Chapter 12
288 Words
Alina’s knees weakened as the truth hung between them like a blade.
“Rafe… is it true?”
Her voice trembled.
Rafe didn’t answer right away—his throat tightened, eyes avoiding hers.
Kael chuckled darkly.
“See? He won’t say it.”
“Shut up, Kael,” Rafe snapped, fists clenched.
“You failed her,” Kael said coldly.
“As you always do.”
Alina turned to Rafe.
“Rafe… tell me.”
Finally, he looked at her—eyes full of pain.
“It’s true,” he whispered.
“I couldn’t save you.”
Everything inside her twisted.
“How?” she asked. “What happened?”
Rafe inhaled shakily.
“You were escaping the Seekers. I was your guardian. I was supposed to protect you. But Kael—he interfered. I got distracted fighting him… I lost sight of you for a moment. And the Seekers…”
He swallowed hard.
“…they struck the fatal blow.”
“So she died because you weren’t watching,” Kael taunted.
Rafe glared at him.
“I tried. I fought until my last breath. I—”
“You failed,” Kael repeated sharply.
Alina stepped back, overwhelmed.
“So in my past life… I died because of both of you?”
Silence.
Her mark burned painfully.
Something inside her—some old sorrow or memory—stirred awake.
Kael’s expression softened for the first time.
“Alina… you died in my arms.”
Rafe’s jaw tightened.
“You held her only after she fell.”
Alina closed her eyes, breath shaking.
“I don’t remember any of it… but the pain feels familiar.”
The forest wind howled—like the past breathing down her neck.
- Writer
