[Bonus chapter]

AUBREY AUDIBLY HEARS CONNOR PANT. "It's not her. The longer the missing piece stays alive. If you find a way  to take it out of her, she can be freed."

Another hand slams against the table and Aubrey can tell it's Zondani. "It cannot be taken out of her, you know this!"

Aubrey hears Connor sigh next.

"I am trying to protect you and you're blindly going against me. You still haven't changed huh? You still act on your feelings without thinking properly." Zondani scoffs. "Do you know what humans are? Do you know what mortals can do? Do you know how they reason? You should know how corrupt and selfish they are especially after that human stumbled upon our village, even Kai could not fight him off."

"Aubrey isn't anything like that."

"Yes, you're right, she isn't. She is worse."

Aubrey chokes on air, feeling overwhelmed by Zondani's words.