Lucian’s POV
I lingered at the foot of her bed long after the physician had left. Elara lay still, her breathing even, the faint glow on her skin finally gone. The royal physician had promised to research her condition and return with answers, but his words still echoed in my mind. A witch. A fairy. Something ancient. Something powerful.
I turned to leave. My hand was on the door when a soft whimper broke the silence.
Elara thrashed suddenly, her head turning from side to side on the pillow. Her face twisted in fear. “No… please… don’t…”
Her voice cracked. She reached out blindly, fingers grasping at empty air.
I froze. The beast inside me stirred, not with rage but with an instinct I could not ignore. I crossed the room in three strides and sat on the edge of the bed. I took her hand
