Who was this man her sister trusted more than her own blood?
She stared at Katell, who muttered to herself, low, frantic scraps Alena couldn’t catch. Her eyes darted around the room, fingers twitching at her sides.
A chill crept up Alena’s spine.
The sharpness in her tone, the paranoia, the restless eyes—it dragged her back to last summer. Katell had seemed off then, too.
But now it was like staring at a stranger—a ghost wearing her sister’s face.
What had happened to her?
Behind her, Leukos shifted. “Alena,” he murmured, a quiet warning.
She forced herself to breathe, swallowing down her frustration. “You know I’m not lying.”
Katell’s fingers twitched, as if tugging invisible threads. “Of course you’d say that,” she spat, her breath quickening. “You always think you know best. That you’re the only one who sees the truth.”
“Kat, that’s not?—”
“You can’t stand that I left you last summer, so now you’re trying to get revenge.” Her eyes flashed with raw, unfiltered rage. She flung a hand towards the door. “Get out! I don’t want to see you again!”
The wolves growled outside, but Alena didn’t move.
Her heart thundered—not from fear, but from the unbearable weight of watching her sister unravel. “Kat, please. Just listen. You’re not well?—”
“No! You’re lying!” Katell’s voice climbed to a hysterical pitch, her pacing frantic.
“I’m not?—”
“I saidget out!” she screamed, and lunged—sudden and feral, eyes blazing.
Nik moved in a flash, catching her wrists before she could reach Alena. “All right, that’s enough.”
Katell writhed in his grip, her screams raw and ragged—each one a knife twisting in Alena’s chest.
She stood frozen until her sister sagged against Nik, strength spent. Her head bowed, breath rasping, shoulders trembling.
Leukos stepped quietly to her side. “Come on,” he said grimly. “Let’s go.”
“What’s wrong with her?” Alena asked, struggling to keep her emotions in check.
Leukos’ face darkened. “She’s been using some Rasennan magic called Laran’s Tears to enhance her Gifts. Ever since we captured her, she’s been like this—unstable, volatile. The magic’s corrupted her mind.”
Alena’s stomach turned. “But… why isn’t she healing herself?
“She can’t,” he said. “They put dampeners on her, so she can’t access her Gift.”
Alena’s gaze dropped to her sister’s wrists. Slender cuffs of burnished gold gleamed against her skin. “If we took one off, she could heal herself.”
Leukos scowled. “We know. Nik hasn’t stopped arguing with Danaos about it, but he won’t budge. Says it’s too dangerous.”
Alena looked past him. Nik was gently guiding Katell back to the bed. Her fire had burned out, leaving only a hollow shell. Shoulders hunched, limbs trembling despite the heavy furs, she clung to Nik’s tunic like a lifeline—as if letting go might unmoor her completely.
A fresh wave of fury surged in Alena’s chest. “He’ll listen to me.”
She didn’t care if the man was the queen’s soulmate. Keeping Katell in that state was nothing short of barbaric.
Without another word, she strode from the room, the wolves rising in sync to follow. Leukos fell into step beside her, silent but watchful.
