Chapter 51. Nora Rejects Her Blood

Celeste’s POV

A sharp, uncomfortable tension filled the clearing as I watched a bitter, unwanted family reunion unfold right before my eyes. Nora stood directly across from her four cousins—Cira, Ayra, Lumea, and Neris—each one distinct in both appearance and temperament. Cira’s gaze was cold and calculating; Ayra offered a warm, pleading smile; Lumea’s eyes danced with mischief; and Neris, now noticeably rounder than the others, exuded a contented air—as though she’d been indulging in far more than her share of pastries.

“Nora, it’s truly good to see you again,” Ayra said, her voice soft, her smile genuine.

I sensed a flash of irritation in Nora’s expression. “I wish I could say the same,” she replied icily, “but reunion wasn’t the purpose of my visit.”

Lumea’s tone shot up in an eager exclamation. “You came for the human, didn’t you?!” She hardly finished before Cira slapped the back of her sister’s head. “Don’t give away our plan,” Cira hissed.