Chapter 72: The Choice That Breaks Her

Snow drifted through the torn opening of the jet’s wreckage, settling softly on Alexander’s unmoving body. Lena’s breath fogged the icy air as she tried—failed—to move him.

Her voice trembled, desperate:

“Alex… please wake up. Alex, don’t do this to me—please—”

But he didn’t stir.

His pulse thudded beneath her shaking fingers—weak, uneven, but alive.

Relief and terror crashed together inside her.

Sable watched her struggle with an indifferent curiosity, like observing an injured animal.

“Touching,” Sable murmured. “Your devotion is almost sweet.”

Lena’s head snapped up, tears freezing against her skin.

“What did you do to Elias?”

Sable arched a brow. “To him? Nothing. The purge did that on its own.”

“Where is he?” Lena demanded.

Sable’s lips curled.

“Alive.”

Lena’s heart stuttered.

“But not… himself.”

Lena’s breath caught in her throat.

“What does that mean?”

Sable stepped closer, heels crunching softly in the snow. She crouched gracefully in front of Lena, her gloved fingers lifting Lena’s chin.

“You already know what he is,” she whispered.

“You saw it in his eyes. In the sky. On that wing.”

Lena swallowed hard.

“He fought it.”

“Yes,” Sable said. “And he failed.”

The words hit Lena like a blade.

Sable continued, voice velvet-smooth:

“When the purge overloaded, it didn’t kill him. It transformed him. He is no longer tied to you… he is tied to me.”

Lena’s eyes widened, horror clawing at her chest.

“That’s not true—he hates you—”

Sable laughed softly.

“Oh, my dear girl. Hate is still a bond. And Elias is bound to the purge. The purge answers to me.”

Lena shook her head fiercely.

“No. Elias still sees us. He heard me. He came back for us.”

Sable’s smile sharpened.

“Did he?”

Lena opened her mouth—

but froze.

Sable leaned in, lowering her voice to a whisper against Lena’s ear:

“You want to believe you saved him.

But did you save Elias…

or did you only delay what he’s becoming?”

Lena trembled.

Sable rose to her full height and dusted the snow from her gloves.

“Let me spare you the uncertainty. Elias belongs to me now. And if you want him back—”

Lena’s breath shook.

“—you come with me. Willingly.”

Lena froze.

Her eyes flicked to Alexander—

his injured body, his pale skin, the blood on his temple.

Sable followed her gaze.

“Your protector is strong,” Sable said softly. “But he will die out here without help. You cannot carry him through the mountains. You can barely stand.”

Lena clenched her teeth.

“Why should I believe you’d help him?”

Sable tilted her head.

“Because you don’t have a choice.”

Lena glared through tears. “You’re lying.”

“Am I?” Sable’s voice softened. “You want both men alive. But you cannot save both.”

Her words cut like ice.

Sable stepped aside, revealing a sleek black snowcraft hidden among the trees. Its lights glimmered through the storm.

“I have medical facilities. Shelter. Heat. Supplies. Everything he needs to survive.”

Lena’s heart pounded painfully.

Sable’s gaze lowered to Alexander.

“Without immediate treatment, his lungs will collapse. Internal bleeding is already spreading.”

Lena’s stomach twisted violently.

Sable approached Alexander and knelt beside him. She touched his neck lightly, checking his pulse.

“It’s weakening,” she murmured. “He has minutes. Perhaps an hour if you’re lucky.”

“DON’T TOUCH HIM!” Lena cried, trying to crawl forward.

Sable stood, unbothered.

“Make your decision, Lena.”

Tears streamed down Lena’s face.

Sable extended a hand toward her.

“Come with me… and he lives.”

Lena shook her head, sobbing.

“You want me because of the purge.”

Sable smiled.

“Exactly. You survived it. Twice. I need that.”

“And Elias?” Lena whispered. “What will you do to him?”

“Train him,” Sable said simply. “Shape him. He is raw power. Uncontrolled. Dangerous. But with me… he will reach his potential.”

Lena’s heart cracked.

She looked at Alexander—

blood-streaked

unconscious

dying—

then at Sable’s outstretched hand.

Her voice trembled.

“If I go with you… you promise you’ll save him?”

Sable met her gaze with cold honesty.

“Yes.”

Lena’s breath hitched.

“And you promise you won’t hurt him?”

Sable paused—

just long enough for Lena to know the truth—

but then smiled.

“I promise he will live.”

Lena sobbed.

Her heart shattered.

But she knew.

She knew she had no choice.

With a trembling hand, Lena reached out—

and placed her fingers in Sable’s gloved palm.

Sable’s smile widened.

“Good girl.”

She pulled Lena gently to her feet.

Behind them, Alexander stirred faintly and whispered—

“L…ena…?”

Lena choked on a sob.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered, looking back at him, tears blurring her vision.

Sable tugged Lena toward the snowcraft.

“Come,” she said. “Your new life begins now.”

And Lena stepped into the darkness—

leaving the man she loved

to save the man she couldn’t lose.