Chapter 2

“Don’t just open the door for anyone. You shouldn’t be letting strangers in, especially when your bloodline disorder hasn’t stabilized yet.”

The reprimand snapped me out of my thoughts.

Kane stepped out of the lounge, holding a thick coat in his arms. Without hesitation, he draped it over Serena’s shoulders, his movements gentle and natural.

Serena shrank her neck into the collar, a look of nervous panic flickering across her face.

Only then did Kane lift his gaze to me. The moment our eyes met, his brows furrowed.

“You’re just in time,” he said sharply. “Serena hasn’t taken her potion yet today. Go to the infirmary and bring her a vial.”

I took a deep breath. My fingernails dug into my palms.

I stared at him, confused.

He had never spoken to me like this before.

“There’s staff on duty for that. It’s not my job,” I replied flatly, turning to walk into the office.

My scroll was still inside. I had to retrieve it.

But Kane stepped in front of me, blocking my path.

His eyes turned cold. “What’s with that attitude? If you hadn’t provoked Serena with the necklace, she wouldn’t have had a relapse. I’m only asking you to fetch a potion. Is that really too much?”

“She took the necklace herself—and she’s the one who broke it!” My voice cracked as tears welled up in my eyes. “Is it not enough that you let her destroy the only thing my mother left me? Now you want me to serve her like a maid? Why should I?”

“Because you’re her sister. Because you’re the future Luna,” Kane said, his tone devoid of warmth. “It’s just a necklace. If it’s broken, I’ll buy you a better one.”

“What did you say?” I bit my lip hard, staring at him in disbelief.

He knew. He knew exactly what that necklace meant.

It wasn’t just my mother’s final blessing. It was the symbol of our bond—our promise.

Kane’s eyes flickered, as if he realized he’d gone too far. His lips parted slightly, about to speak.

But Serena rushed in before he could.

“Ilya, please don’t fight with Kane because of me,” she cried, her tears falling effortlessly. She grabbed my hand and pressed it to her face. “I know it’s my fault. If it’ll make you feel better, hit me. Do whatever you want!”

Pain shot through me as I gasped.

The wound on my hand, sliced open earlier during the struggle over the moonstone, tore again under her tight grip. Blood seeped out, warm and sticky.

I tried to pull my hand back, but Kane had already yanked me away.

The force caught me off guard. I staggered backward, slamming my lower back into the carved totem pillar at the doorway. A sharp pain surged through me, and I drew in a breath through clenched teeth.

“Kane... my face hurts,” Serena whimpered, covering her cheek. Her voice trembled with tears.

That one sentence was all it took.

Kane immediately cupped her face with both hands. Then he saw the streak of red on her cheek.

It was my blood—from my palm.

The pain in my back still throbbed, but my focus shifted to the wet warmth in my hand. I looked down and saw blood flowing steadily from the torn wound.

But Kane didn’t notice. Or perhaps he didn’t care.

He shot me a cold glare. “Ilya, this is too much. Serena is your sister. Why would you hurt her? Over a necklace?”

I stared at him, wide-eyed.

Was this really Kane? The boy who had grown up with me? The one who used to stay up all night gathering herbs when I got a tiny cut?

Why did he feel so unfamiliar now?

He wrapped an arm around Serena and led her back into the lounge.

I watched his retreating figure and let out a bitter laugh.

Once, even if a thorn scratched my finger, Kane would panic and rush to make me a healing salve.

But ever since Father brought Serena back to the pack, his eyes no longer saw my wounds.

I closed my stinging eyes and turned to leave, dragging my aching body with me.

As for the speech scroll—I wouldn’t be getting it today.