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And that’s the answer. That’s the line I have to draw.

I made Caelan a promise, and I know he wouldn’t abandon me if our roles were switched. He’s already proven as much.

Three days. He came back, and now he’s hurt.

Besides, what other choice do I have? I have no family. No friends. No money, transportation, or clothes.

And, Caelan’s my Fated Mate. These are his friends. His family. I have to believe there’s good in them. If there’s not, then what kind of male does that make Caelan? He’s the other half of my soul. I refuse to believe he’s cruel. I refuse to believe he’d condone his friends throwing his Omega in a cell for hours with only bread, an apple, water, and very little medical attention.

“Keep up, Omega,” Lenora snaps over her shoulder.

That’s not my name. My name is Idril.

The flame intensifies, urging me to correct her. And Fates, I want to. I want to grab the Beta by the shoulders and force her to look at me. Force her to see me.

Instead, I do nothing.

I speed up, trying to take everything in as she marches me through the castle. We pass through an industrial kitchen and a dining room that houses a table so large it could easily seat twenty people. Beautiful hardwood floors run throughout the entire place, starting in the dining room and flowing into a long hall.

She leads us through another open archway and into what must be a servant’s passage with long, narrow stairs. We take them up two flights before she makes a sharp right turn into another long, dark hallway with sconces on the walls.

I hate sconces.

My father has them on his side of the estate. The way the small flame flickers off the dark wood paneling makes me feel like I’m back there. I wind my arms tighter around my middle and keep my eyes trained on Lenora’s back.

At the end of the hall, she pulls open a door that creaks loudly on its hinges. The sound is a stark contrast to the beauty surrounding us.

By the time I make it up another two narrow flights of stairs, I’m panting, shaking, and terrified I’m about to pass out. It’s been almost two days, and I’ve only had a single meal. If you can even call it that.

I’m not sure how much longer I can stay on my feet.

“Here we are. This is where Gavran has decided you’ll stay.”

Lenora stops at the top of the stairs and opens another narrow door. This part of the castle clearly isn’t kept up. There are cobwebs in the corners and dust on the door handle.

“Is Gavran the one in charge?”

I inch around her as she holds open the door and gestures for me to go in. “Yes.”

Hope blooms in my chest.

If Gavran’s in charge, there’s a very real chance I can explain everything to him and possibly work things out. Maybe he’ll at least let me see Caelan if he knows he’s my Mate. Surely if he’s the leader, he’s a reasonable man.

Caelan wouldn’t follow a tyrant, would he?

I don’t know. I want to believe he wouldn’t, but I’m running purely on instinct and hope.

So basically, the same fuel as usual.

“May I please speak to him?”

Lenora gives me a searching look, then shrugs. “Perhaps. I’ll see if he’s available.”

My shoulders fall. I already know she won’t help. I can see it in her eyes.

I turn, taking in my new home. I don’t know whether I want to laugh or cry. This is where they’re keeping me? This isn’t even an actual bedroom. It looks more like a storage room.

The ceiling slopes so drastically that anyone over six feet would have to stoop to get through the door. There’s one small window overlooking the back training yard and forest beyond, and the floor is cold, hard stone.