Page 75 of Monster's Pretty Bride

The war isn’t over.

It has justbegun.

34

ERYSS

The walls of the sanctuary feelsuffocating. Thick, impenetrable stone carved deep into the mountain, layered with magic to keep the outside worldout. I should feel safe here. I should feelgrateful.

Instead, I feeltrapped.

Catalina still hasn’t woken up. Her breathing is steady, her body still warm, but she doesn’tstir. It’s like she’s locked somewhere deep inside herself, tangled in invisible chains, and I can’t break them, feeling helpless.

I sit by her bedside, fingers trembling as I brush damp strands of hair from her forehead.

“She’s not waking up because she doesn’twantto.”

I snap my head up, heart pounding, and glare at thetoweringfigure in the doorway.

Naranus stands there, his figure towering and his golden eyes dark withknowing.

I rise to my feet, squaring my shoulders. “That’snottrue.”

He cocks his head. “Isn’t it?”

I shake my head, refusing to entertain hispessimism. “She was controlled, Naranus. Someonetookher mind and used her against us. She wouldn’t?—”

“It wasAmelia,” he interrupts, his voice cutting through the silence like a blade.

The words knocks me sideways.

Istareat him. “You don’t know that.”

His eyes narrow. “She’s the only one who had access to Catalina’s mind. The only one strong enough to wield magic like that without leaving a trace.”

I clench my fists, shaking my head. “No. No, that’snottrue. Amelia would never?—”

“She knew where to find us,” he pushes, stepping closer, towering over me like a storm ready tobreak. “She knew about the mission. She knewyouwere meant to die. What makes you think she wasn’tensuringit happened?”

Ilungeat him, shoving hard against his chest.

Hedoesn’t move.

“Shut up,” I breathe. “Justshut up.”

But he doesn’t. “You’re lying to yourself.”

Mychestcaves in. My throattightens.

Ican’tdo this.

Without another word, I turn on my heel andstormout of the chamber, his voice ringing in my skull.

It was Amelia.

No.No.

She was mysister. Myfamily. She wouldn’t.

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