جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 16

**Eirian's Pov**I didn't leave my chamber the next day.Nessa knocked twice that morning, carrying a tray containing warm bread and boiled eggs. Both times I faced the window with my back to the door, refusing to turn around. I heard her set the tray gently near the fireplace, heard her hesitate, heard the soft rustle of her dress as she lingered a while longer than necessary before leaving me in peace. I refused to eat the food.It wasn't because I wasn't hungry. By noon, my stomach was violently protesting. Every passing hour reminded me that I hadn't eaten since the morning of Vorath's cruel ‘test.’ But my pride and hurt were far stronger than my hunger. I refused to bend simply because my body demanded it. All my life, people had treated me the way I was treated yesterday, and I never had the words to fight back with, no voice strong enough to raise against the people who controlled every part of my existence. But I had silence. Silence had always been mine. I mastered how to u

**Vorath's Pov**"She is a liability, my lord, and I say that with all due respect to your judgment."Elder Rothgar's voice echoed in the council chamber before I had even finished sitting down. Three of my council members were already gathered around the long table as morning light streamed from the tall windows and caught the dust hanging in the air. Their faces were of men who had prepared this discussion long before I arrived."Good morning to you as well," the stern tone in my voice made the sarcasm impossible to miss.Rothgar didn't flinch. He never did, which was exactly why I had him close, even though his blunt honesty often tested my patience."Word is spreading across the borders, my lord," Rothgar pressed, leaning forward. “Half the territories by now know your bride grew up believing she carried a curse. They know she went mute after children died in her pack. Whether it's true or not doesn't matter anymore. People believe it, and our enemies won't hesitate to use that ag

**Thalorion’s Pov**The pain woke me up.It spread on my forearm, in the exact spot where the Moon Goddess had marked me for what I did to her. I sat up in bed, breathing hard and covered in sweat. With shaky hands, I pulled back my sleeve, expecting to see the silver light burning my skin, but there was nothing there save for the thin, pale scar that had faded weeks ago. It was barely visible now except when the light hit it at the right angle.I pressed down hard on the spot, waiting for the ache to go away. It never fully did anymore. Most days, the pain stayed buried deep down, but during the quiet hours when I had nothing to distract myself, it always returned.I fell back onto my pillows and closed my eyes, but the dream returned immediately, and I couldn’t block it. Clear and bright silver eyes. Always those silver eyes. They were wide and searching, fixed on me with an expression I couldn't figure out—either accusing me, or showing a sadness I didn't deserve to see. I never sa