"Family is both a shield and a blade; it protects, it cuts, and it never lets you forget where you came from."
ELIAS POV
The guards left us at the threshold. Only Juno, Riven, Kael, Nyra, Taemin, and I remained. And somehow, that was even worse. Nyra, goddess bless her, immediately swept Taemin up by the wrist, declaring that she must wash the grime of the dungeons before she dared sit anywhere near silk cushions. Taemin did not argue, only smirked at me over her shoulder.
"Oh, do not worry, brother. I will let you stew in your nerves while I scrub off torture and chains. You have always been good at fretting."
She had no idea how right she was, and I stood rooted, fists flexing at my sides, trying not to snap at anyone. Black my wolf was prowling in my chest, claws against my ribs, furious and protective. Taemin was here. Alive. My twin sister and my other half. And yet I could not even breathe without remembering that she had been chained beneath my mate's castle.
