The room was dimly lit, silent except for the flicker of candle flames and the quiet hum of ancient magic vibrating from the spellbound chains. Sophia knelt at the center of the sacred circle — once graceful, now hollow-eyed and disheveled, but still carrying a strange aura that unsettled the air. Her silver hair was tangled, her wrists glowing with the burn of enchantments, but she held her head high, defiant. Smiling.
How could she still smile?
My fists clenched.
I stood a few feet away, surrounded by the witches who had come to decide her fate. Lucas stood behind them, silent as ever. His gaze flicked between me and Sophia like he couldn’t decide who he was more furious with — her for betraying us, or himself for not seeing it coming.
Sophia had dest
