(Amaia)

I don’t wish to leave Aziel but his health is of utmost importance to me. TJ will need the room and relaxed atmosphere to take care of my brother. With Alnilam there, it slightly settles my heart and his reassuring voice makes me obey him.

Mintaka takes me back to my room. The corridors and grounds are empty, only a sentinel here and there.

"Where is everyone?" I question, Min.

"Holidays, since we were away and they were due."

"Hmm."

My wings are hidden under my clothes, folded. I am no longer going to hide. If someone has an issue I will deal with them, even when our fellow recruits return.

Reaching my room, Mintaka closes the door while I begin to pace. His worried eyes and unsmiling face reveal how stressed he is. For me, for Alnitak.

"You should go visit Alnitak, once Aziel wakes up. I will come," I tell him, not wanting to bind him to me and drown him in my sorrows.

"Let Saiph or Alnilam come. I am not going to leave you like this." He holds my shoulders and I stiffen at Saiph’s name. I am not sure if I want to face him amidst all this.

Mintaka senses the tension. "Go easy on him."

His words are hardly out of his mouth when I hear the knock on my door. The taps tell me it’s Saiph. My heart clenches in my chest. I have no strength to face him and yet part of me aches for him.

"Talk to him, I will wait outside." Mintaka places a tender kiss on my forehead and goes to answer the door.

It opens and there he stands in his full glory. His clothes are snug against his shredded body, not leaving a hair’s breadth between his muscles and fabric.

The way he takes my breath away and yet makes me angry, simultaneously. He must have sensed me when I entered through the portal, that’s why he is here.

"Amaia!" He says in his gravelly voice, stepping inside.

Mintaka whispers, "Good luck."

Saiph gives him a questioning look but Mintaka closes the door behind him.

"You are back. I missed you." His voice is thick with emotion, and the blues in his eyes hold endless love. But, he senses the change in me.

I hug myself, not sure what to say to him. He moves with fluidity for such a big guy and comes to stand by my side, bringing his bulging arms around me.

My body remains rigid. It shouldn’t but somehow what Bellatrix had said has hurt me deeply. I know it shouldn’t affect me like that, he wasn’t my mate when he slept with her and yet of all the women in the world, why did he have to choose her?

And then that Yeti I killed. Somehow it felt too personal, too close. Only Saiph and I know about his nickname, so who told them? Why do I feel like I can’t trust him fully at this moment?

Seeing my reaction, he asks with a tight jaw, "You spoke to Bellatrix?" Regret clings to his heavy voice.

"Why her? Were your standards so low?" Hurt flickers over his sharp features and yet he hides and masks it quickly.

"Forgive me. There are aspects of my life I can’t explain. Not even to you."

I am trying to be understanding but his words hurt my already trampled heart.

Not even me, why? We are mates, everything should be clear between us.

I remove his arms from around me and step back.

"I don’t want to speak with you further. This is not a good time. I want to be alone. A lot is happening in my life," I coldly say, averting my gaze from him.

But he grabs my wrist, firmly. "Don’t do this, Amaia. There are things I can’t explain. She is in my past. You are my only future."

"Right, and I need time to accept that. Give me space."

The door has a slow knock again and I hear Alnilam’s voice.

"Amaia, I am coming in."

Alnilam never takes permission, he informs, unlike others.

Dejectedly, Saiph uncurls his warm fingers from around my wrist. I sense his helplessness, it feeds the bond.

"Let me talk to her," Alnilam says to Saiph. "Go speak to Mintaka. He will fill you in on everything that has happened in Istrale. You will need to go to the palace with him. Alnitak is unconscious."

Saiph goes stiff at the information. His disturbed gaze passes between Alnilam and me. "That is why I can’t sense him. The bond is too quiet."

Alnilam nods, I sigh heavily, regretfully. Alnitak got hurt because I took too long to respond.

Two of the most important people in my life are unconscious and I want to make someone my punching bag. I am afraid that will be Saiph, that’s why I need space from him. I can’t vent all of my anger on him.

"Amaia, we will talk when I return," Saiph’s deep voice comes.

"We will talk when I deem it right." His jaw tightens at my answer but he doesn’t fight me.

Offering a curt nod, he leaves through the door, closing it behind him.

Alnilam turns around. "Forgive him, Amaia. We all made mistakes. This is the time for unity. We can’t be divided."

Moving forward, I finally wrap my arms around Alnilam, hugging him as if my life depended on it. Something I have been meaning to do since I woke up in Istrale.

My nose takes in his distinctive scent. His arms squeeze me tight, leaving no space between us.

"I am afraid I will blast him with all my repressed emotions. That won’t be fair to him. Just give me some time."

My hands seek out his hair. I want them around me, comforting me.

But I can’t find them.

Why are they not crawling all over me?

"I understand," he gently says.

My hands shift towards his head and Alnilam stiffens when they reach his neck.

Our gazes collide—confusion in mine, reluctance in his.

He tries to stop me. What’s he hiding?

My magic takes control, the wind swishes out from my hands, blowing off the bandana he has been wearing, plunging it towards the ground.

A low scream leaves me when I see the state of his hair and the burnt mark on his forehead.

I stumble back, my hand covering my mouth. Tears quickly fill my eyes. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

"..W—what?" Words are choked in my throat.

So this is what he has been hiding from me. His destroyed hair and scarred forehead.