Elle POV
I didn’t know how long Blake had been gone.
Minutes.
Hours.
Time in the fortress felt like a living thing—stretching, shrinking, twisting around my nerves.
I sat as still as I could, listening for anything. My hands were still bound to the collar, but I kept my shoulders relaxed, pretending to be calm.
The footsteps outside weren’t Blake’s.
Jason.
He whispered to someone—another guard, or maybe to himself.
“…the prince is losing control. His eyes nearly shifted fully last time. If he can’t manage the curse soon…”
The other voice was low, tense.
“…he’ll tear the girl apart without meaning to.”
My breath snagged.
Tear.
Apart.
Jason hissed, “Quiet. If he hears you—”
Footsteps.
A slam.
Voices cut off.
I froze, barely breathing.
Tear apart.
Lose control.
Was that
