smile. I sat there quietly, watching them leave, my heart completely at peace. Enough. His actions had given me all the answers. Back at the tent, I quickly packed what I needed. Suddenly, Kaelen's voice came through the psychic link: "Lyra, Seraphina needs me to look after her tonight, so I won't be back at the main tent. Once ---- she's better, we'll plan the next ceremony properly. This time, I'll definitely make you my Luna!" I gave a cold smirk, took out the ancient runestone from the Moonshadow Realm, and began to chant the spell to sever the link. "No need," I replied through the link. "I've already left Blackrock territory with my people. Kaelen, our fated bond ends here. As the Moon Goddess is my witness, we will never meet again." As the princess of the Moonshadow Realm, I had the right to use the royal family's ancient bond- severing technique. As the last syllable fell, the runestone emitted a blinding silver light.. A sharp pain shot through me, but I gritted my teeth and endured it. Just then, a piercing scream tore through the air from the distance. ---- I knew that was Kaelen, feeling the agony of our bond shattering. As for me, being free from the bond for a while, I felt more liberated than I ever had. "Let's go," I told my Moonshadow Guard, waiting in the shadows. I cast one last look towards Blackrock territory. "It's time to go home."