Chapter 2

All the blood in my body turned cold in an instant.

Stumbling forward, I crashed into the silver cage. Looking at the small figure curled up in the corner, I clutched the bars and called out, "Irene!"

Thin curls of smoke rose from her body. Her skin was scorched black, and through the cracks, I could vaguely see the white of her bones.

Like a madwoman, I tried to pry the cage bars open, ignoring how the silver seared my hands with a harsh sizzle. I forcefully lifted Irene into my arms, almost as if I couldn't feel the pain.

She was barely breathing. Her eyes were half-open, the light in them fading fast.

I had to save her. If I could just get my hands on some moonleaf vine or get a healer to perform the Ceremony of the Moon, Irene would survive!

I reached out to Cole for help through our mind link, yet no matter how long I waited, he didn't respond. That was when I realized he had blocked me.

There was no time to waste. I tightened my hold on Irene and teleported with all the strength I had. Trees and houses passed in a blur as the wind howled in my ears.

I burst into the temple, my voice hoarse as I yelled, "Healer! Please save my sister! She needs moonlight sorcery!"

However, the witch who rushed over gave me a troubled look. "I'm sorry, Ms. Brown. The Alpha has ordered all the healers to tend to Ms. Cooper. There's no one left to treat your sister right now…"

I broke down and pleaded, "Please just give me three stalks—no, two stalks of moonleaf vine! That's all I need to help Irene recover on her own!"

Yet, the witch didn't budge. Her eyes were filled with sympathy as she looked at me. "All the moonleaf vine in the Healers' Temple has been used on Ms. Cooper. The Alpha ordered us to use every possible treatment to make sure she recovers."

Right then, Irene coughed up a mouthful of blood. The silver and wolfsbane were eating away at her, draining what little life she had left.

My body started to tremble. Desperate, I pulled out my phone and called Cole. "My sister's dying, Cole! Please send me a healer!"

Mae's triumphant laughter came through the line. "Dying already? What a shame. It must be awful being your sister!"

I was about to argue when I heard Cole's voice in the background. "Who's that? You should lie down, Mae! The witch said you need to rest."

"It's Soliel. She said her sister's hurt, and she wants you to send her a healer," she responded before adding fuel to the fire. "I'm fine, Cole. Even if my wounds haven't healed yet, Soleil's sister probably needs them more than I do…"

I wanted to explain, but Cole cut me off sharply, "Have you forgotten what I told you, Soleil? Stop testing my limits!

"Irene was only locked up in a silver cage for a short while. She's not as fragile as you think she is; she doesn't need every healer we have!"

I could vaguely hear Naveah and Caspian grumbling in the background.

"Mom's lying again. Why does she always lie?"

"Let's ignore her, Dad. She needs to be taught a lesson!"

Cole then hung up on me.

I tried to call him again, only to discover that he had already blocked me. All the strength drained from my body, and I collapsed to the ground.

Then, I forced myself to my feet and searched desperately for anything that could help, but her body had already gone cold. The wolfsbane had destroyed her ability to heal, and in the end, the silver took her life.

"Irene!" Clutching her charred body, I cried my heart out, but the young lady in my arms was gone… forever.