The corridor outside Nate’s chambers was empty when Aire walked away. Her footsteps echoed too loudly against the stone floors furiously.

Her breathing, her heartbeat, and the sound of blood rushing inside her ears all felt louder now.

Aire walked quickly at first, fury carrying her forward before the pain fully settled into her body.

The adrenaline began fading.

The sharp burning around her neck worsened immediately.

Aire winced softly.

Her fingers lifted shakily toward her throat. The moment she touched the torn skin there, pain flared through her hard enough to make her suck in a breath.

Blood stained her fingers. She stared at it for one horrible second, then she kept walking.

The guards standing farther down the corridor noticed her immediately.

Their expressions changed the moment they saw the blood running down the front of her dress.

"My Luna—"

"I’m fine." Aire cut sharply before they could move closer. The harshness in her own voice startled her again. She didn’t mean it.

The guards froze instantly.

Aire kept walking.

Her hands trembled harder now.

The castle hallways blurred faintly around her as the events inside Nate’s chamber replayed violently in her mind.

’You are from the fae prophecy.’

’You are a fae spy.’

’So much for being my mate.’ The ahte she had felt speaking to hom returned. Her throat tightened painfully.

Aire swallowed against it immediately, but the feeling only worsened.

He had looked at her like he hated her. Even worse, like he feared her. The realization hurt more than she wanted it to.

Aire clenched her jaw tightly.

She hated herself for caring.

Why should she care what Nate thought of her? He had shoved her against a wall hard enough to bruise and had his claws dug into her neck.

He nearly killed her.

Aire’s steps slowed faintly.

Some stubborn, wounded part of her could not stop replaying the look in his eyes before everything changed.

She couldn’t stop replaying that softness from earlier, that laugh he let out, the warmth in the room, and the way he looked at her while she smiled.

Everything vanished in seconds.

Aire felt sick suddenly.

She stopped walking. The hallway tilted faintly around her for one terrible moment. Aire braced herself against the nearest wall quickly, breathing hard.

Her chest hurt. The hurt was not physical. The hurt was far more humiliating.

Aire squeezed her eyes shut tightly. She barely even liked him most days, yet it hurt her heart so badly.

Nate was cruel, difficult, and infuriating. Yet his rejection had carved through her far too easily.

Aire inhaled sharply. Quietly, her composure cracked. A small broken sound escaped her throat before she could stop it.

Tears burned her eyes instantly.

Aire pressed her hand hard against her mouth. She would not cry in the middle of a corridor because of Nate.

She pushed herself away from the wall immediately and walked again, faster this time.

The castle servants avoided her path instinctively now.

No one stopped her, and no one spoke. Perhaps the look on her face warned them enough.

By the time Aire reached her chambers, her hands were trembling so badly she struggled opening the doors.

One of the guards immediately moved to help her.

Aire jerked slightly at the movement.

The guard froze. "My Luna..."

"I can do it." she whispered quickly.

The guard stepped back at once.

Aire pushed the doors open herself and stepped inside immediately.

Warmth met her first, then silence.

Madam looked up from the fireplace instantly. At first, her expression remained neutral, then she saw the blood and everything about her stilled.

Aire stopped walking. She di3snt know what Madam was doing in her room this late, but her heart warmed up seeing Madam.

Madam rose slowly from her chair.

Her eyes moved once across Aire’s neck, her stained dress, and trembling hands.

The calmness on Madam’s face became terrifying. "What happened?"

Aire opened her mouth but nothing came out. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

Madam crossed the room immediately now. "Aire." The softness in her voice nearly undid Aire completely.

Aire’s throat tightened violently. "I’m fine," she whispered automatically.

Madam’s gaze sharpened instantly. "Do not insult me with that lie."

Aire looked away quickly.

Madam reached her then. Her fingers lifted carefully toward Aire’s throat.

The moment Madam touched the injured skin, Aire flinched hard.

Madam immediately withdrew her hand back to herself.

Cold rage flickered behind Madam eyes.

"Who touched you?" Madam asked quietly.

Aire swallowed painfully.

Madam’s voice lowered further. "Which Alpha?" she asked, unable to decide who, since she smelt Nate and Alaric on Aire.

Aire stared down at the floor.

Madam already knew and Aire could feel it.

The claw marks alone said enough. Only Nate would dare be this cruel.

Madam exhaled once slowly through her nose.

"Aire." This time, there was command in her voice.

Aire’s lashes trembled faintly. "Nate." she whispered.

Silence crashed through the room immediately afterward.

Madam’s hand slowly dropped from Aire’s throat. For several long seconds, she said absolutely nothing.

That silence frightened Aire more than anger would have.

Madam turned away first.

Aire watched her walk toward the table near the fireplace. Her movements remained calm and controlled.

Madam picked up a cloth and soaked it carefully in warm water.

Aire stood frozen near the center of the room while emotions crashed violently through her chest.

She felt shock, humiliation, anger, confusion, and beneath all of it, she felt hurt.

The worst part was that she still did not fully understand what happened.

One moment Nate was laughing with her. The next, his eyes flashed gold and he began to say all bunch of nonsense he could muster.

Aire shut her eyes briefly.

Madam approached her again. "Sit."

Aire obeyed quietly this time. She sat at the edge of the bed while Madam knelt slightly before her.

The warm cloth pressed gently against her neck.

Aire hissed softly.

Madam’s jaw tightened faintly at the sound. Neither of them spoke for a while.

The silence stretched until Aire broke it.

"He called me a fae spy."

Madam’s hand stopped. Slowly, Madam lifted her eyes toward her.

Aire laughed weakly. "He said I was part of some prophecy." She said with humor.

The words sounded ridiculous spoken aloud.

Madam said nothing. That frightened Aire instantly. Her brows furrowed faintly. Wasn’t that supposed to be untrue and funny?

"Madam?"

Madam resumed cleaning the blood carefully.

Aire stared at her now. "You aren’t surprised." She pointed out.

Madam remained silent.

Aire’s stomach tightened painfully. "You knew about this prophecy?"

Still Madam said nothing.

Aire stood abruptly from the bed.

Madam looked up immediately.

"What is happening?" Aire asked sharply. Emotion finally cracked through her voice now. "I’m tired of everyone knowing things except me."

Her breathing shook faintly. "He looked at me like I was something horrible. It hurt me. Everything is so confusing."

Madam rose slowly to her feet. "Aire—"

"No." Aire stepped backward immediately. Tears burned harder behind her eyes now. "No one tells me anything," she whispered, her voice breaking.

Her chest tightened violently. She went on. "I don’t know what I am anymore."

The room fell silent again.

Madam stared at her carefully.

Aire angrily wiped the tears slipping down her face now. "I spent my whole life thinking I was just unwanted."

Her voice cracked softly. "Then suddenly everyone looks at me like I’m dangerous instead. I’m a tri bird, and all."

Madam’s expression shifted faintly at the pain in her voice.

Aire laughed weakly again. She palmed her forehead. "I don’t even understand what I did wrong." she sniffed. "I was simply brought into this world by two people who claim to love themselves. I..." she trialed off.

Her hands trembled visibly now. "He said he dreamed about me."

Madam stilled again. She simply watched Aire, as if considering something.

Aire noticed everything tonight. Fear slowly crept into her chest again.

"What does the mark mean?" Aire asked quietly. "I know you’ve seen it a few times while you wash me."

Madam’s eyes lifted toward her immediately.

Aire’s fingers moved shakily toward the half-moon hidden beneath her ear. "This." She showed Madam, incase she pretended not to know it.

Aire’s throat tightened harder when Madam still said nothing.

"You know something." She accused Madam, the rim of her eyes now red with tears and emotions.

Madam looked away briefly. That alone felt like confirmation.

Aire stared at her in disbelief. "You do know something."

Madam inhaled slowly. "Aire—"

"Tell me." she commanded sharply.

Madam remained quiet for several long seconds. "What exactly happened in Nate’s chambers?" she finally asked.

Aire frowned faintly at the sudden question.

"He saw the mark," she answered quietly. "Then he changed."

Madam’s expression tightened almost imperceptibly.

Aire saw it.

"He became violent immediately afterward," Aire continued. "He said he saw it in a dream before."

Madam’s eyes darkened faintly.

Aire’s heartbeat quickened again. The room suddenly felt suffocating. "What dream?" she whispered.

Madam did not answer. Instead, she stepped closer slowly. Her gaze searched Aire’s face carefully now.

Fear curled deeper into Aire’s chest.

Madam spoke. "Have you been completely honest with me?" she asked quietly.