"What happened to her?" Lily asks, pressing her fingers against Ella's wrist, feeling the sluggish flow of blood beneath her skin. She sighs as she straightens her posture, brushing her hair back. Her head tilts slightly, confusion dulling her expression. What could have possibly weakened the girl so much?
"Is she going to be alright?" Steffen asks anxiously.
Lily doesn't respond immediately. She's still uncertain. The king's sudden call had interrupted her evening, she had been mere minutes from home when he summoned her, forcing her to turn back.
Now, standing over Ella, she understands why.
"Her breathing is normal, just weak," Lily finally says after checking Ella's pulse again. "But I've never seen anything like this before."
A frown tightens her features. In all her years of medical practice, she has never encountered a case like this.
"What exactly happened to her?" she asks, her voice laced with concern.
Steffen exhales heavily, his gaze darkening. "I have no clue." His mind is still reeling from the events that transpired. "We were attacked... and she saved the day."
The words feel foreign even as he says them. He is still in shock over what he witnessed, the surge of power, the shift in her demeanor, the eerie voice that spoke through her. That voice had been both familiar and terrifying. Even now, he can feel the chill in his bones from her warning: Do not disturb me again.
A human shouldn't have abilities. Shouldn't have power. But Ella did.
A heavy silence lingers between them until the sound of footsteps breaks it. Steffen glances up to see Balu entering the room.
She should have gone home by now. His brows knit together in silent question, but she ignores his unspoken inquiry, striding purposefully toward the bed.
She had overheard enough of their conversation on her way in. And now, more than ever, she is certain, Ella is hiding something.
"I told you," Balu says, stepping closer to Steffen. "There's something inside her. Or rather... someone. And that someone is powerful."
There is a hint of satisfaction in her voice. Steffen had once dismissed her warnings, but now, the truth is undeniable.
Before he can respond, Lily interjects.
"Is it possible for a human to possess power?" Steffen asks, desperation creeping into his tone. There has to be a logical explanation.
Lily exhales, choosing her words carefully. "Not naturally, no. But..." Her gaze drifts toward Ella's unconscious form. "It's possible that another soul resides within her."
Balu's expression hardens. "If that's true, doesn't that make her a danger?"
Lily shakes her head. "Not necessarily. From what I can tell, the soul inside her isn't malevolent. It only surfaced when she was in danger, likely to protect her."
She doesn't mention the darker possibilities. That there are souls, vengeful ones, that can completely take over their hosts. No, she chooses not to reveal that part, because something about Ella calls to her. She feels connected to her in a way she cannot explain.
Balu, however, isn't convinced. "You can't ignore how powerful it is. What if it becomes uncontrollable? What if it harms her or those around her?"
Lily meets Balu's gaze firmly. "That's just your fear speaking. The soul hasn't shown any signs of aggression unless provoked."
Before the argument can escalate further, Steffen puts an end to it. "Enough. This discussion is over."
His tone leaves no room for debate.
A brief silence follows before he speaks again.
"Do you know anything about Sun Witches?"
Lily stiffens. Her fingers curl instinctively, and her gaze shifts to the window, where the royal garden stretches beneath the moonlight.
Memories flood her mind, memories of flames, of battle, of near death. Of a red moon night when she had been utterly powerless against a Sun Witch.
A shiver crawls down her spine. Even for a witch of her caliber, she had barely survived that encounter.
Her voice is barely above a whisper when she asks, "Are they still in existence?"
Steffen watches her closely. "According to what I've learned, they were created centuries ago by the Mystery Veil Witch. During the war between vampires and witches, the vampires were at a disadvantage. So the Mystery Veil Witch, who sided with them, created the Sun Witches. They drew their power from the sun and turned the tide of battle."
Balu frowns. "If they were so powerful, why has no one heard of them?"
Lily's lips press into a thin line before she replies coldly, "Perhaps you should ask your brother. The Mystery Veil Witch was his beloved, after all."
A witch who betrayed her own kind. Who created beings that ravaged witches and humans alike. No one ever uncovered her true identity, only the devastation she left behind.
Balu shrugs. "I would, but he's away on a trip. He'll return soon, though. And when he does, we'll finally have answers."
Her gaze drifts toward Ella. "My brother has the ability to look into memories. Once he's back, we'll find out exactly how she got your mark... and what kind of entity is inside her."
Before Steffen can respond, his phone buzzes. He picks it up, answering the call swiftly.
A few seconds later, his expression darkens. His jaw clenches. When he finally speaks, his voice is sharp with barely contained rage.
"Tell the elders. We leave for the city tomorrow." His eyes gleam with dangerous intent. "I'm going to kill that bastard."
Lily doesn't ask questions. She simply nods and leaves the room.
Balu, however, lingers. "It's Teslime, isn't it?"
She doesn't need an answer to know the truth. Teslime, Steffen's former Beta, was the only one who could provoke this kind of reaction from him.
"I'm coming with you," she declares, leaving no room for argument. "If you're going after him, I'm not staying behind."
Steffen doesn't bother protesting. He knows it would be pointless.
As silence settles in the room, his gaze returns to Ella.
He has never worried about anyone the way he does for her. Never cared this much. He can deny it all he wants, but the mate bond is pulling him toward her, making him weak.
He just hopes he doesn't wake up one day and find himself in love with her.
Because that would be the worst thing that could happen.
"Mmhmm."
The low murmur catches his attention, pulling his gaze away from the computer screen. He shifts his eyes to the person behind him, watching as her fingers rub against her eyes. She pushes herself upright in the bed, stretching her arms above her head while releasing a deep, satisfied sigh.
"You're up," he says, already making his way toward her.
"I think so," she responds, her voice still laced with drowsiness. She watches as he sits beside her on the bed and, without warning, presses the back of his hand against her forehead. The unexpected touch startles her, and she instinctively pulls away, unused to anyone caring for her so intimately.
"What are you doing?" she asks, her voice edged with suspicion.
"Checking if you're alive or dead," he replies dryly, reaching for her hand before she can fully retreat. He holds it firmly as he continues assessing her temperature.
Lily had asked him to check for a fever and, if her skin felt too warm, to give her the pills she had left behind.
"I'm alive, so get your hands off me," she demands, twisting her wrist in an attempt to free herself.
"Wait" Her breath hitches as realization slams into her. She suddenly takes in her surroundings, her mind racing to catch up. "How are we here?"
Memories flood back, the suffocating heat, the flickering flames, the desperate struggle to escape. The last thing she remembers is collapsing into the darkness, her body giving out. How did they get away?
Panicked, she runs her hands over her body, checking for injuries. Nothing. She lifts her gaze to him, expecting an explanation. A grateful smile tugs at her lips as a thought settles in, he must have saved her.
"You saved us," he says, though his voice is weak, reluctant to accept the truth. He had gone in to rescue her, but in the end, she, whatever force lay dormant within her, was the one who saved them.
She lets out a breathy laugh, half in disbelief. "How did I save us?"
She isn't sure if he's joking. The last thing she remembers is her body giving out. After that... nothing.
"Apparently, there's something inside you," he says, his words scattered and uncertain, as if saying them aloud makes them harder to believe. "Something powerful."
"I don't understand." Her fingers brush against her pale lips as she processes his words. Her body already feels drained, but now her mind spirals, flipping through endless possibilities. What does he mean something inside her? She hasn't even figured out the first mystery, and now another one is being thrown at her?
"More like someone," Steffen clarifies.
Her heart jolts. She pushes off the bed, her stomach twisting at the implication. "You're saying there's someone in me?"
The mere thought sends a violent shudder through her.
Is this her body... or does it belong to the thing inside her?
A joke. It has to be. But then again, Steffen isn't the type to joke.
"We can talk about this later," he says, brushing past her reaction. "Right now, you need to get ready. We're leaving."
She snaps her attention to him. There's something off about his tone, calm but laced with urgency. He heads for the door but stops when she speaks up again.
"Leaving? Where?"
He turns, his expression darkening.
"For the city," he says, his voice sharp with restrained anger. "I'm going after Teslime."
Hatred burns in his eyes. A deep, vengeful rage.
Teslime had the audacity to send him a message, a taunt, a threat, warning that he would unleash his rogue followers onto the streets, allowing them to feast freely on humans. If he followed through, it would be catastrophic. Exposure to humans would mean a full-scale hunt. They would be forced into a war they weren't ready for.
And Steffen won't allow it
"You're going," she says carefully, searching his expression. "Why do I have to come?"
Because she's a liability if she stays behind. He won't risk leaving her unprotected. His life is tied to hers, one harm to her, and he suffers for it. He can't afford to be out there, hunting his enemy, while constantly worrying about her safety.
Taking her with him is the only option