Cinder couldn't shake the uneasy feeling in her chest. Something had shifted since Jason's discovery about his lineage and the Moonstone. She had always felt different, like a puzzle missing its most important piece. But now, the feeling was stronger, and it wouldn't go away.
It was Zara who noticed Cinder's restlessness first. "You're distracted," she said as she ground herbs in a small wooden bowl.
Cinder blinked and glanced at Zara. "I just… I feel like there's something I don't know. Something about me. Jason found out about his lineage, and now I'm wondering… what if I'm missing something, too?"
Zara paused and looked at her carefully. "You're not wrong, Cinder," she said after a moment. "There's something you need to know. Something your mother never told you."
Cinder's heart skipped a beat. "You knew my mother?"
Zara nodded. "Sylvia was a dear friend, though her life was full of secrets. She kept you hidden for a reason."