LUNA AQUAMARINE’S POV
The fire was spreading fast. Scrolls curled and shrivelled into black flakes.
Then she lifted her hand and flung my scroll inside.
55 vouchers
Alexander stormed in with guards, his face carved in fury. His eyes landed on me first, then Clifford, then Fiona and her minions.
Elder Zedd clutched Sarah and Fiona, pointing at me. “This mad woman lost control. She barged in and burned it all.”
“Lies!” Clifford barked, stepping forward. His body was tense, ready to tear them apart. “They-”
“Enough.” Alexander’s voice shook the walls. His eyes didn’t leave me. Not once.
I swallowed hard. “Alexander, listen-”
“Are you mad!” His tone cut me raw. “Do you even realise what you’ve done?”
“I didn’t-”
“You almost destroyed everything sacred! The records, the history of this pack! My life!”
My throat burned. “I swear it wasn’t me. They did it. They are working together—”
“Stop it, Aqua.” Fiona’s voice sliced through me, cold and smooth. She stepped forward, her new Elder robe brushing the ash. “I know why you did this. It’s because you hate me. Because you found out the truth–the reason I’m an Elder, the reason I’ve been with the Primus.”
“What are you even talking about?” My voice cracked.
“You wanted him to get rid of me because you couldn’t do it yourself. You wanted him to get angry and kill me, like you made him do with those maids a few days back.”
My breath hitched. “This has nothing-”
“Yes,” she went on sweetly, poison dripping from every word, “he’s hiding your shame. Hiding the fact that you can’t read.”
I froze.
She knew? That I can’t read?
Yet, she acted scared when I asked for the paper.
So what did she write in that paper that made Alexander believe I sent her to that place?
Alexander slammed the chamber door shut with his shoulder, still dragging me by the wrist. My skin burned under his grip, his claws just short of breaking the skin. He threw me forward, and I stumbled against the bed.
His eyes locked on it.
“What did I tell you about that book?” he growled.
“I remember but I,” I tried again, shame and panic tangling my words. “I wasn’t-”
“You weren’t what? Hiding it? Sneaking it? Waiting until I leave to feed yourself more of its filth?” He finally snapped.
My lips quivered. “What’s that supposed to mean? Are you calling me a thief all over again? When did I ever steal from you?”
“If you keep touching what doesn’t belong to you, Aqua, you won’t survive the consequences,” he warned.
My heart pounded so hard it hurt. “So what? You’ll kill me the way you killed those maids!? Or hit me the way you did to Elder Lorenzo?”
“I’ll do far worse,” his voice was cold, a deadly promise that made my stomach twist.
My heart skipped a beat and a cold pit formed in my stomach.
He was serious.
He has never threatened to kill me before. But now, all because of a book, he wants to.
His gaze flicked to me, sharp as knives. “And Clifford.”
I blinked, my brows creasing. “W–what about him?” I asked, my voice thin and unsteady.
“You went outside the walls with him without my permission.” His jaw flexed, the cords in his neck straining with every word.
Anger bubbled in my chest, breaking through the fear. “Why do you care? I don’t ask you who you meet when you go out, so just leave me alone! Unlike you, he’s concerned about my injury and got herbs-”
“Herbs,” he spat, like the word itself was filth. “What stupid excuse is that? Herbs, my foot!”
Anger flashed hot through my fear, sharp enough to make my voice rise. “You’re the one who is stupid!” I shouted, my hands trembling around the book.
I had no idea why I said that but I couldn’t take it back.
“Put it down,” he snarled, his fangs flashing. “I can’t believe how foolish you are to even take it out after I
warned you severally,”
