Then he straightens, shoulders squaring like he’s preparing for battle.
“Don’t worry, Kass. We’ll fix this. Somehow.”
He shifts closer, standing guard at my side.
And when I start trembling — when the sight of Draven still holding Amira almost breaks me all over again — Sin reaches for my hand. He squeezes gently. Just for a second.
But it’s enough. Enough to drag me out of the pit. Enough to make me claw my strength back, splinter by splinter, until I can breathe again.
Because if Draven can’t fight for us right now... Then I’ll fight for both of us.
After the funeral ends, the crowd starts drifting back toward the packhouse, slow and heavy with grief.
I stay rooted in place, heart trapped in my throat. Waiting. Hoping. Dreading.
Draven moves toward me with measured steps. His face is carved from stone. When he motions for Amira to follow him, my knees nearly buckle.
“Be strong,” Sin murmurs beside me, low enough that only I can hear.
I grit my teeth and force myself to stand still, even as I feel another piece of my soul being ripped apart.
When Draven stops in front of us, his voice is empty. Cold.
“You’re dismissed, Beta.”
Sin just flashes a cocky smile, like he didn’t hear the command at all.
“No can do, Your Majesty. You told me to stay by the Luna’s side. Even ifyou’re the one trying to chase me away.” He tilts his head thoughtfully. “We really should look into that memory of yours. It’s worrying, how often you forget.”
Something flickers in Draven’s eyes — anger, irritation, I can’t tell — it’s gone before I can be sure.
“Kassira isn’t your Luna yet,” he snaps. His gaze sweeps the people around us. He sighs, as if we’re an inconvenience and he has no time for this. “Fine. Stay. I won’t have to repeat myself later.”
Then he turns to me. And the moment his hollow, lifeless eyes meet mine, I’m back in that ballroom. Back to the night he rejected me. Back to the pain.
“I’m bringing Amira back to the palace,” he says, each word a dagger. “I hope you won’t throw a fit about it. It won’t go well for you if you do. It was a mistake to release her from her duties. She was invaluable to me before. And now, after her father’s death, she needs something to focus on. Something to help her heal. Understood?”
Every part of me cracks. But I don’t let it show. I nod, because the words won’t come. They’re strangled by the grief swelling inside my chest.
“Thank you, Ven. You always knew what I needed,” Amira says sweetly, slipping her hand into his.
He doesn’t pull away. He just turns — leading her toward the packhouse — and leaves me standing here.
Sin’s growl rumbles beside me, low and menacing.
“That bitch. She’s definitely involved. I’ll fucking kill her.”
“No,” I croak, my voice barely more than air. “We can’t. Not yet. Not until we find the witch and break the leash. Amira is protected by Draven right now. He would kill you before you even laid a hand on her.”
Sin curses under his breath, fists clenching at his sides, as we watch Draven and Amira disappear into the crowd.
Draven left with Amira right after the funeral. He took her to the palace in his carriage. Not a word to me. Not even a glance.
If Sin hadn’t stayed glued to my side through it all, I don’t know if I’d still be standing.
Neris keeps swinging from rage to despair. One second she’s snarling to tear someone apart, the next she’s curled up sobbing in a corner of my mind. I’m not much better. The bond hurts — it’s messing with our minds.
I sit frozen on the edge of the bed in my room at the palace, feet dangling just above the floor.
