Chapter 26

Axel POV 

I watched Zarek carefully, his eyes shifting the way they always did when he didn't want to tell me something. It was his way, and I never tried to force him into conversations, but now it was different. 

His eyes flickered with uncertainty. I’d known something had been off since last night, when the screaming had stopped. Normally, Zarek's forced transformation lasted all night, and yesterday had been worse than normal, so I had expected no less. 

But the quiet that followed had me thinking otherwise. 

“Tell me again,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady, though the frustration was bubbling just beneath the surface.

“How did you break free from the chains?”

Zarek leaned away from the counter, crossing his arms as if he were trying to block out my question. 

"Zarek," I gritted. 

He avoided my eyes, the same way he always did when something wa