Selene turned away from Kael, still angry, still refusing to look at him, but the truth was… her heart was pounding for a completely different reason.
Because beneath the anger, something darker was twisting inside her, and it was fear.
A fear she couldn't swallow.
What if the council already knew she had learned something?
What if they had seen her follow the witch?
What if they were already planning something worse?
Her breath started coming too fast. Her hands trembled. Her chest tightened.
"I… I can't do anything to them," she whispered, voice cracking. "They control everything… even if the king dies then everything would be ruined. What if... what if..."
Aeron immediately stepped forward and held her cheeks in both hands.
"Selene," he said firmly, "look at me."
She tried, but her eyes were still watery.
Lucian came to her other side, brushing her hair gently away from her face. "You don't have to fear them. Not anymore."
