There was tension in the air; the room was no longer conducive for anyone. Kelly paced around, objects flying and rage spilling within her.
"He dared," she chuckled bitterly. Her servants kept their distance. From outside, Kael staggered in, his body weak and his face pale. Kelly turned, and just staring at him, she knew it was done.
"You didn't," she laughed bitterly, but Kael was not interested. He walked over to the sofa, making his body comfortable.
"How would you sleep at night, knowing he will be in pain, he will suffer, and he will be judged because of your selfish actions?"
Kael's eyes snapped toward her, but he was not surprised. Kelly had always been the type to be a step ahead.
"He is my mate, and sooner or later, he will come to terms with the truth and come back to me," he assured, then leaned back and closed his eyes.
Kelly didn't feel angry. Minutes ago, she had felt rage, but now she felt nothing.
"You love him, yet you hurt him most. You want him, but in the worst way possible… How would you sleep at night knowing the man you love is crying, wailing, and gripping the sheets with gritted teeth—wishing the moon would take his life for a curse you placed on him?" Her voice rose with every word, and her body trembled.
She found her anger, but it was not for herself… It was for Elias.
"I thought I was selfish, sacrificing the love of another, the lives of others to get what I want… but never did I think you would descend to the hell you've always condemned me for…" She turned away and walked to the door, her hand tightening around the doorknob. "Now, who is the selfish one?"
The Western Tower was just as he had expected. It steamed with memories of the one before him. Every decoration, draft, and painting was placed in perfect order. Though neat, time seemed to have stopped in this part of the palace. It seemed more like a guarded memory than a living space.
Elias sighed bitterly. He watched the servants help with his things, and soon it was all done. He walked into the pristine chamber, the white curtains in complete contrast to his mood. He could sense darkness lurking from within. Too much was happening. Too much had happened.
"You may leave," he ordered.
Sonai turned to Kim, their steps hesitant to leave him alone, but Elias did not need to be seen. He was too broken to want comfort.
"I will be fine," he assured, his voice soft as fur but it was a lie—and everyone could tell. Reluctantly, they walked out, slamming the door behind them.
Elias couldn't hold it in. He collapsed to his knees, tears streaming down his face, his fingers tightening around his robe.
"Lie. It had to be lies," he lamented. But even his body dared not believe it. It carried shapes and memories of that night. Rowan's soft lips were imprinted on him. His lips that whispered against his…
Elias's chest tightened. He sobbed harder, his fists punching his chest, harder with each blow, trying to ease the pain. But the more he hit himself, the more painful it got. He felt alone and was falling into despair. There was nothing to look forward to. No one to hold. He was utterly alone.
Prince Rowan said nothing. He watched Elias leave… again.
In the hall, Blake grabbed him.
"What the hell is going on with you?" Blake hissed. "You weren't yourself last night, and now you're walking around like nothing happened?"
Rowan didn't pull away. He just looked exhausted.
"I don't know," he murmured. "Something inside me… shifted."
Blake descended to his level, his grip tightening and his eyes cold.
"Did you mark him?"
Rowan sighed tiredly, leaning back on the chair.
"No… not that I remember."
Rowan stared into the distance. The maids did chores and guards patrolled, but he could tell there were eyes on him.
"I don't know what to do." His eyes flicked, and his gaze settled on his legs. "For the longest time, I had grown comfortable being referred to as the crippled prince. I was okay. But now they are hurting him… I want them to hurt me… Why do they hurt him?" He looked up at Blake.
For the first time since his accident, Blake had no answers. It was the same on the night the prince had gotten into a near-life-claiming accident. His carriage had been raided, and he was pushed down a cliff. At first, he had lost the ability to walk, but Blake could not bring himself to do anything.
"Then let me help." Blake's fingers tightened around his, reassuringly.
"You can't." Rowan's voice was hollow. "It's already begun."
That night, Elias curled into the bed, unable to sleep. The ache in his body had deepened. Not painful, not heavy… like something precious had been taken from him.
His hands drifted to his belly for the fourth time that day. He didn't feel the familiar warmth that had always lived there. His calendar was right. The timing was perfect. Yesterday's activity highlighted everything. But then… it still wasn't coming. Never delayed…
He knew something was wrong.
Tears gathered in his eyes. He didn't know why he was crying. He only knew something had been stolen—and he was too late to stop it. And just like the one who had lived there before, he spent his first night in the coldness of his thoughts and the warmth of his tears.
Deep in the forest, far from the eyes of many, stretched a land hidden by magic. It had always been rumored, but like they say, we get what we seek.
Within the grounds of Eda, Mistress Diana sat alone in her fortress, a quill in hand and a ledger.
One more name had been inscribed in blood:
Elias Wrenmore Castilian: Marked Barren
She smiled.
"It has begun."