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Her hands were steady.

Her face was not. There was no visible grief, no tears.

After a long silence, she spoke. "Fae."

"Yes."

"Am I a monster?"

The question did not tremble. It was like she was only waiting for affirmation of the truth.

"I killed my lifemate."

Fae had to control her tears. It was like the fire which was Lisna had been extinguished within a day. She knelt in front of her.

Lisna's eyes remained fixed on the horizon.

"I see now," she said quietly. "Every time I tried to intervene…when I felt Blaidd was not treating you right—" Her voice faltered.

"Maxen would insist I not interfere. He said it was like that between some wolves. That you both would find your way." Her mouth wobbled. "And I listened… He was my mate…"

Fae reached for her free hand, and said gently, "You are not a monster."

Lisna finally looked at her. "I love him. He was a monster…yet I still love him. What does that say about me? What will I tell my children?"

"And you stopped him," Fae said, her words steady. "He would have killed me…would have killed Sion—and everyone else in his path. He hid it well. It was not your fault."

Lisna swallowed. "I chose you," she whispered.

"Yes." Fae squeezed her hand. "You chose what was right, even though it cost you everything. I owe my life to you, Lisna, my sister."

Silence returned.

Outside, the Moon Warden said his goodbyes and shifted with his guard to return to his territory.

Inside, Lisna stared down at her child.

And for the first time since the blood had dried on her hands, a single tear fell.

Chapter 50

Aiko and Kenji were waiting by the gate, the Jeep's engine humming low beside them.

Fae clung to Aiko, tears slipping freely down her cheeks. "Why do you have to leave?" she asked again, voice full of heartbreak.

Aiko cupped her face gently. "Because some things grow better with distance. I will still be the sister of your heart."

Fae didn't see the look Kenji gave her—soft, unguarded, and wistful.

Blaidd did.

His jaw looked like it was hewn of stone as he stepped closer behind Fae, his hand settling possessively at her waist before drawing her back into the line of his body. Kenji caught the movement, and the corner of his mouth twisted in quiet amusement.

"Wait!" came a cry.

Across the yard, Sora rushed towards them, still pulling his tunic on.

"Aiko, you were going to leave? Without me?" he asked.