Magnus had been replaying that night in Carina's chambers for days now and he couldn't stop thinking about the way her face had crumpled when her father struck her.
The proud and vain Gamma Carina who strutted through the castle like she owned it had looked so small and broken in that moment and it had shifted something fundamental in his understanding of her.
He understood now why she pursued Dorian with such single minded determination. It wasn't just about power or status like everyone assumed, but about survival.
Her father demanded she become Luna and failure wasn't an option that came without consequences. The bruise on her cheek had faded but Magnus could still see it every time he looked at her and it made his chest tight with an emotion he didn't want to examine too closely.
Not that he had many opportunities to look at her lately because Carina seemed to be going out of her way to avoid him. When he entered a room she would find an excuse to leave within minutes.
