《》Ronan's POVAs I walked about the small town which was now to be my home for gods knew how long, I couldn't help but feel forlorn, with nothing to show for the hours I had wasted.No one had answers.No whispers of twins.No trace of Selene.Just fear, empty words, and merchants too focused on their coins to notice the world crumbling around them. I lingered longer than I should have, half-hoping that nameless woman would reappear with more words to bring me hope even if false. I needed something to hold onto. The memory of her still clung to me—her words, her eyes deep and seemingly soulless yet bright and full of secrets. The thread she’d tied around my wrist. A reminder of the words she'd spoken, though they made no sense. My other hand moved to my wrist, rubbing the thread between my fingers just as I let put a deep exhausted sigh and my hands dropped to my sides. I started the trek back to camp. The sun had dropped low, already casting imposing shadows across the land. Nig
《》Selene’s POVI waited for Joran to return, pacing the length of the room. The silence pressed in, thick and suffocating, but it wasn’t the quiet that unsettled me. It was the echo of Ansel’s words. They wouldn’t leave me alone. Her voice, her eyes—too daring, too bold—haunted me like a thorn under the skin.She was forgetting her place. That much was clear. I told myself I would deal with her when the time was right. Maybe sooner than that. But no matter how many times I replayed the thought, it didn’t soothe the agitation inside me.Instead, something else rose—unwanted, intrusive.A flash.The air smelled damp, like mold and smoke. The walls of the cottage were cracked, weak. I saw myself—no, not myself, the child I had been—sitting curled in the corner, knees drawn tight. My small hands trembled as the door slammed open.He came in then. The man. His boots heavy, dragging mud. My pulse spiked as if I were still there.He didn’t look at me. He never did. His fury went straight to
Dinner was quiet, despite my company. I wss savoring the flavor of the roast,.but my eyes drifted to Ansel across from me. She barely touched her plate, fingers restless, gaze somewhere else entirely.I set my fork down. “You’re brooding.”Her head jerked up. “I’m not.”“You are.” My tone was sharp, leaving no room for denial. “Is it the twins?”She swallowed, lips tightening. “May I feed them? At least tonight.”I leaned back in my chair, studying her. The request was almost laughable. “Feed them? I’ve already decided those little rats can starve. Less work for us.”Her eyes shone with a faint spark of something she tried to hide. But I caught it. I always did.“You’re not growing… attached, are you?” I asked softly, letting the words twist in the air. “That would be disappointing. Dangerous, even.”“No.” she answered a little too fast.I smirked, picking up my wine glass. “Good. Because if you are, I can only wonder whether you'll still be as efficient as I thought. Loyal.” I swirl
"What do you mean?” My voice was cold.“I see a light in you,” she said, tilting her head slightly. “And I don’t mean goodness, or some priest’s blessing. I mean actual light. A visible one. Burning underneath your skin.”I frowned. “You’re mad.”She laughed softly, not insulted at all. “Maybe. Or maybe you don’t know what you carry.”“You said you knew something. Speak.” My voice was pressed. She tilted her head slightly, her gaze piercing. “What you seek is not for you. You've come here for a woman, have you not.” That made me freeze a second. She walked closer to me. As if the proximity would help her see better into my soul. Then she straightened her head, her eyes widened. “You love her.” I kept my face straight. “But does she love you?” she broke into a disturbingly wide smile.Her theatrics didn't move me, regardless of how spot on the words she spoke were. I was familiar with fake seers. It was nothing more than a lucky guess. And all they did was feed the fire slowly burn
"What do you mean?” My voice was cold.“I see a light in you,” she said, tilting her head slightly. “And I don’t mean goodness, or some priest’s blessing. I mean actual light. A visible one. Burning underneath your skin.”I frowned. “You’re mad.”She laughed softly, not insulted at all. “Maybe. Or maybe you don’t know what you carry.”“You said you knew something. Speak.” My voice was pressed. She tilted her head slightly, her gaze piercing. “What you seek is not for you. You've come here for a woman, have you not.” That made me freeze a second. She walked closer to me. As if the proximity would help her see better into my soul. Then she straightened her head, her eyes widened. “You love her.” I kept my face straight. “But does she love you?” she broke into a disturbingly wide smile.Her theatrics didn't move me, regardless of how spot on the words she spoke were. I was familiar with fake seers. It was nothing more than a lucky guess. And all they did was feed the fire slowly bur
《》Ronan’s POV"What do you mean?” My voice was cold.“I see a light in you,” she said, tilting her head slightly. “And I don’t mean goodness, or some priest’s blessing. I mean actual light. A visible one. Burning underneath your skin.”I frowned. “You’re mad.”She laughed softly, not insulted at all. “Maybe. Or maybe you don’t know what you carry.”“You said you knew something. Speak.” My voice was pressed. She tilted her head slightly, her gaze piercing. “What you seek is not for you. You've come here for a woman, have you not.” That made me freeze a second. She walked closer to me. As if the proximity would help her see better into my soul. Then she straightened her head, her eyes widened. “You love her.” I kept my face straight. “But does she love you?” she broke into a disturbingly wide smile.Her theatrics didn't move me, regardless of how spot on the words she spoke were. I was familiar with fake seers. It was nothing more than a lucky guess. And all they did was feed the fi