The rear gardens of the Ranawat palace lay wrapped in the last streaks of sunset and had faded, leaving only the faint glow of fairy lights tangled and the distant murmur of voices from the main terrace. Behind a thick screen of rose bushes and tall ornamental grass, far enough from the palace that no one would casually overhear, two figures Priya and Kyra.

Priya pressed one hand flat against her stomach and let out a long groan. "Priya," Kyra whispered, glancing over her shoulder toward the glowing terrace, "why exactly did you drag me all the way back here? Everyone is already upstairs waiting for the moon. If someone sees us sneaking around like this- "