[Kaelen's POV]
My mind was a chaotic mess. I walked back to the Stormcliff Pack's exhibit in a daze. Seraphina was sitting there, and she rose with concern the moment she saw my dark expression.
"What's wrong? You look awful."
"It's nothing," I said dismissively, sinking into a nearby chair.
Over and over, my mind replayed the image of Elara soaring into the clouds, followed by Lucian's merciless words echoing in my ears.
Blinded by the Moon Goddess for a second?
Was it possible… that the Goddess hadn't blinded me at all?
The massive magi-screen at the center of the exhibit began to broadcast a replay of the flight demonstrations. It happened to be showing Elara's performance.
"Such a shame my injuries haven't healed, otherwise I would have been the one performing today," Seraphina said, her tone a mixture of regret and pride. "A demonstration like this is extremely difficult. Not just any rider could pull it off."
Normally, I would have agreed, praising her own excellence. But thinking of the breathtaking maneuvers Elara had just executed, the words of praise felt like ash in my mouth.
I hesitated, then asked tentatively, "What if… what if Elara could ride a griffin too?"
"What?" Seraphina's reaction was sharp, as if I'd told the most absurd joke. She frowned, her voice dripping with scorn. "Kaelen, are you defending her now? For a woman who doesn't even know the basics of air-mounts to make such a claim, isn't it laughable?" Her voice hardened. "To even suggest it is an insult to me, and to every professional sky-rider out there!"
"It was just a hypothetical…"
"Enough. Don't say another word," Seraphina's face had fallen, making it clear she wouldn't tolerate me speaking up for Elara.
I pressed my lips together and fell silent.
On the screen, the War-Branded Griffin moved under Elara's command, executing one stunning maneuver after another. The commentator was breathless, declaring that only a rider of immense experience could perform with such perfection.
Seraphina watched the screen, a flicker of displeasure in her eyes. If she hadn't been injured, she would have been the one basking in that awe and admiration.
After the show, Elara and Liana left without returning to the hall. As I was leaving the exhibition center, I saw something that made my pupils constrict.
A black Magi-tech vehicle I had never seen before glided to a silent stop in front of Elara. Its body was sleek and elegant, covered in subtle but complex magical runes that spoke of immense wealth.
The door opened, and Malachi himself stepped out, walking around to open the passenger door for her.
Elara didn't refuse. She got in.
The vehicle pulled away smoothly, disappearing from my sight.
How did she know Malachi? What was their relationship?
A thousand questions and a surge of jealousy I hadn't even realized I was capable of churned violently within me.
Inside that vehicle, Malachi handed Elara an ancient tome.
"I think you'll find this interesting."
It was a book bound in some unknown hide, its cover bare save for an ancient Silvermoon sigil. Elara took it and opened a page, her ice-blue eyes instantly lighting up. It was filled with long-lost, ancient magic.
"A display worthy of the Silvermoon Clan's former Chief Strategist," Malachi's voice was flat, but his words revealed an identity that would have shocked anyone. "Today's flight was impressive."
It was dark by the time Elara returned to the Alpha's House. The moment she stepped out of the vehicle, she was intercepted by Giselle, who had clearly been lying in wait.
"There you are, Elara! I knew you were dirty! Returning in some strange male's luxury vehicle!"
Giselle held up her communication crystal, having obviously recorded the entire scene.
"And he gave you a book? Let me see what kind of sordid gift this is!"
Giselle reached out to snatch the tome from Elara's hands.
Elara sidestepped her easily, her voice cold. "Giselle, don't take this too far."
"I'm taking it too far?" Giselle shrieked. "You're being kept by another male, and you dare say I'm going too far? Just you wait. I'm calling my brother home right now to see how you explain this!"
She immediately sent an urgent message through the mind-link.
When I rushed back, it wasn't just Giselle waiting. My mother, Adelina, was there too. They flanked Elara in the living room, cornering her like judges presiding over a criminal.
"Kaelen, you're finally back!" My mother rushed toward me, her voice trembling with indignation. "This woman has been meeting with other males behind your back! If Giselle hadn't seen it with her own eyes, we would have all been fooled!"
"Brother, look!" Giselle shoved the crystal at me.
On the screen was the same Magi-tech vehicle I had seen. Elara was getting out, a rich-looking tome in her hand.
So, I hadn't been mistaken. She had been in Malachi's vehicle.
In an instant, my mind was a storm of suspicion and doubt.
"What is the meaning of this?" I demanded, my face grim.
"I ran into him when I was leaving the airshow. He offered me a ride back," Elara explained coolly.
"A likely story!" Giselle sneered. "A mated female, getting into another male's vehicle so casually, accepting gifts from him! What are your intentions?"
"You should ask your brother that question," Elara shot back without missing a beat. "His mount has carried Seraphina more times than I can count."
Giselle's face froze.
But my mother was enraged. She lunged forward and, with a vicious swing of her arm, slapped Elara hard across the face.
The crack of the blow was sharp and sickeningly loud.
It happened so fast I couldn't even move to stop it.
Elara's head snapped to the side. Five angry red fingerprints bloomed on her pale cheek.
She didn't cry out. She didn't scream.
She simply, slowly, turned her head back to face us, her eyes as cold and empty as a frozen wasteland.
My mother pointed a trembling finger at Elara's nose.
"As far as I am concerned," she declared, her voice a cruel, final verdict, "this mate bond is over!"