Xena''s POV


    "Your body is perfect," he whispered against my neck, his lips trailing a path of fire down my skin. The sensation sent shivers through me, but my mind was already miles away. Thoughts of the uing funeral, of our lost friend, filled me with a bitterness that made it impossible to lose myself in pleasure. Not now.


    "No, I need to shower," I pushed him away and quickly got up from the bed before he


    could pull me back down. Ama would be here any minute, and I needed to be ready. Since I couldn''t find a robe and Ryder wasn''t around, I grabbed one of his shirts and slipped it


    1. on.


    I had just managed to put on my underwear when there was a knock at the door. "Hey," I greeted Ama as I opened the door.


    "Good, you''ve already showered," she said, her eyes taking in my appearance. "Yes, ma''am," I gave her a small smile.


    "About your shop... I''m sorry," Ama set down the things she''d brought, her voice wavering slightly.


    "Me too." The words felt like a stab to my heart. I sat down in the chair, watching as she


    unpacked her makeup.


    "So, you and Ryder..."


    "Yeah, looks like it," I answered quietly.


    "Can I call you Luna now?" she asked, a hint of lightness breaking through her somber


    tone.


    "Wait until tomorrow."


    She nodded and turned her attention to my hair, her hands gentle but sure.


    "I always knew you were destined to be Luna," Ama said softly, and in the mirror, I could


    see tears shimmering in her eyes alongside a sh of pride.


    "I''m d we''ll be living together again," I said, meeting her eyes in the reflection.


    "Me too. I''ve really missed our friendship.


    I squeezed her hand. "I hope you brought waterproof makeup," I half-joked, knowing we''d both be crying today.


    "Bought it yesterday," Ama smiled, though sadness lingered in her expression.


    Ama worked in silence, and I just stared at my reflection. None of this felt real. I never thought we''d be attending his funeral before we even turned eighteen. Life is fragile, and


    fate is cruel-lessons we were learning in the harshest way possible.


    Ama was curling thest strand of my hair and finishing my makeup when the boys


    walked in, just as she was handing me my dress.


    "How''s it going?" Ryder entered, pausing when he saw me in his shirt. William went


    straight to Ama, so our interaction went unnoticed.


    "Just about to change," I said, noting how Ryder''s eyebrow raised slightly, his eyes


    darkening with desire I couldn''t ignore.


    “Good, we need to get going. You girls should arrive early to greet people," Ryder said, his


    intense eyes still fixed on me.


    I nodded and walked into the bathroom, closing the door. Getting out of Ryder''s shirt and


    into the dress was easy. It was a simple ck dress, sleeveless and well-fitted. It hung a bit loose but still showed off my figure, falling just below my thighs. Perfect for a funeral.


    Ama came in to change as well. "Here are your shoes."


    "Thanks," I said as I slipped them on. Ama changed into a simr dress and put on her


    shoes. She had already done her hair and makeup beforeing over.


    There was a knock!


    "Ready?" William asked gently.


    "No," I said weakly, and Ama opened the door. She leaned into William''s embrace,


    breaking down a little as tears slipped down her cheeks. I felt too numb to cry, just walking out.


    Ryder stood waiting. Both boys were dressed all in ck, with the sleeves of their ck shirts rolled up. Hair fixed with gel, beards neatly trimmed.


    "You okay?" he asked.


    "I think so," I said, grabbing my phone and wallet.


    "Let''s go," William said, and he and Ama walked out. Ryder waited for me, giving me a quick kiss before I followed them. The kiss contained so much that couldn''t be said―fort, support, promise, and deep love.


    "You girls take this car," William opened the door for me to drive. Ama wasn''t emotionally


    fit to drive. "Warriors are stationed all along the way to make sure you arrive safely. We''ll


    leave in ten minutes," Ryder said as I got in and started the engine.


    Ama waved goodbye, and I exchanged a silent farewell with Ryder. The entire journey, we


    maintained silence. I could asionally glimpse warriors along the roadside. Logan and Leonard were waiting for us when we arrived.


    "X..." Ama''s voice broke as we pulled to a stop.


    "I know." We could see the ck tents and smoke in the background. Funeral preparations had begun, all for our mutual friend. I took her hand and squeezed it gently, trying to give her some strength. Though I was on the verge of breaking down myself, I knew I had to


    stay strong.


    Logan and Leonard opened our doors, helping us out. The four of us walked toward the


    tent with our arms around each other.


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