Chosen

Venus sighed, rubbing his temples as if this conversation was giving him a headache.

I wasn't surprised—he had never liked being backed into a corner, and I had just shoved him straight into one.

But I didn't care.

He had bound Sylvie's mana. He had stripped her of the power that had once made her strong.

And now, he was going to fix it.

It didn't matter if he hesitated.

It didn't matter if he regretted it.

He was going to undo it.

And I wasn't leaving until he did.

His voice finally broke the silence. "This isn't just a simple trick, Noah. The seal was placed with high magic—undoing it requires more than just a snap of my fingers."

I didn't blink. "Then get started."

Venus glanced at Sylvie, but she wasn't looking at him.

She was looking at me.

Her black eyes, always sharp, always filled with a fire that could burn through the strongest steel, were clouded with worry.

I hated it.