Chapter 22 writer's POV
The darkness seemed to part like a curtain as a figure emerged from the shadows. The lady, with her piercing gaze, stepped into the faint light of the candles, her eyes fixed on Aurora. For a moment, the two women locked eyes, their intensity a palpable force that filled the room.
"Aurora," the lady whispered, her voice husky and mysterious. "I know your pain. I know the ache in your heart. Your mate, the one you love, is in the arms of your sister. He'll never love you, not as long as she's by his side."
Aurora's eyes flashed with anger, her chains rattling as she strained against them. "What do you know of my pain?" she spat, her voice venomous.
The lady's gaze never wavered. "I know that you're trapped, Aurora. Trapped in this prison, trapped in your own heart. But I can free you. I can help you escape, help you take revenge on those who have wronged you."
Aurora's eyes narrowed, her mind racing with the lady's words. She was tempted, oh so tempted, to join forces with this mysterious woman. But something held her back, a spark of doubt that refused to be extinguished.
"I don't need your help," Aurora lied, trying to keep her voice steady.
The lady's smile was a cold, calculated thing. "Oh, but you do. You need someone who understands you, someone who knows your pain. And I do, Aurora. I know it all too well."
Aurora felt a pang of uncertainty, her resolve wavering. The lady's words struck a chord deep within her, a chord that resonated with her own pain and suffering. But she refused to give in, refused to let this stranger manipulate her.
"I won't join you," Aurora said, her voice firm. "I'll find my own way out of here, my own way to revenge."
The lady's smile grew wider, her eyes glinting with amusement. "We'll see about that, Aurora. We'll see about that."