Chapter 48

Nicole "Of course, dear! We'd love to have you,"Luna Xandra replied enthusiastically. "I'll prepare something special. Will Damien be joining us too?" Guilt twisted in my stomach. "It's just me alone. Damien's busy, so I don't think he'll be coming," I admitted, the lie slipping easily from my lips. I hadn't even told Damien I was coming here. After last night—after he'd chosen to leave our bed to be with Yelena—I couldn't bring myself to face him. A brief pause on the line told me Luna Xandra had picked up on something. "I see," she said finally. "Well, I'll prepare more anyway, just in case he finishes early." After hanging up, I sat in my car for a moment longer, gathering my courage. As I approached the door, it swung open before I could knock. Luna Teresa, Damien's grandmother , stood there with her arms already open. "My dear girl," she said, pulling me into a hug. "Come in, come in." Once inside, I found myself in the warm kitchen that always smelled of herbs and home cooking. L