Lily
Elis didn't move. His whole body was wound tight, every muscle tensed like a coiled spring. But his eyes… they were locked on mine, sharp and searching. He was looking for hesitation. Doubt. Fear. He wouldn't find it.
"I can break your curse, Elis," I said, keeping my voice steady, unwavering.
He exhaled slowly, and I could almost hear the pounding of his heart. "How?"
I leaned in just slightly, refusing to break his gaze. "I need to learn more. I need to… cast spells. I need to practice."
His face darkened. I'd expected it. The word spells were poison in his world. His kingdom hunted witches like animals and here I was, asking him to let me become one. "Magic is dangerous, Lily," he said, voice tight.
"So is dying, Elis." I tilted my head. "And you're running out of time."
His jaw flexed. A flicker of pain crossed his face and he didn't deny it. He didn't have to. I'd seen the toll the curse was taking. His body was weakening. His sleep was restless. His wolf…his spirit…was fading, trapped in a slow, silent death.
"Your curse was a result of a powerful spell," I went on, watching his reaction carefully. "A dark spell, done by a wicked sorcerer. It will take another spell, just as powerful, to undo it."
He swallowed. "And who can do that?"
I lowered my voice to a whisper. "A grand witch."
The air around us shifted. Heavy. And charged.
Elis frowned. "And where do we find one?"
I took a breath that shook a little on the exhale. "I have to become one."
His eyes widened, and for a moment, I saw fear. Not for himself. For me. "Lily…"
"A spell against a spell," I said before he could stop me. "The sorcerer who cursed your bloodline never saw me coming. A witch, born under the full glow of the moon, on the very day I was born… I'm the only one who can undo it. Don't you see? This isn't random. Fate brought us together."
He ran a hand through his hair, pacing a step. "So what do you need?"
"Time. Training. And safety," I said, every word laced with urgency. "I can't learn if I'm hunted. And I can't help you if I'm hiding."
His throat worked hard as he swallowed. "I will do whatever it takes."
I nodded. "Then keep me safe, Elis. Let me learn without fear. Because if I don't…" I didn't finish. I didn't have to. He knew. We both did.
He stepped closer, his voice a low vow. "You have my word. No one will touch you, Lily. If they try… I will burn this kingdom to the ground before I let them."
Our eyes locked, and something passed between us. Not just understanding. Something deeper. Dangerous. And Binding.
"Then let's begin," I said.
***
Sara knelt beside me, in my chamber, her voice barely above a whisper, eyes wide with urgency as she recounted what she had seen in Zeena's chambers.
"Zeena was brushing her hair, Lily," Sara began. "I was watching her discretely from the chamber next to hers. She was sitting before her vanity like she was royalty already. The candles made her look softer, but her smile, there was nothing soft about it. It was smug… almost triumphant."
I said nothing, only nodded for her to continue. My pulse thudded in my ears.
"Maris, her maid, was standing behind her, just waiting like usual. Zeena asked if she'd heard about the new anti-magic laws." Sara paused, looking at me carefully. "She was delighted, Lily. Like the decree had been a gift wrapped just for her." I clenched my fists.
"She said the kingdom was finally being purged of 'unnatural creatures.' Her words. And then…" Sara hesitated. "Then she mentioned you."
I swallowed. "Go on."
"She told Maris that if you so much as whispered a spell, you'd be caught. That the law would come for you too. And she wasn't just guessing, she said she knows you're hiding something. The way you move… the way the king looks at you."
My breath caught. She's really delusional. Sara pressed on. "She said she'll be there the moment you slip… and she'll make sure you never recover from it. Then she whispered; she can't wait for you to be exposed." My heart twisted, a mix of fear and fire. "She picked up a ring next, playing with it, and told Maris she would help her watch you. That every move, every word, everything you do must be reported. She made a threat, Lily. She told Maris to obey… or face the consequences."
I stared at the candle flickering on my table, my mind racing. "And Maris?"
Sara shrugged faintly. "Terrified, but she agreed. She left quickly. Zeena watched herself in the mirror after. Smiling. Smiling like your end was already written."
A cold silence fell between us. I took a slow breath, steadying my thoughts. So Zeena wanted a downfall. She would have to watch closely… because it would not be mine.