Chapter 28

Hannah’s POV

I couldn’t sit still.

Not even for a minute.

My legs kept moving on their own, pacing across the length of the room while my eyes stayed fixed on the door.

Waiting.

Listening.

Hoping.

It had been almost an hour since the maid escorted my mum to Selene’s chamber for her first treatment.

One hour.

But it felt like ten.

Every second dragged painfully slow, like time itself wanted to test my patience.

“What if something goes wrong?”

The thought slipped into my mind before I could stop it.

I shook my head immediately.

No.

Nothing would go wrong.

It couldn’t.

Not after everything I sacrificed to bring her here.

Still…

The uneasiness remained.

Heavy.

Persistent.

Impossible to ignore.

I walked toward the window, pulling the curtain slightly aside.

Outside, the palace grounds stretched endlessly, filled with trimmed hedges and stone pathways.

Beautiful.

Perfect.

Peaceful.

Too peaceful.

“You’re overthinking,” I muttered quietly to myself.

But even I didn’t believe it.

A soft knock echoed against the door.

I froze instantly.

Heart racing.

“Come in!” I called quickly.

The door opened slowly.

And there she was.

“Mum.”

Relief hit me so hard my knees almost gave out.

She stood at the doorway with Tianna supporting her carefully.

But something about the way she stood made my chest tighten.

She looked…

More tired.

More drained.

“Mum…” I repeated softly, rushing toward her.

“What happened?”

“I’m alright,” she said quickly.

Too quickly.

Her voice sounded weaker than before.

Barely steady.

I wrapped my arm around her carefully, supporting her weight as we moved toward the bed.

Her body felt heavier than it should.

Not physically.

But… weak.

Fragile.

Like she could collapse at any moment.

“Sit down,” I murmured gently.

She lowered herself slowly onto the bed with a tired sigh.

Her breathing sounded heavier now.

More strained.

Fear crawled slowly up my spine.

“How did it go?” I asked, trying to sound calm.

Normal.

Not terrified.

She leaned back slightly against the pillows.

“Tiring,” she admitted softly.

“But she said it was normal.”

She.

Selene.

My fingers tightened slightly around the blanket.

“What did she give you?” I asked.

“A drink,” she replied.

“Some kind of herbal mixture.”

My stomach twisted.

“That’s all?”

She nodded weakly.

“Yes.”

Tianna stepped forward slightly.

“She said fatigue is expected after treatment,” she explained gently.

“It means the medicine is working.”

Working.

That word should have comforted me.

But instead

It made something inside my chest tighten.

“Did it hurt?” I asked quietly.

“No,” Mum said.

“Just… warmth.”

She hesitated slightly.

“Then tiredness.”

That didn’t sound too bad.

Right?

It sounded normal.

Reasonable.

Expected.

So why did I still feel uneasy?

I sat beside her on the bed, brushing a strand of hair gently away from her face.

Her skin looked slightly paler than before.

Not dramatically.

Just enough to make my heart race faster.

“You need to rest,” I said softly.

She smiled faintly.

“You sound like a mother now.”

A small laugh escaped my lips despite the tension.

“Well, someone has to take care of you.”

Her gaze softened instantly.

Warm.

Loving.

“You’ve always taken care of me,” she whispered.

“Even when you were small.”

My throat tightened.

Memories rushed back without warning.

Small kitchen.

Late nights.

Her cooking whatever little food we had left.

Smiling even when she was exhausted.

Pretending everything was okay… even when it wasn’t.

“You worked too hard,” I whispered quietly.

“You should have rested more.”

She shook her head slightly.

“And let you starve?”

Her voice carried gentle humor.

But her eyes…

They held sadness.

“I would do it again,” she added softly.

“Every single time.”

Tears burned behind my eyes.

Hot.

Painful.

Unavoidable.

“Mum…” I whispered.

She reached for my hand slowly, squeezing it weakly.

“I’m proud of you,” she murmured.

That broke something inside me.

Completely.

“Proud of what?” I asked shakily.

“For fighting,” she replied.

“For surviving.”

“For loving me enough to risk everything.”

Tears slid silently down my cheeks.

I didn’t even try to stop them.

“I was scared,” I admitted softly.

“So scared.”

“Of losing me?” she asked gently.

I nodded.

Unable to speak.

Her thumb brushed lightly across my knuckles.

Comforting.

Familiar.

Safe.

“I’m still here,” she whispered.

But something about those words…

Didn’t feel certain.

Like she didn’t fully believe them herself.

“Mum…” I hesitated.

“There’s something I need to ask you.”

She looked at me curiously.

“What is it?”

“What do you think of Selene?”

The question slipped out before I could stop it.

Her expression changed instantly.

Subtly.

But noticeably.

Careful.

Guarded.

Thoughtful.

“She’s powerful,” Mum said slowly.

“Very powerful.”

That wasn’t the answer I wanted.

“What else?” I pressed.

She hesitated.

Just for a second.

Then sighed softly.

“I don’t trust her.”

My heart skipped a beat.

“You don’t?” I whispered.

She shook her head slowly.

“No.”

A chill crawled slowly up my spine.

“Why?” I asked.

Her gaze drifted briefly toward the door.

Like she expected someone to be listening.

“There’s something wrong about her magic,” she whispered quietly.

“I felt it when she touched me.”

My breath caught.

“What do you mean?”

“It felt… cold,” she murmured.

“Not healing.”

“Not pure.”

Fear settled deep inside my chest.

Heavy.

Uncomfortable.

Real.

“Mum…”

She squeezed my hand again.

“Be careful around her.”

Her voice carried quiet warning.

Serious.

Certain.

And suddenly

The uneasiness I’d been feeling since morning made perfect sense.

I wasn’t imagining it.

Something was wrong.

Very wrong.

And deep down

I knew this peace wouldn’t last.

Not for long.