Reclaiming My Broken Luna (Astrid and Killian) novel Chapter 399

Astrid’s POV

I stared deep into Asha’s eyes, clouded with emotions she clearly struggled to suppress.

The faint shimmer of tears made her gaze softer, more vulnerable than I had seen in years.

My heart wrenched for her, for the conflict I knew was tearing her apart.

“It’s alright, Asha,” I said gently, cupping her hands to steady the tremor in them. “I didn’t bring him here to hurt him.”

Asha let out a shaky breath, her shoulders slumping as though a heavy weight had been lifted.

I leaned towards her when I noticed her eyes squint in thoughts as if she still had something to say to me.

She retreated back from the intensity of my gaze. “I-I… I just,” she hesitated., her pale eyes drifting away from me.

“It’s okay,” I said softly, breaking the silence.

I squeezed her hands gently, willing her to look at me again. If you want to see him, you’re free to go.”

Her head snapped up, her expression startled, as though the offer itself had caught her off guard.

“No,” she said quickly, her voice a little too sharp before softening into a murmur. “I cannot do that… it’s inappropriate.”

I studied her carefully, noting the faint tremble in her jaw and the way her eyes flickered in unspoken conflict.

Ever since Andros was banished, I’ve never heard Asha speak about her brother again, nor have I seen her shed a tear about him.

When Andros left, it was like he disappeared completely from Asha’s life, but it doesn’t change the fact that Andros once existed in Astrid’s life. He was once Asha’s brother whom she had grown up with.

“I understand, Asha,” I replied quietly. “Although he is a criminal, he is still your brother after all. It’s been a long time since you have last seen him. I know you miss him.”

Asha inhaled deeply, her shoulders stiffening as though bracing against my words. She looked away again, her fingers tightening against mine as though she needed something to anchor her.

“I do miss him,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. “But the crime he had committed is too much. He deserves his punishment and he deserves to be abandoned by us, by me.”

“But by punishing him like this, you are also punishing yourself too,” I muttered, stealing her attention. “If you want to see him, then just see him. Don’t think about proprieties or anything else.”

She hesitated, her lips parting as though she wanted to argue, but instead, she nodded, the smallest movement of her head.

“I will,” she murmured, though there was a terror in her voice. “But not now.”