The clearing felt like a battlefield waiting for the first sword to swing.
The heavy silence between them tightened around Elaina's chest until she could hardly breathe.
Valen took another step forward, his movements deliberate, almost predatory. His golden eyes shimmered in the dim light, locking onto her with such intensity that Elaina forgot for a moment that anyone else was even there.
"You think you know what's best for you," Valen said, his voice low, dangerous. "But you don't. He doesn't,"—he nodded toward Lucien with a sneer—"and neither does your charming little jester over there."
Kade, who had been inching closer to Elaina's side, let out a soft scoff. "Charming and little? I'm honestly a little offended. I'm taller than you, buddy."
Lucien shot him a warning glance, but even Elaina had to bite the inside of her cheek to keep from smiling.
The momentary humor cracked through the suffocating tension, giving her enough clarity to focus.
"No," Elaina said, louder than she intended.
Valen froze.
"I don't know everything yet," she continued, voice shaking, "but I do know one thing—I won't be forced into anything. Not by you. Not by anyone."
Her words hung in the air like a spell, vibrating with finality.
For a moment, something shifted in Valen's eyes—hurt, so raw it almost broke her resolve. But just as quickly, the mask slammed back into place.
His mouth curled into a bitter smile. "You think you're choosing freedom, Elaina? You're choosing a cage. A prettier one, maybe, but a cage all the same."
Lucien stepped forward now, his expression hard as steel. "Enough. You've said your piece. Now leave before this ends badly."
Valen chuckled, but there was no humor in it. "You think you can protect her from me? You couldn't even protect her from herself."
The accusation hit harder than any physical blow. Elaina felt herself sway slightly, but Lucien reached out and caught her wrist, steadying her without a word.
Valen's eyes softened for just a heartbeat as he watched the small gesture.
"You'll come to understand, Elaina," he murmured. "Maybe not today. But soon."
And then, like a shadow dissolving into the night, he turned and disappeared into the trees, leaving only the echo of his presence behind.
They stood in the silence that followed, the three of them (They have sent Daisy back to the mansion )breathing hard as if they had physically fought a war.
"You okay?" Kade asked gently.
Elaina nodded, but it was a lie.
She felt shattered inside—cracks forming where certainty used to live.
Lucien was staring after the direction Valen had gone, his jaw tight.
"He won't give up," he said quietly. "This was just the beginning."
Elaina wrapped her arms around herself, feeling cold despite the humidity of the forest.
"I know," she whispered.
And she hated how much a part of her didn't want Valen to give up.
Because if he gave up... it would mean he didn't care.
And right now, even twisted, dangerous love was still love.
Kade suddenly flopped down onto a fallen tree trunk, groaning dramatically. "Okay, now that the tragic love triangle has taken a break, can someone please explain why every powerful magical idiot wants to kill us or marry us? Like, are we cursed? Should I be worried?"
Lucien barked a short, surprised laugh, and even Elaina smiled through the overwhelming weight in her chest.
"Maybe," she said, wiping at her eyes quickly. "But if we are cursed, at least we're cursed together."
"Wow," Kade said with a mock shiver. "That's so sweet I think I got a cavity."
Lucien snorted and reached out, ruffling Kade's hair roughly like he was a misbehaving child.
Kade yelped and ducked away, making Elaina laugh out loud—a sound she hadn't heard from herself in what felt like days.
For a few precious moments, it was enough.
Enough to make her believe they could still win.
Enough to make her believe she could still survive what was coming.
But deep down, a part of her knew:
The real battle hadn't even begun yet.
The forest grew darker as the sun began to sink behind the mountains, bleeding orange and purple into the sky.
Elaina walked silently between Lucien and Kade, her boots crunching against the fallen leaves, but her mind was miles away.
Every step felt heavier than the last.
Valen's words haunted her — You're choosing a prettier cage.
Was she really? Or was she finally starting to carve her own path?
She didn't know anymore.
Kade whistled a soft, off-key tune beside her, breaking the silence before it could grow too suffocating.
When Elaina glanced at him, he grinned. "What? Somebody has to provide the background music for our epic quest. Otherwise, it's just sad people walking dramatically through trees."
Despite herself, Elaina chuckled, nudging his shoulder lightly.
Lucien, ever the serious one, merely shook his head. "Stay alert. We're close."
Elaina stiffened.
"Close to what?" she asked.
Lucien's eyes flickered toward her, unreadable.
"Your memories," he said simply. "And the truth."
A shiver ran down her spine.
---
Soon, they arrived at a small clearing where the ruins of an ancient stone temple stood, half-swallowed by vines and time.
It was beautiful in a tragic sort of way — crumbling pillars, faded carvings, the skeleton of something that had once been mighty.
"This place…" Elaina whispered, her heart thudding painfully in her chest. "I've been here before."
She didn't know how she knew. She just knew.
Lucien nodded grimly. "This temple was once sacred to your bloodline. Before the world forgot."
Before she forgot.
Her fingers itched to touch the stones, to breathe in the memories hidden within them.
Without thinking, she stepped forward — but the moment her foot crossed the threshold, the air shimmered and rippled, like the surface of a disturbed lake.
Suddenly, ghostly figures appeared around her, translucent and glowing, whispering in a language she didn't understand.
Kade yelped and jumped behind Lucien.
"Okay, nope! That's a big bucket of nope for me! I don't do ghost parties!"
Lucien shot him a flat look. "They're just echoes. They can't hurt you."
"Tell that to my blood pressure," Kade muttered.
Elaina barely heard them.
The whispers were growing louder, tugging at her mind, stirring fragments of forgotten dreams.
"Elaina," a woman's voice whispered — her voice — but older, colder, crueler.
"You betrayed us all."
Elaina staggered back, clutching her head as images flashed behind her eyes —
A crown of black thorns pressed onto her brow.
Blood staining marble floors.
Hands reaching out to her... pleading... and her turning away.
"No," she gasped, falling to her knees.
Lucien rushed forward, grabbing her shoulders. "Stay with me, Elaina! They're just memories — they can't control you!"
But it was too late.
The temple shimmered again — and this time, it wasn't a ghost she faced.
It was herself.
Or rather, a version of herself she didn't recognize.
Regal. Merciless. Beautiful and terrifying all at once.
"Look at what you were," the mirror-Elaina sneered. "And look at what you've become. A weak, lovesick fool."
Elaina's whole body trembled.
Tears blurred her vision, but she gritted her teeth.
"I'm not weak," she whispered. "Not anymore."
Mirror-Elaina tilted her head mockingly.
"We'll see."
With a final ripple, the vision disappeared, leaving only silence behind.
Lucien knelt in front of her, his hands cupping her face gently, grounding her.
"You're stronger than your past," he said firmly.
"You're stronger than her."
Kade, still hovering awkwardly nearby, cleared his throat.
"And if you ever start acting like Evil Queen Barbie again, don't worry — I'll smack some sense into you. Gently. Probably."
Elaina let out a strangled laugh between her tears.
God, she loved them both so much it hurt.
Wiping her face roughly, she pushed herself to her feet.
"No more running," she said hoarsely. "No more hiding."
Lucien smiled — small but proud.
Kade gave her an exaggerated thumbs-up.
The road ahead was going to be hell.
But for the first time in a long time, Elaina wasn't afraid of facing herself.