登入Erica’s question hit her like a blow, hanging in the cold air like a stab in her throat.“What? What are you talking about?”Was she referring to Theron? No. That can’t be.Erica tilted her head and drew closer. “How could you not have known who did it? You saw the Lycan yourself, didn’t you? Didn’t you cross that same Lycan while you were in the palace?”“Erica,” Xane warned, and the way his voice wavered made Eryndra frown.Her memory was still cracked. She didn’t recognize the Lycan and had never wanted to relish the memories, but at Erica’s words, her mind unbridledly compared Theron to the Lycan.It was wrong of her, but she couldn’t stop it.Long hair.That Lycan had long hair.No. That can’t be right.Many Lycans had long hair in the Citadel. It could be anyone.“Leave now. You are not going to touch him.”Erica tilted her head, and without warning she raised the axe and struck. Xane was quick to dodge but got his arm hurt.He immediately used his magic to throw off some of the
Eryndra yanked her arm away and left the cave.Xane called after her and followed her out.Suddenly the air was different. Xane felt it too, and his eyes snapped past her.Eryndra turned to the woods. Tall grass rippled, revealing shadows appearing one after the other. One of them was recognizable.“Erica,” she whispered under her breath.The way she approached with the others, eyes burning with something close to menace, made Eryndra stand alert.“What are you doing here? Did brother summon me?”Erica threw an axe over her shoulder with a smirk.“What made you think we’d let that bastard in your cave live after all the casualties he’s caused?”“Brother promised.”“Brother is not here.”Eryndra’s fists clenched, but she had somewhat known this was going to happen.“Why are you so adamant to kill him? Are you not afraid how this would anger Reazor? Theron is under his protection, and as far as his words stand, you won’t touch a strand of his hair.” She looked past Erica to the rest of
Jerik remained dazed, watching as Reazor talked to Eryndra. It all still felt like a dream, or perhaps a nightmare.But the main thing was, Eryndra was alive and safe, and even though Reazor didn't give much on Theron's condition, they still have a little hope he would survive.However it was still a shock he didn’t care Eryndra was an Aetheria and sister to the Sovereign. All he saw was his worries washing away.He turned to Zarin, who stood beside him without a budge.“You should go with them.”Zarin’s head snapped up.“What?”“You heard me. Though I'm still mad you knew where Theron was all these time and didn't tell me. But I understand your reason so I'm setting you free. You’ve always wanted this, haven’t you?”“No!” he said, surprising Jerik. “I’m not leaving your side. We’ll go back and face what is to come together.”Jerik blinked, staring at Zarin like he’d grown two heads.“You could get hurt if you remain by my side.”“I don’t care.” Zarin gave him a soft smile and walked
Zarin, who stared silently, suddenly felt uncomfortable.Eryndra’s tongue felt heavy. How could she tell him the truth? How could she confess that the one who killed his late wife was her own sister?Reazor, however, looked unbothered.“I think we should focus on saving Theron first, Master—” Zarin paused his words in realization.Eryndra frowned. “Master?” She looked back to Jerik and asked, “You made him a slave?”Jerik’s jaw clenched, but he spilled no word.Zarin stepped forward, standing between Jerik and her.“He didn’t exactly treat me like a slave. I was instead protected and hidden.” He turned his head briefly to Jerik. “He has been kind. Surprisingly.”Jerik’s lips thinned. “Eryn, please tell me.”“I’ll tell you the truth after Theron is healed. Now is not the best time, Jerik. You said it yourself—I must not remain here for long, and we’ll need to take Theron with us. Please.”The displeasure flashed in his eyes. It deepened when they crashed with Reazor’s again.Reazor ret
“Eryndra?”“Hello, Jerik.” Tears burned in her eyes as if her heart had just cracked open.Jerik didn’t wait. He dashed toward her and pulled her into a tight embrace.“You’re alive.” His voice trembled as his shoulders shook.Eryndra went still, clearly not expecting his reaction, but she returned the hug nevertheless.When he pulled away, tears filled his eyes as if he were unable to believe who was standing in front of him.“Is this really you?”“Yes,” she grinned. “Where is Theron?”“He is badly—” He paused, seeing the shadow he had spotted earlier and jerked when he saw it was already close.A pair of blue eyes stared back at him, with an unbelievably sharp, alluring, but dangerous appearance. Younger than he’d imagined him to be, he looked a few years older than Eryndra, with a built frame underneath his cloak.Danger oozed off him like a wave, but his face remained blank, a dark serpent curling across his chest to his neck and hissing.“He is my brother,” Eryndra said, dragging
Jerik had learned so many lessons ever since he came to the Citedal, and one of them was to get as many allies as possible.He’d long realized Kallias had chosen him as the Warden of the North for a reason.He was weak. Quickly shaken and easy to read. Easy to manipulate.And Jerik gave him just that. He made him believe he was nothing but a dumb regent he could toss aside.The same way his parents had seen him.So he stayed quiet and obeyed every rule while under the surface, he created trust within soldiers. Soldiers who believed in fairness.However, despite every plan and every effort, it felt as though he was being dragged down by vanity as he stared at Theron lying on the bed, each breath threatening to be his last.“What happened?” His voice was trembling as he threw a look over Zarin, who stood in the corner with his fists clenched so hard his knuckles turned white.“This is all my fault. I should have tried harder to stop him.” Tears built up behind his eyes as he explained h







