An Empty Sky, A Full-Blown Vengeance

SERAPHINA

I stared out the car window as trees blurred past, my heart hardening with every mile. The hot air balloon ride that was supposed to be magical—supposed to end with a ring on my finger—was over, and with it, any lingering hope I'd foolishly nurtured.

Julian drove in silence, probably thinking he'd done something generous. Something kind. He had no idea the cruelty of his gesture.

When he'd told me about the surprise, my mind had immediately leapt to the conclusion any woman would have drawn. The romantic setting. The privacy. The grand gesture. It all pointed to one thing: a proposal.

After years of patience, of carefully crafting myself into the perfect Luna, of standing beside him through crisis after crisis, I thought today would finally be my reward.

Instead, I got a pretty view and pity.

"Did you enjoy it?" Julian asked, breaking the silence.

I forced my lips into what I hoped resembled a smile. "It was breathtaking."