(Alnilam)

I am not sure how Amaia is still functioning. The immeasurable stress she is under will bring anyone to their knees.

King Xamian announcing that he is her father has really pushed her over the edge. He has given me this ring for a reason. I need to visit him in secrecy and hear what he has to say. Amaia has such pent-up hatred towards her absent father that it prevents her from hearing him rationally. I need to do this for her. But first I need to get them to Orion safely.

Kacir and Rahria are the first ones to cross over.

I guide her through the portal. She is shaking as we land inside the infirmary. Mintaka carries an unconscious Aziel.

TJ turns, seeing us suddenly materialise out of the portal with his mouth forming an ’O’. Mintaka rushes Aziel towards an empty bed while I guide Amaia forward.

"What in the goddess glory?" TJ rushes behind Mintaka towards the bed.

"Help him, please." Amaia sprints towards her brother.

TJ’s old but wise eyes take in her changed appearance but he doesn’t comment.

"What happened?" He grimly asks, bending down and pulling up the right eyelid of Aziel.

"Istrale, they experimented on him and he has also been starved from what I can guess," I explain in short words, not wanting to elaborate in front of Amaia.

"Those fuckers," TJ curses and continues cursing under his breath. He then calls out to his daughter.

Turning my gaze towards Kacir and Rahria, I excuse them. They slowly nod and leave. I don’t want the place to be crowded so TJ can relax while taking care of Aziel.

Mintaka steps back, holding onto Amaia. She watches her brother with such profound sadness and immeasurable love. The silver of my hair glistens around her wrist, going round and round in circles, agitated picking up on her mood.

"Min, why don’t you take Amaia to her room? Let her rest and TJ will take care of Aziel," I offer and her grieved eyes find me.

"I want to stay."

"Trust us. TJ will need space to examine him and I will stay here, ensuring no harm will come to him," I answer.

Mintaka gently presses her shoulders and she slowly but unwillingly nods. I know how difficult it is for her to leave her brother after she had found him in such a dilapidated state.

But I need to speak about the heinous acts of Istrale in her absence. She doesn’t need to hear about all the atrocities they have carried out on him. The letter Xamian gave me had details of what they have been doing, he seems to have gathered the information lately.

Mintaka takes her away while Larissa rushes in carrying a tray. Her astonished eyes fall on Amaia and she draws in a gasp.

People are going to be taken aback seeing Amaia in her true self but I don’t think Amaia is going to be hiding herself anymore.

Larissa moves to TJ’s side. He is feeling Aziel’s pulse. "We need a glucose drip," he tells his daughter and she gets to work, masking all of her curiosity.

His gaze finds me. "Amaia’s brother?" I nod, crossing my arms.

"How do you know?"

"Exactly how I knew she was a Fae even without her revealing herself," he nonchalantly says, leaving me slightly stunned.

TJ has always been wiser and the kind of man who keeps secrets and does not reveal them.

"You did?" I ask, adjusting my bandana on my head.

"Her blood type matches no one. The way she had no wounds on her body but blood had been lost when you brought her in last time. That could only mean healing magic. You think I wouldn’t notice." He raises a brow at me.

"She is your mate, I know. You care for her. I wasn’t going to reveal something you didn’t want to be revealed."

"Good, it needs to stay that way. Especially since her brother is here. No one can know, not even my parents," I emphasise.

"We won’t tell anyone. Amaia is a kind soul. I will guard all her secrets," Larissa softly says and I nod in appreciation.

"I need him shifted to the back room and no one would be permitted there, except both of you and us."

TJ agrees. "Will be done." His eyes shift back to an unconscious Aziel. "So tell me what I am dealing with here."

Stepping closer, I tell him everything I have gathered so far. TJ grimly nods. His concerned eyes remain on the frail Aziel on the bed.

Aziel appears around my age but I could be wrong. There are only bones protruding against his pale skin. Larissa and TJ remove his clothes and thoroughly examine his wounded body. So many punctured wounds with blue and purple blemishes. I can’t even imagine what they have done to him.

Can he change into that monster state again?

Is it controlled by Istrale or can he control it?

There are so many questions but I have no answers for them.

His wings are pressed underneath him, appearing battered.

"What have they done to him? No one deserves this. Is anyone going to take action?" Larissa quietly asks but I can hear the tremor in her voice.

"Yes, I will." I am going to help the Faes, even if it’s the last thing I do.

"We will take care of him. You don’t have to worry. I have experience with Faes," TJ says quietly, knowing that he can trust me. Even the word ’Fae’ had become taboo in Orion after the attack on my step-mother and Rigel. Not anymore. Things are about to change real quick around here.

"Keep me updated. I need to check up on Amaia," I say, throwing one last look at Aziel and leaving him with TJ and Larissa.

"If or when you need to talk about what they have done to you. You know where to find me," TJ suggestively says when I am about to step out of the Infirmary.

That makes me halt and his gaze travels towards my head. Nothing can escape his cunning eyes.

"Alright." I respectfully offer him a nod and leave. The reminder of my lost hair slashes against my heart but I bury those feelings and head towards Amaia’s room.

Later I need to check up on Alnitak. I know father must have taken him to the palace. I don’t even know if he has gained consciousness or not.

I also need to report to the headmaster, whom I don’t trust one bit. But first I will check up on Amaia.

My feet halt outside her room and I see Mintaka sheepishly standing outside.

"Saiph?" I ask and he nods at me with his arms crossed.

Her raised voice comes from inside.

"I don’t want to speak with you further. It’s not a good time. I want to be alone. A lot is happening in my life."

I understand what this is about. It’s about what Bellatrix has said to her, poisoning her mind and with her emotions all over the place I understand what she is going through.

Saiph is going to have a difficult time with her extremely agitated. I would need to step in.