The Luna Who Loved Twice

The ballroom at Lunebourne looked like it had been ripped straight from a dream.

Velvet curtains, chandeliers burning low, candlelight reflecting off every mask in the room—gilded, mysterious, sharp-edged.

Regina had never seen the university like this.

And she had never seen Connor like this.

He wasn't in his usual hoodie or faded T-shirt.Tonight, he wore a black suit. Fitted just right.Hair pushed back slightly. Mask angled carelessly, as if he didn't care who knew it was him.

Her brain short-circuited.

Oh god. He looks...Delicious.I mean—my next mistake.I mean… yeah okay, he's hot, whatever.

She adjusted the straps of her black dress, trying not to look like she was staring.But she was.

And when he turned and saw her, really saw her—

That lazy smile stretched across his face.The kind that said, "I know exactly what you're thinking."

He made his way across the floor, slowly, like he had all the time in the world.

"You showed up," he said, voice a notch deeper than usual.

"You invited me."

"You wore black."

"You told me to."

He smiled, a little lopsided.Then held out a hand.

"Dance with me?"

She hesitated. Just for a second.Then placed her hand in his.

The music slowed into something dark and orchestral, strings curling through the air like smoke.

Connor pulled her close—closer than he needed to.His hand rested lightly on the curve of her back, his other holding hers just tight enough to make her forget how to breathe.

"You're nervous," he murmured.

"No I'm not," she lied.

"You sure?"

Regina didn't answer.Because her pulse was pounding and her thoughts were somewhere between run and don't let go.

Every time he looked at her, it felt like gravity tipped.Every time he leaned in, she forgot what she was supposed to fear.

When the final note of the song echoed through the room, Connor didn't let go of her hand.

"Wanna get out of here?"

"Where?"

"You'll see."

They ended up in the Lunebourne Night Market.

Quiet but glowing—rows of fairy-lit tents selling hot cider, old books, strange trinkets, even moon-shaped pastries. Couples strolled hand in hand. Music drifted faintly from somewhere.

Regina tucked her hair behind her ear, smiling as she looked at the booths.

"It's beautiful," she whispered.

Connor didn't respond.

He was staring at the moon.

She stepped closer, their shoulders brushing.She reached for his hand—

He pulled back, just barely.

It was subtle. Almost unnoticeable.

But she felt it.

Regina blinked. "What's wrong?"

Connor turned to her, jaw tight.

"Nothing. Just... a lot of people."

"You brought me here."

"I thought it'd be quiet. I didn't expect the moon to be—"He cut himself off.

She stepped in front of him. "Connor."

His eyes met hers.

There was something wild behind them.Something he was fighting.

"You're not okay," she said quietly.

"No," he admitted. "I'm not."

Then, lower:

"You need to go home. Right now."

"Why?"

He looked past her, then at her again.

"Because if you don't, I might not be able to control what happens next."

His voice was still soft.But there was something breaking inside it.

The mask had slipped.Not the one on his face—the one he wore every day.

Regina took a step back.

And then—

She saw it.

His irises shimmered gold under the moonlight.And for just a second, she could've sworn she saw the outline of something moving beneath his skin.

Something not quite human.