⇼ A L I S T A I R ⇼
“That can’t be true,” I whisper, but deep in my heart I can already see the big possibility of it being true. I can see the facts. Things are making sense, connecting in a way that they haven’t done before. But still, there are loose ends, and these loose ends are what I’m holding onto right now. “It just can’t be true.”
My dismissive tone makes Jossie stand and open her mouth to retort, but a quick knock on the door makes her stop. She grits her teeth and wheels around to rant, but then Candor’s voice comes through from the other side. “Sir Alistair, we need to go now. You need to lead the way.”
“Tell him he can lead,” I say to Gynith in a low voice, and I meant it. Candor can lead, not only because I can’t, but because he has a good head on his shoulders and I trust him. “Tell him that I need to be . . . alone with her.”
That again is true. I feel like I have to stay with Elora on my own so I can test their theor
⇼ E L O R A ⇼ I’m frozen in my spot. I had no idea that we arrived in the camp and we’re surrounded by all the allies. I try to unstick myself from the wall to see what exactly is going on, but Alistair motions me to stay in my spot. “No,” he whispers before turning back to Candor. “Show her now!” the old man is yelling. “We will not tolerate this any longer.” The anger in his voice causes a wave of shame to overwhelm my body. It’s cutting through the thick layer of confusion wrapped around my head. I don’t know if it’s the kiss or what happened in the watchtower, but warmth is still simmering on my skin. I also have no idea if it’s just my imagination or not, but the inexplicable warmth seems to be getting worse. “Why
⇼ E L O R A ⇼Alistair’s words make me stop and freeze in my spot. I heard that from him before, the part about me being his mate, but only now do I feel the real weight of it.And only now do I realize how freeing it is to hear what seems to be the pure truth.It’s different now. Even with the hundred pairs of eyes on me, I can only see him. I can only feel him. Our gazes meet as he turns around to check on me, and for a brief moment I see his wolf form. No longer menacing, no longer aggressive. Just a creature that’s majestic. A creature like the one I transformed to.‘You are his and he is yours,’ the voice in my head says, and in my heart nothing is more true.Slowly, the allies begin to back off, taking slow steps back one by one as they lower their weapons. Alistair doesn’t move until every single one of them is gone, even our friends. I vaguely see Gynith hesitating but following the others nonetheless, cl
The soft murmur of voices brings me out of my sleep. Slowly I open my eyes, letting myself take a moment to adjust to the soft light of the sun slanting in from the small window. I’m lying on the soft rug, wearing only Alistair’s cloak and covered in a soft warm blanket. The fire has been put out. And Alistair is nowhere to be seen. Again my attention is swayed by the voices outside. I pick up my clothes from last night and get dressed, the memory of last night still fresh in my head. My face heats up, but I just continue and head outside. Standing outside the little hut is Alistair, surrounded by a dozen of people including Candor, Jossie, and Hendrik. I freeze halfway through the door. “Um, good morning.” Alistair turns around. “Elora.” Hearing him say my name after he moaned it last night feels weird now. “Hey.” I nervously turn to the other people. “What’s happening?” Candor steps forward. “We would like to apologize to you
⇼ A L I S T A I R ⇼“Are you okay?” I ask Elora, tapping her shoulder to get her attention. She’s sitting on a bench inside the arena, staring at the fighting area even though the last fight has long been over. “Elora?”She flinches, and only then does she snap out of it. “Oh, Alistair!” With a quivering smile, she stands up and offers her hand. “Let’s go?”“Okay,” I say a little uncertainly, carefully watching her face, which is scrunched up in a worried expression. “Everything good?”Elora nods, but once we arrive at my quarters underground, she sits down on the bed and says, “Hendrik asked me how I will face my Father when the time comes.”“Oh,” is all I can say.I have to admit: I am taken aback by the question. For a moment I just stand there by the door silently, thinking of how to phrase what’s been on my mind and what we ha
⇼ E L O R A ⇼Everything is happening fast. Perhaps too fast. The moment I get up and get dressed, things just go by, flicking past me like images from a rushing carriage’s window. Everyone in the camp is getting ready or packing up, separating into six big groups that will go to every city-state and attempt to dismantle the authoritarian government in place.Like Alistair said, Hendrik and I will be left here in Corrin, but we will not be staying in the camp. We will go with Kristoff, the designated diplomat, to head to the town square and make our presence known at the Feast of Independence.But that would be tomorrow. For now, we have to get the others prepared.I’m currently in Jossie’s tree house, helping her pack the weapon kits that will be distributed among them. She will be with Alistair in the Capital. He’s currently meeting with the diplomats.“You okay?” Jossie’s voice brings me out of my reveri
⇼ E L O R A ⇼ I blink rapidly. Even though Uncle Osman’s face is clear and unmistakable, a big part of me still wants to believe that what I’m seeing isn’t true. I would much rather be facing Governor Celso or any other big shots in the government. Just not my uncle. Just not the man who basically raised me. With my heart flooding with denial, I slowly take a step back. And another, and another. However, with every step back I take, he takes a step forward, levelling the distance between us and maybe even closing it. “You didn’t think I would find you?” he asks, and I expect his tone to be gentle as always, but right now it’s clear that he’s mocking me. “You didn’t think I would know? I know you, Elora. I know you got attached to the scums. I know you like my own.” His gaze briefly passes on Hendrik. “And you’re here too. Unexpected, but understandable.” “Uncle,” I begin, my throat still tight. “You have to know why we’re doing this. Why I’m doing thi
⇼ A L I S T A I R ⇼The path to the Capital is long and unforgiving, and the strong cold winds of the dawn doesn’t help. I’m the only one carrying a small lamp to light the way and to lead everyone, and even though it’s enough to illuminate my immediate surroundings, I still feel like we’re in the dark, like I’m leading them in the dark. Perhaps in more ways than one.“The sewer is where we’re supposed to go,” Jossie tells me in a hushed tone, sidling up close to me. “Hendrik said that we might be encountering something there. He was trying to explain but Candor cut him off.”“That’s Candor for you,” I say jokingly, trying to lighten up the mood, but as we go deeper and deeper into the forest, I’m starting to feel darker. My mind is drifting towards places and people. People who aren’t here with me now. People who might be in danger. People who might get hurt because of this mission. “Are you still regretting splitting up?” Jossie suddenly asks. I don’t answ
⇼ E L O R A ⇼ After a long time in the darkness, floating and disappearing, I begin to stir. Slowly and surely, with very little of my sensations coming back with every second passing. Memories of what happened begin to come back to me, and my heart just explodes in pain. Hendrik . . . Hendrik is gone. He was killed right in front of me. He was killed trying to save me. Tears begin to flow down my cheeks. I try to extend my hand because of what I was doing last, hoping to reach for his hand, but then I realize that I can’t move. My wrists are bound by thick rope. My eyes are covered in a thick strip of cloth, same with what’s between my teeth. My ankles are also tied together, and my torso is stuck to the backrest of the chair I’m sitting on due to the tight knots around