Chapter 16

Why did she faint?, would she die? What was added into the food.

” I screamed at the top of my

lungs.

My brothers were trying to help her. I didn’t know what was going on. Hannah that magically

changed us for the better, bringing out our good side just suddenly fainted. I can’t let her slip

away from my hands, she can’t leave me at all.

“I can’t feel her pulse. Kael, would you get your ass here and stop thinking like a pussy.

” Riven

shouted while trying to give her CPR.

I couldn’t do shit. I was frozen in fear and shock of how everything just happened. I looked at

Selene, who still looked calm and put together. I knew she had some hatred towards Hannah,

but I don’t think she’ll go this far. I’ll have to look into this, but for now all I was thinking about

was Hannah, and how we could save her.

“Selene, don't you have any herbs available for poison? This has to be an intentional act.

”

Lucien said, and we all looked at Selene. The fear on our face couldn’t even be masked.

“My herbs have finished, and before I would decide to prepare a new one, I don’t think she’ll be

able to

”

“Master master!!! I found a herb for poison in the top cabinet in the kitchen.

” Tianna said, cutting

Selene off.

Lucien snatched the bottle from Tianna's hand, and opened it immediately to give Hannah.

Riven helped in opening her mouth, and Lucien poured it inside. Everywhere went quiet, as we

prayed for the unexpected. I stood frozen. Not knowing what to expect. Were we late? Did it

work? Would she recover? I couldn’t stop asking myself different questions. This wasn’t meant

to happen. How could it happen? She just started accepting us.

I crouched over to her side , and tried helping her up.

“I’ll take her to her room. Hopefully she’s out of danger.

” I said. Not waiting for any replies, I

carried her and let for her room.

I was meant to be the strong one here but I’m the weakest. As much as I don’t show it, Hannah

means a lot to me. She changed the life of me and my brothers without even knowing she did that.

I pushed the door open with my shoulder and stepped into her room.

The maids were already there, moving around quickly, preparing everything.

“Lay her here,” one of them said, pointing to the bed.

I did.

Carefully.

Too carefully.

Like she would break if I didn’t.

I stepped back, but my eyes didn’t leave her.

Her face looked pale.

Too pale.

Her lips had lost their color, and for the first time since we brought her here… she looked small.

Weak.

It didn’t sit right with me.

“She’ll be fine,” another maid said, like she could read my thoughts.

I didn’t respond.

Riven let out a quiet breath behind me. “You better be right.”

Lucien said nothing.

He never does when it matters the most.

But I could feel it.

The tension.

The anger.

The guilt.

It was thick in the room.

“We need to call Selene,” one of the maids said.

My jaw tightened instantly.

“No.”

The word came out sharper than I intended.

All of them turned to look at me.

“She’s the only one who can”

“I said no,” I cut in, my voice lower this time, but heavier.

A silence followed.

Riven stepped forward, running a hand through his hair. “Kael”

“I know what she can do,” I interrupted, finally dragging my eyes away from Hannah. “But I don’t trust her.”

Lucien’s gaze flickered slightly.

That was enough for me to know he agreed.

“She’s been acting strange,” he said quietly.

Riven scoffed. “She’s always strange.”

“No,” Lucien replied. “This is different.”

I exhaled slowly, trying to keep my thoughts straight.

Everything was already falling apart.

The attacks.

The tension in the kingdom.

And now this.

I looked back at Hannah.

“She doesn’t go near her,” I said.

Riven frowned. “Then what’s your plan?”

“I’ll find another way.”

“You don’t even know what’s wrong with her.”

“I’ll figure it out.”

My voice left no room for argument.

For once, neither of them pushed.

A few minutes later, the maids were done.

They stepped out quietly, leaving the three of us alone with her.

The room felt… different.

Too quiet.

Too still.

Riven leaned against the wall, arms crossed, staring at her like he was trying to make sure she was still breathing.

Lucien stood near the window, his expression unreadable as always.

And me

I couldn’t move.

I stayed right where I was.

Watching her.

Waiting.

For something.

Anything.

“You care,” Riven said suddenly.

I didn’t respond.

“You actually care,” he repeated, this time with a small, almost amused smile.

“That’s new.”

I finally looked at him.

“Say what you want.”

“Oh, I will,” he said, pushing himself off the wall. “But don’t pretend this is just about the bond or the ritual.”

Lucien glanced at me, but said nothing.

Riven’s eyes locked with mine.

“You’re attached.”

A pause.

Then

“So are you.”

That wiped the smirk off his face.

Lucien let out a quiet breath.

“We all are,” he said.

The truth sat heavy in the air.

None of us denied it.

I looked back at Hannah again.

At the girl who wasn’t supposed to matter.

The girl who was only meant to be temporary.

The girl who somehow became

“Kael…”

Lucien’s voice cut through my thoughts.

I followed his gaze.

Hannah’s fingers twitched.

Just slightly.

But it was enough.

I stepped closer instantly.

Her breathing changed.

Uneven.

Shallow.

“Get the healer,” I said sharply.

Riven was already moving.

Lucien stayed still, watching closely.

Her eyes fluttered.

For a second

Just a second

They opened.

And locked with mine.

There was fear in them.

Confusion.

Pain.

And something else I couldn’t quite place.

Her lips parted slightly.

Like she was trying to say something.

I leaned closer.

“Hannah”

Her grip tightened weakly around my shirt.

Then

She whispered.

So soft I almost didn’t hear it.

“…don’t let her touch me…”

My body went still.

A cold feeling settled in my chest.

“Who?” I asked quietly.

But her eyes had already started closing again.

Her grip loosened.

And just like that

She slipped back into unconsciousness.

Lucien spoke first.

“…She knows.”

Riven returned, slightly out of breath. “Healer’s on the way what happened?”

I straightened slowly.

My expression hard.

Colder than before.

“She doesn’t go near Selene,” I said.

Riven frowned. “You already said that”

“This isn’t a guess anymore.”

Lucien’s voice was calm, but his eyes weren’t.

“It’s a warning.”

A heavy silence filled the room.

And for the first time

This wasn’t just about Hannah.

This was something bigger.

Something darker.

I looked down at her one last time.

Then toward the door.

My mind already moving ahead.

If Selene was involved

Then we had a problem.

And I don’t tolerate problems.