(Aria's POV)
"He's here."
Seren bursts into my room at the Sanctuary, eyes wide with excitement. I met her three days ago—a sharp-tongued omega who survived her own rejection and became my first real friend.
"Already?" I set down the book Cassian gave me about Thorneblood magic. "I thought he'd make me wait longer."
"Are you kidding? The great Alpha Prime practically ran here." Seren grins wickedly. "You should see him, Aria. He looks terrible. Dark circles under his eyes, shadows literally crawling on his skin. He's dying."
Good. Let him suffer.
But my traitorous heart clenches at the image. Through our broken bond, I've felt his deterioration over the past three days. Every spike of pain. Every moment of fear. It's like torture I can't escape.
"Where is he?" I ask, standing.
"Training yard. Lyric's keeping him contained." Seren studies my face. "You sure about this? Once you start playing with mate bonds and curses, there's no going back."
"I'm sure." I check my reflection in the small mirror. I look different than I did three days ago. Stronger. My violet eyes seem to glow brighter. Training with Lyric has awakened more of my power.
I'm not the broken omega Zander rejected anymore.
Time to make him see that.
I walk outside with Seren following. The entire Sanctuary has gathered to watch—rogues and outcasts who've heard about the Alpha Prime coming to grovel. They part as I approach, and I feel their support like a warm blanket.
Then I see him.
Zander Corvus stands in the center of the training yard, surrounded by Lyric's guards. He's alone like I demanded—no advisors, no soldiers, no protection. He looks exactly like Seren described. Exhausted. Haunted. Shadows move under his skin like living things trying to escape.
But when his ice-blue eyes lock onto mine, they're still sharp. Still intense.
Still beautiful.
No. I crush that thought immediately.
"Aria." My name on his lips sounds like a prayer. He takes a step toward me.
"Stop." My voice rings out cold and clear. "You don't get to move until I say you can."
Zander freezes. Shock flickers across his face. He's not used to being commanded—especially not by an omega.
Good. Get used to it.
I walk closer, letting him see how much I've changed. I'm wearing simple training clothes, but I stand differently now. Like I own the ground beneath my feet. The violet light pulses faintly around my hands.
"You came," I say. "I'm surprised. I thought the great Alpha Prime was too proud to beg."
"I'll do whatever it takes." His voice is rough, desperate. "Aria, please. I know I don't deserve—"
"You're right. You don't." I circle him slowly like a predator studying prey. "You rejected me in front of everyone. Called me weak, unwanted, unworthy. You shattered our mate bond and walked away without looking back."
"I know." Shame colors his voice. "I know what I did."
"Do you?" I stop in front of him. "Do you know what it felt like? Having your soul ripped in half? Collapsing on the ground while people laughed?"
"I felt it too," Zander says quietly. "The bond broke for both of us."
"Then why did you do it?" The question tears out of me before I can stop it.
Zander meets my eyes, and for the first time, I see real emotion there. Pain. Regret. Fear.
"Because I was terrified," he admits. "When our bond snapped into place, the power of it overwhelmed me. You overwhelmed me. I felt everything you felt—your hope, your vulnerability, your trust. And I knew that if I accepted you, you'd have the power to destroy me."
"So you destroyed me first."
"Yes." He doesn't try to deny it. "I chose my position, my pride, my control over you. And it was the worst mistake of my life."
The broken bond pulses between us. Through it, I feel his sincerity. He means every word.
It doesn't matter. Words can't fix what he broke.
"Your advisor Morrigan," I say, changing the subject. "She told you to reject me, didn't she?"
Zander's jaw clenches. "She said accepting an omega from a disgraced family would make me look weak to the other Alphas."
"And you listened."
"I listened." He takes a shaky breath. "But I'm not listening to her anymore. I know about the curse, Aria. I know that only you can break it. And I know I have no right to ask for your help."
"You're right. You don't." I cross my arms. "Why should I save you? You made it very clear I mean nothing to you."
"Because thousands of innocent people will die if you don't." Zander's voice cracks. "My pack, my people—they didn't reject you. They don't deserve to suffer because of my cowardice."
Smart. He's appealing to my conscience instead of our bond.
"What will you give me?" I ask coldly. "If I help you, what do I get?"
Zander blinks, caught off guard. "What do you want?"
"Everything." The violet light flares around my hands. "I want my family's name cleared publicly. I want the Thorneblood estate restored to me. I want a seat on the Council. I want complete autonomy—no bond, no claim, no control over my life."
"Done." He doesn't hesitate. "All of it. I'll give you anything."
"And I want you to suffer." My voice turns ice cold. "Every day, I want you to remember what you did to me. I want you to grovel and beg and know that I'm only helping because of your people, not because of you."
Something that might be pain flashes across Zander's face. But he nods. "I deserve that."
"Yes. You do." I step closer until we're inches apart. "Here's the deal, Alpha Prime. I'll break your curse. I'll save your precious realm. But when it's done, you and I are nothing. No bond, no connection, no second chances. You'll live knowing you had a fated mate and you threw her away."
"I understand." His voice is barely a whisper.
"Do you?" I tilt my head. "Because once I break this curse, I'm walking away. And you'll spend the rest of your life alone, watching me become everything you were too afraid to accept."
Zander's eyes burn into mine. "If that's what it takes to save my people, then I accept."
"Good." I turn away before he can see the tears threatening to fall. "Lyric will tell you what happens next. The ritual requires seven days in the Veil Woods. We leave tomorrow."
"Aria, wait—"
"We're done talking." I start walking away.
"I'm sorry!" The words explode from him. "I'm so sorry. If I could take it back—"
"But you can't." I don't look back. "That's the point."
I keep walking until I'm back in my room with the door locked. Only then do I let myself shake.
Seven days alone with Zander in the magical forest. Seven days of forced proximity. Seven days of feeling the broken bond trying to repair itself.
This is going to be torture.
Through the bond, I feel Zander's emotions: crushing guilt, desperate hope, and something else. Something that feels like...longing?
I slam mental walls down, blocking him out.
A knock on my door. "Aria? It's Cassian."
I open it. My uncle slips inside, looking worried.
"The ritual starts tomorrow," he says. "Are you ready?"
"No." I sink onto the bed. "But I don't have a choice."
"There's something you need to know." Cassian sits beside me. "The Veil Woods are unpredictable. They'll show you things—visions, possible futures, your deepest fears. The forest feeds on emotion."
"Great. Just what I need."
"I'm serious, Aria." He grips my hand. "The woods will test your resolve. They'll show you what you want most and tempt you to take it. You need to stay strong."
"What I want most is revenge on everyone who hurt me," I say firmly.
But even as I say it, the mate bond pulses weakly.
Cassian looks at me with sad, knowing eyes. "Are you sure about that?"
Before I can answer, power explodes through the Sanctuary. The walls shake. Guards shout outside.
I rush to the window and my blood runs cold.
Dozens of soldiers in black armor surround the compound. At their head stands Morrigan Vale, eyes glowing with dark magic.
"Aria Thorne!" Her voice booms acro
ss the yard. "Come out now, or I'll burn this sanctuary and everyone in it!"