#Chapter 39: The Auction

Elara The tension in the car was almost unbearable at first. Once Alaric helped me in, I sat there stiffly, hardly even hearing Zoe and Ella’s excited chatter. Alaric circled the car and climbed in on his side without a word. As the car pulled out of the driveway, the tension was even worse. If it weren’t for the girls and their constant banter, it would have been dead silent. I couldn’t blame Alaric for his coldness, though. Not after last night. The memory of it was still fresh and mortifying, replaying in my mind like a bad dream I couldn’t seem to shake. I had touched his body, I had kissed his cheeks, I had said things I never would have dared to if I hadn’t been drowning in wine. My hands twisted in my lap, my eyes fixed on the city lights blurring past. I felt like a fool. A complete and utter fool who was definitely not fit to be a Luna, even just for the next six months. “Mommy, look! There’s a fountain!” Zoe’s excited voice suddenly broke through