That night.
The girls gathered in his living room.
Tension heavy.
Ren stood in the center.
"Explain everything."
Silence.
Then—
Mei stepped forward.
Her soft eyes weren't soft anymore.
They glowed.
"You didn't fail to choose."
Everyone froze.
Luna turned sharply.
Mei."
But she continued.
"You refused to choose because if you had… the rest of us would have been executed immediately."
Ren felt his chest tighten.
"Executed?"
Nyx's smile faded slightly.
"The Celestial Court doesn't allow multiple attachments."
Seraphina nodded once.
"The 'choice' is a controlled elimination ritual."
Ren's breathing grew shallow.So this is rigged."
Astra's voice cut through.
"It always was."