Chapter 46 My Brother 2

Chapter 46 My Brother 2

"That's going to be a problem."
The understatement was so ridiculous that even Lena stared at Lyra.
The Ash Court leader looked genuinely annoyed.
Not surprised.
Not confused.
Annoyed.
Which immediately raised another question.
A very important one.
"You knew?"
The words came out sharper than Lena intended.
Lyra looked at her.
Then sighed.
Then looked away.
Which was answer enough.
The ruins erupted.
"You knew?" Orion snapped.
"You didn't tell us?" Seraphine's voice was colder than ice.
"You had one job." Jacob muttered.
Lyra pointed at him.
"You don't get a vote."
"I feel like I do."
"You absolutely don't."
"I got kidnapped."
"Fair."
Jacob folded his arms triumphantly.
"I win."
Nobody paid attention to him.
Everyone's focus remained on Lyra.
The Ash Court leader rubbed her temples.
Looking increasingly exhausted.
"You think I knew everything?"
"Did you know he was alive?" Orion demanded.
"Yes."
The answer came immediately.
The ruins exploded again.
Lena felt her pulse hammering.
Alive.
Her brother was alive.
Actually alive.
Not maybe.
Not possibly.
Alive.
The realization hit harder than expected.
Because until now he had been a memory.
A mystery.
A ghost.
Now he was real.
Somewhere.
Breathing.
Living.
Existing.
The thought made her chest tighten.
Then another realization followed.
If he was alive...
Why hadn't he come for her?
The question hurt more than she expected.
The creature wearing the student's body noticed immediately.
Of course it did.
"You finally thought of it."
Lena hated this thing.
Genuinely hated it.
"What?"
The smile widened.
"If he loves you so much..."
Its black eyes gleamed.
"Why didn't he find you first?"
Silence.
The words struck exactly where intended.
Lena felt it.
The doubt.
The uncertainty.
The hurt.
Then Caleb stepped forward.
"Enough."
His voice was dangerous.
The creature laughed.
"Oh?"
"You want me to stop talking?"
The smile widened further.
"What if she deserves answers?"
The mark on Lena's wrist burned.
Not painfully this time.
Almost like a warning.
The creature noticed.
Its expression shifted.
Just slightly.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Then Caelum spoke.
For the first time in several minutes.
"Where is he?"
The king's voice carried across the ruins.
Heavy.
Commanding.
The atmosphere immediately changed.
Because this wasn't a question.
It was a demand.
The creature looked at him.
Amused.
"You know I won't answer that."
Caelum took a step forward.
The ruins trembled.
"You've already said too much."
"I've barely started."
That got everyone's attention.
Even Seraphine.
The creature's smile became cruel.
"You all keep talking about the war."
Its gaze drifted around the clearing.
"The palace."
"The throne."
"The courts."
Then it looked directly at Lena.
"As though that's what matters."
A chill ran through her.
Because suddenly...
The creature looked serious.
Truly serious.
For the first time since speaking through the student.
"No."
It slowly shook its head.
"That isn't what destroyed everything."
Nobody moved.
Nobody interrupted.
The creature pointed at Lena.
Then at the shattered throne.
Then at Caelum.
"The kingdom didn't die because of ambition."
Its smile vanished.
"It died because of fear."
Silence.
Absolute silence.
The creature laughed softly.
"You still haven't told her."
Nobody answered.
Again.
The thing actually looked impressed.
"Remarkable."
Then it turned toward Lena.
And asked a question.
A simple question.
One that immediately made her uncomfortable.
"Have you noticed how everyone keeps talking about what you were?"
Lena frowned.
"What?"
"A princess."
It pointed toward Seraphine.
"An heir."
Toward Caelum.
"A symbol."
Toward the others.
"But nobody talks about what you can do."
The mark on her wrist exploded with light.
The reaction was immediate.
Seraphine moved.
Orion moved.
Caelum moved.
Every powerful being in the ruins reacted at once.
Like the creature had touched a live wire.
Lena noticed.
And so did the creature.
The smile returned.
"There it is."
Its voice softened.
"That's the secret."
A memory suddenly flashed through Lena's mind.
A room.
Dark.
Hidden.
Voices arguing.
Angry.
Fearful.
Desperate.
Not one voice.
Many.
Dozens.
The memory sharpened.
Someone slammed a hand against a table.
"She's too dangerous."
Another voice.
"She's a child."
"Not for long."
"There has to be another way."
"If she awakens fully, we're finished."
The memory shattered.
Lena gasped.
The ruins returned.
Everyone was staring at her.
Especially Caelum.
The king had gone pale.
Then she understood.
Not completely.
Just enough.
The memories weren't returning randomly anymore.
They were being triggered.
Connected.
Leading somewhere.
Toward something everyone was trying very hard not to discuss.
Then suddenly the student hosting the creature began shaking.
Violently.
The smile disappeared.
Its head jerked sharply.
The body convulsed.
The creature frowned.
"Ah."
Something was wrong.
The student screamed.
A horrible sound.
Painful.
Human.
The creature looked irritated.
"This body is failing."
The black eyes flickered.
For the first time all night, it looked annoyed.
Then it looked at Lena one last time.
And smiled.
A much smaller smile.
Almost sad.
"We'll meet soon."
The statement sent a chill through her.
Then it added:
"And next time..."
Its gaze lingered on her.
"Ask Caleb what happened the night you disappeared."
The ruins froze.
Every head turned toward Caleb.
Immediately.
Instantly.
The reaction was explosive.
Because Caleb looked like someone had just punched him.
The color drained from his face.
For the first time since Lena had met him...
He looked genuinely shaken.
The creature laughed.
Satisfied.
Victorious.
Then the student's body collapsed.
Like a puppet with its strings cut.
Silence.
The black eyes vanished.
The silver symbol disappeared.
And the ruins became still once more.
Nobody moved.
Nobody spoke.
Nobody looked away from Caleb.
Because suddenly...
The biggest mystery in the ruins wasn't Lena's brother.
Or the king.
Or the war.
It was Caleb.
And whatever happened the night Lena vanished.