"And the storms?" Another voice from the crowd. "The attacks?"
"Tied to the locket. All of it." Tristan adjusted his grip on Maren, his arms starting to shake. "The entity inside was feedingon your fear. Using it to possess people, make them act without knowing. Wells, you were one of them."
Wells's face went from pale to gray. "What?"
"The vandalism at Maren's cottage. The blood symbols. You did it while sleeping. The locket controlled you, made you steal what it needed to form the construct." Tristan met his eyes. "You weren't responsible. None of you were. Just victims like everyone else."
Wells looked at his hands like they belonged to someone else. "I don't remember. Wouldn't I remember?"
"Not if you were possessed." Tristan's legs finally gave out. He sank to his knees, still holding Maren. "The entity targeted whoever feared her most. Used that fear as an entry point."
The crowd shifted, uncertain. Some faces showed relief, others doubt, most just confusion.
Then Emmett pushed through, Miriam right behind him. "Report."
"Locket destroyed. Construct dispersed. Maren's injured but stable." Tristan looked down at her unconscious face. "She saved the town, Emmett. Saved me and destroyed something that would've kept feeding on fear until Hollow Oak tore itself apart. Even if she’d have gone."
Emmett crouched, checking Maren's pulse. "She needs medical attention. Miriam, get Freya?—"
"Already here." Freya emerged from the crowd, healer's bag in hand. She knelt beside Tristan, her expression tight with concern. "Let me see her."
Tristan reluctantly shifted Maren into Freya's arms. His body immediately protested the loss, the incomplete bond screaming that his mate was too far away, too hurt, too vulnerable.
Freya worked quickly, examining wounds. "She's lost a lot of blood. Ribs are cracked, possibly broken. But nothingimmediately fatal if we get her warm and stable." She looked up at the crowd. "Someone bring a stretcher. And blankets. Now."
People moved to obey, the mob mentality dissolving into something closer to community concern.
Bram appeared at Emmett's shoulder, his expression unreadable. "The construct is truly gone?"
"Ask them." Tristan gestured to the witnesses. "They saw the whole thing."
Maya stepped forward. "We saw it dissolve. Like smoke in wind. And when it did, the storm stopped. Just ended, like someone cut the strings holding it up."
"The locket was controlling weather?" Bram's skepticism showed clearly.
"The locket was controlling everything." Tristan forced himself to stand, swaying but upright. "Creating fear. Amplifying suspicion. Possessing people to act on that fear. All to feed the construct enough power to exist independently."
"And Maren destroyed it." Emmett stated.
"We destroyed it together. Her magic. My strength." Tristan met Emmett's gaze. "But she was the one who knew how. Who understood what needed to happen. Without her, that thing would still be here."
The crowd murmured, processing. Tristan could see belief slowly replacing suspicion on some faces. Others remained uncertain, years of prejudice harder to overcome than one witnessed battle.
But it was a start.
Bram cleared his throat. "Miss Pitch." He addressed her unconscious form formally. "It appears the Council owes you an apology. And thanks for your service to Hollow Oak's protection."
"She can't hear you," Freya said, wrapping Maren in blankets someone had brought. "But I'll make sure she knows you said it when she wakes up."
"See that you do." Bram turned to Tristan. "And you, Ash. Your judgment was sound. I apologize for questioning it."
The admission clearly cost him. Tristan acknowledged it with a nod, too exhausted to do more.
"Let's get them both to the apothecary," Emmett said. "They need heat and medical attention before anything else."
Two men appeared with a stretcher. They loaded Maren carefully, her shadows stirring weakly as they moved her. Freya walked alongside, monitoring vitals.
Tristan followed, his body moving on fumes and willpower. Someone tried to make him take the second stretcher but he waved them off. He'd walk. Had to walk. Had to see her settled safely before letting himself collapse.
