Chapter 27

Selene’s POV

The knock came just as I finished grinding the last set of herbs.

Soft.

Respectful.

Timed perfectly.

“Enter,” I said without looking up.

The door opened slowly behind me.

Footsteps followed.

Light.

Careful.

Measured.

I didn’t need to turn to know who it was.

I could already feel her presence.

Weak.

Fragile.

Human.

“Elara Valen,” I murmured, still focused on the mortar in my hand.

“You finally arrived.”

The scent of fear drifted toward me.

Subtle.

But unmistakable.

“Yes…” her voice came out soft, slightly breathless.

“I was told to come here.”

Of course she was.

Exactly as planned.

I finally turned.

Slowly.

Deliberately.

She stood near the doorway, one hand gripping the edge of the wall as if she needed support just to remain standing.

Her skin looked pale.

Too pale.

Her shoulders slumped slightly under the weight of exhaustion.

Weaker than I expected.

Good.

That made things easier.

Behind her stood one of the palace maids Tianna -watching carefully.

Protective.

Alert.

Annoying.

I forced a warm smile onto my face.

Soft.

Welcoming.

Convincing.

“You must be exhausted,” I said gently.

My tone carried false kindness so smooth even I almost believed it.

Elara gave a small nod.

“Yes… the journey was long.”

I stepped closer, pretending concern as I studied her condition.

Her pulse.

Her breathing.

Her posture.

Everything about her screamed fragile.

“You came at the right time,” I said.

“Your body is weak, but not beyond saving.”

Hope flickered inside her eyes instantly.

Bright.

Desperate.

Dangerous.

Humans were so predictable.

Give them hope

And they would hand you their trust without question.

“Will I… recover?” she asked hesitantly.

I tilted my head slightly.

Studying her.

Letting silence stretch just long enough to make her nervous.

“With the proper treatment,” I replied smoothly,

“Yes.”

Relief flooded her face.

So openly.

So foolishly.

Tianna stepped forward slightly.

“Miss Hannah said her mother would begin treatment immediately.”

Of course she did.

The girl was desperate.

Clinging to hope like it was the only rope keeping her from drowning.

I nodded calmly.

“She will.”

I gestured toward the cushioned chair near the center of the room.

“Sit.”

Elara obeyed slowly.

Carefully lowering herself into the seat with visible effort.

Her breathing grew heavier as she settled.

Weak lungs.

Weak heart.

Weak body.

Everything about her screamed temporary.

Perfect.

I moved toward the shelves lining the walls, selecting several small glass bottles.

Each one filled with carefully prepared liquids.

Some harmless.

Some useful.

Some deadly.

But only one mattered today.

A pale green mixture rested near the back.

Almost harmless in appearance.

Almost innocent.

Almost.

I picked it up gently.

Turning it slowly between my fingers.

Watching the liquid swirl inside.

“This will be your first treatment,” I said calmly.

Tianna’s eyes followed the movement carefully.

Suspicious.

Observant.

I smiled inwardly.

Good servants were always annoying.

But necessary.

“What does it do?” Elara asked quietly.

“It strengthens your blood,” I answered without hesitation.

“Restores balance.”

“Stabilizes your condition.”

None of it was technically a lie.

Just incomplete truth.

She nodded slowly.

Trust forming already.

Too easily.

I walked toward her again.

Holding the glass carefully.

“Drink.”

Her fingers trembled slightly as she accepted it.

Small.

Weak.

Cold.

For a brief second

Our fingers brushed.

A strange sensation flickered through my palm.

Sharp.

Uncomfortable.

Unexpected.

My brows furrowed slightly.

But I hid it quickly.

Interesting.

Very interesting.

“Is something wrong?” Elara asked nervously.

I shook my head slowly.

“No.”

But inside

Something felt off.

Not dangerous.

Not threatening.

Just… unfamiliar.

She lifted the glass slowly toward her lips.

Hesitated briefly.

Fear.

Doubt.

Instinct.

For a moment, I wondered if she would refuse.

If her human instincts would betray her.

But hope always defeated fear.

Every time.

She drank.

Slowly.

Carefully.

Completely.

Good.

I watched closely as she swallowed the last drop.

Every movement.

Every reaction.

Every shift in her breathing.

Nothing immediate.

Of course not.

That would ruin everything.

Instead

The effect would build slowly.

Quietly.

Undetected.

“How do you feel?” I asked.

She blinked slightly.

Confused.

“Warm.”

Exactly as expected.

“That means it’s working,” I replied smoothly.

Hope filled her face again.

Bright.

Grateful.

Trusting.

“I… thank you,” she whispered.

I smiled politely.

But inside

My thoughts were colder than ice.

You shouldn’t thank me yet.

Because this…

This was only the beginning.

Tianna stepped closer again.

Watching.

Always watching.

“When will the next treatment begin?” she asked carefully.

I turned toward her slowly.

Meeting her gaze directly.

Letting my expression remain calm.

Controlled.

Unbothered.

“Tomorrow,” I replied.

“Treatment must be gradual.”

“Too much magic at once would kill her.”

That part was true.

Just not in the way they believed.

Elara shifted slightly in her seat.

Fatigue settling deeper into her bones already.

“I feel… tired,” she murmured.

Of course she did.

The mixture was already beginning its work.

“You should rest,” I said gently.

Tianna moved quickly to help her stand.

Supporting her carefully.

Protectively.

I watched them move toward the door.

Slow.

Weak.

Unsteady.

Just before she stepped outside

Elara turned back toward me.

Her gaze met mine.

Longer than expected.

Deeper than comfortable.

For a second

Something flickered inside her expression.

Recognition.

Suspicion.

Memory.

Then it vanished.

Gone as quickly as it appeared.

“Thank you,” she repeated softly.

I nodded once.

Calm.

Controlled.

Perfect.

The door closed behind them with a quiet click.

Silence filled the chamber again.

Heavy.

Still.

Waiting.

My smile faded instantly.

Completely.

I walked slowly back toward the table.

My fingers brushing lightly across the surface.

“She trusted me.”

I murmured softly.

Too easily.

Too willingly.

Too blindly.

Just like all humans did.

But something about that moment earlier

That strange sensation when our hands touched

Still lingered.

Unsettling.

Uncomfortable.

“She’s connected to the girl.”

That was the only explanation.

Hannah.

Always Hannah.

My jaw tightened slightly.

“You are becoming a problem.”

Not just for the alphas.

Not just for my plans.

But for magic itself.

And that…

That made you dangerous.

Very dangerous.

My fingers curled slowly into a fist.

“No matter.”

I whispered.

Because problems could be solved.

Threats could be removed.

Hope could be destroyed.

One life at a time.

And Elara Valen…

Was the first piece to fall.