Yula's POV
"What's going on?" Valeria asked as we came out of our hideout.
"I killed Cora," I snapped.
Valeria's face stiffened.
"I did it for you. I needed to disguise myself as one of Nara's maids, so I had to do it to look more like Cora. These are her clothes."
She looked me straight in the eyes. "A lot has changed about you. You're no longer the Yula I used to know. You're a killer now! A killer like Varkos."
"Don't you dare! Don't you dare compare me to that beast!" I shouted, grabbing her hands. "We need to leave before we're caught!"
Valeria pulled her hands away abruptly. "I don't trust you anymore! I hate you all. Not you, not Ivan who left me for years and never returned," she said. "Not anyone!" she yelled.
Tears gathered in her eyes like a small river. "I regret ever loving him."
"Valeria, please stop this! This isn't the time to cry. Let us leave if you want to stay alive and see Ivan someday."
"Like seeing Ivan matters to me? Huh?" she laughed. "He's the last person I want to see. Yula, where was Ivan when they dragged my father through the square in chains? Accused him of betrayal, rebellion, treason—anything to justify what they did. I watched them execute him, just because he refused to bow to Varkos when everyone else did." She paused to wipe her tears. "I still hear the sound of it in my sleep. The worst part wasn't the violence. It was how no one tried to stop it. Not even you, Yula! Not you!" Her nose turned red and blotchy.
"You were all too afraid. I watched my father die horribly, and now you come here telling me to leave if I want to stay alive to see Ivan. Who cares! Let him go to hell!" Her voice was loud, thick, and full of pain.
Tears fell from my eyes. I had nothing to say. I had never seen her this emotional before.
"Even though I knew I would die… here," she said, pulling a small brown bottle from her innerwear. "I poisoned Nara's drink. She'll die with me. Varkos will feel the pain I felt."
I stood stunned, my chest tight, barely able to breathe. My wolf was weak, and I was cold and hurt.
"I've been here for eight years, and now you show up? For what? To mock me or witness my death? Hahaha. Let them hear it! I'll scream my lungs out. We'll all die together!" she yelled, refusing to stop.
I picked up a piece of shattered furniture and smashed it on her head. She collapsed.
The door creaked open. Someone stepped in, and my heart jumped.
"Yula," he called. I turned. It sounded too much like Ivan's voice. He walked closer—it was him. He had wrapped a black scarf around his head, covering part of his face. "I brought this," he said, handing me the disappearing leaf, the same one we used to escape Yelena's territory. "They're outside in the field. Three dead bodies found: Cora's, Lyna's, and a random slave called Tima. Lyna's body was swollen; they said she was poisoned." His voice was breathy. "Varkos has ordered the guards to secure everywhere and lock the main gate. You wouldn't want to know how I managed to get here," he added, not noticing Valeria lying on the ground.
"Valeria tried to expose us, so I had to shut her up," I explained, barely interested in what he was saying. His gaze dropped to Valeria, lying almost lifeless, her head bleeding.
He rushed to touch the side of her neck. "You almost killed her!"
"I had to. I had no choice," I confessed, my eyes red from crying. We placed the leaves in our mouths and disappeared at once.
We arrived at my house immediately. Valeria was still unconscious, so I laid her on the bed and went to the backyard to pluck some leaves. I placed the leaves on her forehead and set seven small native pots around her bed. In each pot, I burned herbs, letting the fragrance fill the room. She inhaled the scent, and I hoped it would help her heal faster.
"How's she doing?" Ivan asked, standing by the door.
"She's responding," I replied, standing to my feet. I walked toward him. "He'll stop at nothing," I said, staring into his eyes. "Until he eliminates us all."
"I know. That's why we need to stand together to fight him. He's dangerous," Ivan said, his eyes still on Valeria. "I'm happy she's alive," he whispered.
"Yeah, but she's different now. She told me at Varkos' territory that a lot has changed about me. A lot has changed about her too," I said, glancing back at her still body on the bed.
Suddenly, Ivan started groaning in pain. He squatted, then fell to his knees. His wolf was suppressing his human side, threatening to break out. My feet trembled. What was happening to Ivan? He raised his head in a flash, and I saw his eyes. They used to be green, but now they are black. He seemed to be fighting his wolf as dark green veins crawled from his chest up to his neck.
My eyes widened as I stepped back, not realizing I had backed into the bed where Valeria lay. I couldn't move any farther.
Suddenly, Ivan became calm. The scary features disappeared, and he stopped groaning. His eyes returned to normal. He let out a heavy breath, sweat dripping down his body. I wanted to speak, but my mouth felt heavy.
"I… I'm sorry. I don't know what's taking over me, Yula," he struggled to say, still in pain. "Help me. I don't want to bear this burden anymore. Let the beast choose someone else. It's draining me," he whispered before collapsing, though he didn't lose consciousness.
I hurried to him, trying to lift him, but I couldn't. As I struggled, I was forced to transform, carrying him to another room and laying him on the bed. Valeria mustn't see Ivan like this, not in her condition.
She sneezed three times and opened her eyes, staring for a moment before speaking. "Where is this place?" she asked in a faint voice.
"Don't worry, you're safe."
Her gaze lowered, lingering on me for a moment. "Yula," she whispered.
"Valeria, I'm sorry for what happened back there. I did it to save your life, believe me. I would never hurt you. Never."
She burst into tears. "All I wanted was a better us. My father by my side, Ivan, and you. But it's just the opposite. My life has been a tragedy. I fought for love, risked my life for it, but the love I did all that for left me. And you know the most painful part?" She paused, tears streaking down her face. "It never returned… I mean, it never will."
"Valeria, your love came back for you. He was the one who brought you out of Varkos' cage." She raised her head, her eyes locking with mine.
Ivan stepped in. She turned, looking at him—surprise freezing in her eyes.