The moment Michelle stepped back and smiled everything broke lose.

"MOVE!"

The first guard entered with silver already drawn, and ready. Three more joined him.

The chamber filled too quickly, and became too tight in seconds.

Aire took a step back instinctively. Her mind sharpened in alert, ready to protect herself. Her mind lagged behind reality.

"What is this?" she whispered.

As usual, no one gave her a response. Rather, they moved towards her with weapons.

The guards formed a half-circle around her. This was an order from King Elijah, to detain her in the slightest opportunity.

They were not close enough to be foolish.

"Your Grace, don’t move!" one guard shouted.

"I’m not doing anything!" she snapped immediately, her voice breaking slightly.

Everything always happen when she least expects it. First with Nate, and now with Mitchell.

If anything, her tone made them tighten their formation.

A chair scraped violently as another guard stepped in.

"Hold position!"

Aire’s breathing quickened. "I said I’m not attacking!"

Raw, overwhelming fear embraced her, and she acted on it, unable to hold back.

The air trembled, and light objects near her began to shake.

A cup lifted slightly off the table and another object followed. She positioned them, ready to use them on whoever touches her first.

"Aire stop it!" Madam’s voice cut in from somewhere near the doorway.

"I CAN’T—" Aire shouted back, her voice cracking. "I CAN’T CONTROL IT WHEN YOU’RE DOING THIS! I DON’T KNOW WHAT ANY OF YOU SPEAK OF. WHY DON’T YOU BELIEVE ME?" She yelled, her voice breaking, and coming out breathless

The shaking around intensified with each breath she took. The furniture creaked, and candles flickered violently.

"STEP BACK!" a guard screamed, but they were already too close.

One of the objects flew suddenly across the room. The object was not aimed, or directed. It had been released by panic.

It struck the wall hard, and the wood cracked. That was all it took for them to charge towards her.

"She’s attacking!" a terrified guard screamed instantly.

The words detonated through the room.

"No!" Aire cried immediately. "I’m not!"

More silver weapons were raised aimed at her. A containment net began to unfurl from one of the guards’ hands.

Aire stepped back, and hit the edge of the bed. She couldn’t believe the sight before her. They came to her like she had horns, and fangs.

They cornered her like she wasn’t the same wolfless girl they had once condemned.

Her breathing broke. "I’m not doing anything wrong," she whispered, her voice smaller now.

She shivered, and tears spilled from her eyes openly. This was one of those moments, where she needed her father.

Where’s Alaric?

The doors opened again.

Aire thought Alaric would walk in but to her disappointment, Nate entered. Her heart shattered a thousand times more. At the moment, she felt as if her heart was on the palm of someone else being clenched mercilessly.

He took a step towards her.

"Don’t come close." Aire warned him with pure hate. "Not one more step, you monster."

He stopped immediately.

Her watched her cornered, surrounded, and shaking with objects trembling in the air around her and refusing to settle.

Nate’s wolf surged forward so violently it almost blurred his vision.

His fingers curled, and his jaw tightened. A low sound escaped his throat before he could stop it.

He took another step towards her, and she took a step back.

"Stay away from me. Sadist!" she warned again. The objects trembling in the air all got pointed at him.

Alaric appeared behind him immediately, then Xander and King Elijah.

King Elijah stepped forward slowly.

"This is enough," he said. The room quieted slightly.

Aire looked at him immediately. Hope flickered in her eyes.

"King Elijah, please—I didn’t—" she spoke incoherently, searing for the right words to say. "This is all a big misunderstanding."

"Contain her," Elijah said, not giving her the chance to speak again.

Silence involved the room immediately.

The guards hesitated.

Aire froze. A silent tears slipped from her left eye. Her breath stopped completely, and she swallowed forcefully.

"what?"

Elijah didn’t flinch at her heartwretching sight. He repeated his words. "Detain her." He ordered.

Aire’s lips parted slightly, but no sound came out. Her eyes moved from King Elijah to Alaric, and then rested on Xanden.

"Detain... me?" she asked softly, in shock. She coudktn me over from the extreme betrayal.

Her voice broke on the second word.

Nate moved forward without thinking. "Wait."

Elijah turned his head slightly.

Nate’s expression had changed. His eyes softened for the first time since the beginning of this whole mess.

"This is not necessary," Nate said tightly.

Elijah’s gaze sharpened. "The wolves are restless. They need their safety guaranteed."

Aire’s eyes flicked to Nate. Light relief flickered through her expression. However, it was gone, and returned back to fear again when she realized even he was not stopping it fully.

The silver restraints were brought forward.

Nate saw them. He snapped. "No one touches her with any of those." he warned immediately.

Elijah didn’t look at him again. "Proceed."

Two guards stepped forward carefully. They dare not be aggressive with her when Nate stood before her.

Aire stepped back instantly. "Don’t touch me," she whispered. Her voice shook. "Please, don’t—"

The first restraint clicked near her wrist.

She flinched violently.

Nate muscles corded in his neck. He sucjed at his lower lip, and moved forward again, unable to bear the sight of her in pain.

"Stop." He ordered, louder this time, and directly challenging his father.

Alaric grabbed his arm.

"Don’t escalate this," he warned quietly.

Nate shook him off. His eyes never left Aire.

Aire’s breathing broke completely.

"I didn’t do anything," she said again, but now it sounded like she was asking instead of stating.

At the moment, she was trying to convince herself. The final restraint closed, and silver bound her wrists.

Nate stared at her wrists.

She looked like she was waiting for an understanding that wasn’t coming. It hurt him more that he was the one who placed her in this misfortune.

He should have said nothing about the mark.

Aire lifted her head slowly. Her eyes met Nate’s briefly.

His breath caught, and he hated himself more. Xanden looked away from her, not making the mistake to spare her a glance.

There was almost nothing he could do at the moment, and he doesn’t want to say that to her.