Chapter 6: Fire in Her Veins

Aurora had always believed that waiting was the most dangerous weapon of all. It could wear down the strongest resolve, fill the bravest heart with doubt. But not hers.

She sat cross-legged on the cold stone floor, sharpening her hidden blade with slow, deliberate strokes. The rhythmic sound kept her calm, even as the tension in the air grew thicker with every passing hour.

The iron door creaked open, and this time, she didn't bother to look up. "Back again, Elian? I'm flattered by the attention."

"It's not Elian."

Her head snapped up to find Zach standing in the doorway, his presence commanding and intimidating. He held a goblet in one hand, its contents gleaming red.

"I brought you something," he said, stepping into the room.

Aurora raised an eyebrow. "Poison?"

Zach smirked, setting the goblet on the small table beside her. "Water. You look like you could use it."

She didn't move. "If you think this act of kindness will make me forget where I am, you're sorely mistaken."

"I don't expect you to forget," Zach said, leaning casually against the wall. "But I do expect you to survive. For now."

"Lucky me," she muttered, but the dryness in her throat won out. She reached for the goblet cautiously, sniffing it before taking a sip.

Zach watched her, his expression unreadable. "You're not what I expected."

Aurora set the goblet down, her eyes narrowing. "And what did you expect? A trembling damsel begging for her life?"

"Something like that," he admitted. "But you're…different."

She scoffed. "Different doesn't mean weak."

"No," he said quietly, his gaze steady. "It doesn't."

Before she could respond, the door slammed open, and Elian stormed in, his eyes blazing.

"What is she still doing alive?" he demanded, glaring at Zach. "This is a mistake, and you know it."

"Stand down, Elian," Zach said, his voice cold.

"You're risking everything for what? A human?" Elian spat, his hand gripping the hilt of his sword. "She's a threat, Zach. She doesn't belong here."

"And yet, here she is," Zach said, stepping between Elian and Aurora. "You'd do well to remember who makes the decisions in this castle."

Elian's jaw tightened, but he didn't back down. "You're playing a dangerous game, brother. Don't expect me to save you when it all falls apart."

With that, he turned and stormed out, leaving a tense silence in his wake.

Aurora stared after him, her mind racing. Division among the brothers. That could be useful.

Zach turned back to her, his expression unreadable. "He won't touch you. Not while I'm here."

"I don't need your protection," she said sharply.

"Perhaps not," he said, his voice softer now. "But you have it anyway."

He left before she could respond, leaving her alone once again.

Prince Leo crouched beside the remnants of a campsite, his sharp eyes scanning the ground for clues.

"She was here," he said, his voice tight. "Not long ago."

Lady Pearl knelt beside him, her fingers brushing over the trampled grass. "The tracks lead north. Toward Darkhaven."

Leo's jaw tightened. "Then we're on the right path."

One of the hunters, a burly man named Callum, stepped forward. "If she's alive, they'll have her in the fortress. Getting in won't be easy."

"We'll find a way," Leo said firmly.

Pearl placed a hand on his shoulder, her expression grave. "Leo, we need to talk about what happens if we don't find her alive."

Leo's eyes blazed with defiance. "She's alive. I can feel it."

Pearl sighed but didn't argue. "Then we move quickly. Every moment we waste is a moment closer to her being out of reach."

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Elsewhere in Darkhaven

Kayla stood on the castle's upper balcony, her eyes fixed on the distant horizon. Her thoughts churned like a storm, jealousy and confusion battling for dominance.

She had been loyal to Zach for years, and yet he barely noticed her. Now this human girl—a hunter, no less—had captured his attention, and Kayla didn't understand why.

"Why her?" she whispered to herself.

As if summoned by her thoughts, Ryker appeared beside her. "You're brooding," he said, his tone light.

"I'm thinking," Kayla corrected.

"About Zach?" Ryker asked knowingly.

Kayla shot him a glare but didn't deny it. "She's a hunter, Ryker. A threat to all of us. And he's…protecting her."

Ryker shrugged. "Zach sees things differently. He always has."

"That doesn't make it right," Kayla said, her voice sharp. "If the council finds out—"

"They won't," Ryker interrupted. "Not if Zach has his way."

Kayla clenched her fists. "This could destroy him, Ryker. And I won't let that happen."

Ryker studied her for a moment, his expression unreadable. "Be careful, Kayla. Jealousy has a way of clouding judgment."

As he walked away, Kayla's resolve hardened. She would protect Zach, even if it meant dealing with Aurora herself.

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