PRIMUS ALEXANDER’S POV
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Two days
That’s how long it’s been since she looked me in the eye.
Since that night on the balcony. Since she asked Levi to carry her instead.
She’d been sleeping in Katherine’s chamber since then, barely stepping out except when Juliet made her eat or forced her to take a walk. And when she did come out, she moved like the wind.
But never toward me. Even though she could feel I was close by
And now she sat across the room, pale and quiet, beside Levi, but still not beside me. Her dress was bigger than usual, her hands around her side as if she was still in pain from the wound. The burn had scarred, but I wasn’t sure of the deeper wounds.
What she saw, what she believed, would ever heal.
The Elders filled the Order Room with their usual arrogance and speculation.
Leonard’s voice boomed across the table. “The real Esmeralda was found dead in her chamber,” he said, voice sharp. A few of us found her body rotting under a binding spell. Which means the one that’s been among us… was a shapeshifter. Or something worse”
Aquamarine stiffened slightly. I watched her face closely. She didn’t speak, but her brows furrowed.
She hadn’t touched the tea Juliet had served her. Her hand stayed wrapped around her side, fingers twitching every time someone mentioned the Core Fang. As if it still burned her.
The Riogara that is.
I added, “Whatever it was, it wasn’t just impersonating. It had power, power that hasn’t been seen in this Kingdom for years. We don’t know if there are
more of them sitting here in this room.”
“And yet.” Thaddeus chimed in, looking straight at Aquamarine, “it’s strange how she, the girl with no training in magic, one who also can’t shift was the one who handled a shapeshifter and lived.”
Levi’s head snapped toward him, eyes dark. “Careful, Thaddeus.”
Thaddeus swallowed then looked at Zedd. “I’m only stating the obvious. The Luna claims she picked it. Lied. Deceived the creature into believing false relics were real. Should we believe it was luck? Or-
“Enough,” I said.
They all turned to me. My voice was quiet, but it cut through them like a knife.
“Thanks to her trickery, we were able to discover the mole in our midst in less than two months of staying here,” I said. “That’s something none of you were able to do even when Jayden was here. You all owe her more than you think,” I sneered
“What if she decides to take the Core Fang for real and this is just part of her plan?” Marcus asked. “Just because she did this one act doesn’t mean we should applaud her. We still don’t know where her loyalty lies
“But I do,” I stood slowly. “This meeting is over.”
“But the Naturellians Marcus began.
“I don’t want to hear it, Marcus. If I were you, I would have found a way to protect myself because the next shapeshiter or creature that will be raught
Chapter 67
will have to die by my hands,” I glared at them,
They all shifted slightly on their seats and started murmuring “I don’t want any of you to set foot in Es
Esmeralda’s chamber. Not even you. Leonard”
Leonard nodded slowly but his stern face didn’t change
“Let this be a last warning to you Marcus and Thaddeus.”
Both of them swallowed hard and turned their gazes to Aquamarine. She immediately looked away from them and stared at her hands instead.
“Everybody, out now!
Chairs scraped the floor. Habes gathered. No one dared challenge me. Aaron stayed seated until the room emptied. Levi left too, giving Aquamarine a soft glance before following the others out.
Aquamarine rose last. She didn’t look at me.
She turned toward the door, but I spoke
“Aqua, stay”
She paused.
When I said her name, she stiffened like I’d struck her. Her hands tightened by her sides and slowly, she turned back around. But still wouldn’t meet my
I crossed the space between us, carefully. Like approaching something that might bolt.
“How are you feeling?” I asked.
“I’m feeling well, Primus Alexander,” she murmured.
Her voice was soft. But I knew her well enough to hear the strain.
I took a breath, “You’ve been avoiding me.”
Still, she didn’t look at me. “I’m sorry-”
“Don’t,” I cut her off.
Her head lifted slightly, not all the way.
I didn’t know what to say to her.
She already explained everything that day. The reason she took the pact and the reason she gave out fakes.
But still, I had to, I couldn’t just stay quiet.
“You knew the Riogara could kill you.” I said finally, low. “And you still
“Yes,” she answered, looking down.
“Why?”
“Because it wasn’t about me. After Gaia’s incident, you…” She paused. Her voice dipped. “You changed. And then-
“And then?” Lasked, sharper than I intended,
“It doesn’t matter,” she whispered with a low sigh.
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06:24 Mon, 1 Sept T T 4·
Chapter 67
I stared at her for awhile.
She looked like she hadn’t slept in days.
caused this. I shouldn’t have taken Levi’s advice. But she was still breathing. That was what mattered.
She was still useful
Her lips pressed into a tight line. “They still think I’m a spy-
I stepped closer. “Then let them,” I said. “It doesn’t change anything. You’re still the Luna.”
Finally, her eyes lifted, only a little, but they found mine,
And for the first time in two days, she looked at me. She didn’t smile. She didn’t soften like I expected her to
“No,” she whispered. “I’m just your breeder Primus. And I know I shouldn’t be away from the cage.”
My jaw tensed. I stepped closer. Her scent was weaker now, faded under herbs and bandages. “Aqua,
Before I could finish, the door swung open
“Alexander,” Levi said, voice urgent, “you need to see this. Something’s gone terribly wrong”
AD
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