Chapter 23
Kane's POV
I watched Victoria's arrogant behavior toward Ella, my displeasure simmering beneath forced restraint. This woman, emboldened by her military commander family's backing, was growing increasingly unbridled within the West Wing manor.
I followed Victoria down the corridor. Lady Stella awaited us in the front hall. Victoria stood respectfully at her side while I could only temporarily suppress the resentment churning inside me.
"My lady." I inclined my head slightly in greeting.
"Kane." Stella's voice was low and dangerous. "Keeping this Omega in the West Wing isn't so you can flirt with her at your convenience."
My body tensed instantly.
"It's to turn the fire elemental wolf spirit inside her," Stella continued, "into a secret weapon for our use."
Sealed within Ella was elemental power capable of changing the entire situation.
"I understand. I'll find a way to awaken that power within her."
"No." Stella shook her head, purple flames dancing in her palm. "I don't trust you."
The words struck like a slap across my face.
I lifted my head to meet those cold eyes beneath her mask.
"Your feelings for that Omega make me uncertain you'll truly sacrifice her for our cause." Stella's tone was merciless. "So I need insurance."
She clapped her hands. From the shadows of the chamber, a figure slowly emerged.
It was a woman, her entire form shrouded in a black cloak, face obscured. But the aura emanating from her triggered my instinctive wariness—it carried the cold, eerie essence of witchcraft.
"This is Uma," Stella introduced. "A shadow witch."
Uma stepped forward, her hoarse voice emerging from beneath the cloak: "The Thorn Chain can place a dark magic seal upon a wolf spirit. Once applied, that Omega's life and death will be in our hands."
My heart pounded violently. The Thorn Chain—I'd heard of this forbidden witchcraft. It planted a curse deep within the soul, allowing the caster to control the sealed one's life and death at will.
If Ella were subjected to such a seal...
"No." The words escaped before I could stop them. "It's too dangerous. What if it harms her—"
"Harms her?" Stella laughed coldly. "Kane, don't you understand? She's merely a tool. Tools should know their place."
"But if she dies, the fire elemental power will vanish too!" I tried reasoning with her.
"Which is why Uma will be very careful." Stella remained unmoved. "Besides, if you truly care about our cause, you shouldn't hesitate over one Omega."
"If... if you won't use it on her..." Stella's voice turned terrifyingly cold. "Then it goes on you!"
She waved her hand. Uma's shadow suddenly twisted and swelled, rising from the ground. Those shadows writhed like living things, coalescing into thick black thorns bristling with barbs.
The Thorn Chains coiled through the air before lunging straight at me.
The thorns wrapped around my arms. The instant those barbs pierced my skin, an icy agony shot straight to my soul. I could feel the thorns drilling toward my mental space, trying to reach Blaze.
I clenched my jaw, refusing to let any sound escape.
"Mother, don't—" Victoria stepped forward.
"Silence." Stella cut her off. "This is his choice. Either prove his loyalty or accept punishment."
More thorns surged forward, winding around my neck and chest.
Blaze roared frantically in my mental space, struggling to resist the invading shadows.
"I... agree." I forced the words through gritted teeth. "Use it on Ella."
Stella nodded with satisfaction.
The Thorn Chains slowly loosened, dissolving back into shadows that sank into the floor. I knelt on the ground, gasping for breath, my arms marked with rings of purple-black puncture wounds.
"Good." She turned to Uma. "Prepare the ritual."
"Wait." I struggled to my feet. "I need time. She's completely guarded against me right now. She won't cooperate willingly."
Stella considered for a moment. "You have one day. Tomorrow, at the altar, the ritual will be completed."
"I'll bring her there," I said.
---
As evening fell, I carried a bowl of fish soup to the servants' quarters door.
I took a deep breath and pushed it open. Ella sat on the edge of the bed, not looking up.
"Ella, I brought you some fish soup." I placed the bowl on the table. "I know that roasted fish was destroyed. So I had the kitchen make soup instead."
Ella stared at the bowl, her expression complex.
"The fish is gone, but having a bowl of fish soup isn't bad either." She laughed self-deprecatingly and took the bowl.
I watched as she brought the soup to her lips. She took a sip, then another.
"Ella, do you realize what you truly are?"
She set down the bowl, looking at me with confusion. "What do you mean?"
"Nothing... never mind."
She shook her head, her eyes full of bewilderment.
"I'm just a lovesick slave." She spoke softly, her voice heavy with self-mockery.
Those words cut into my heart like a blade.
"No." I grasped her hand. "Ella, I've always felt there must be some kind of fate between us. As if arranged by the Moon Goddess herself. If you had a wolf, if you awakened your wolf..." I paused. "Blaze would surely recognize its counterpart."
She smiled bitterly. "What's the point of saying these things now? You already have Victoria."
"That's not true love." The words burst out.
"But you married her." Ella's eyes began to glaze over. "For power, for revenge, you can sacrifice anyone. Including me, including our child..."
Her voice grew fainter, her eyelids heavier. The drug was taking effect.
"Ella!" I steadied her swaying body.
"Kane..." she murmured. "Why... why did we become like this..."
Then she lost consciousness.
I lifted her, feeling her weight, her warmth, her breathing.
"I'm sorry." I whispered, though I knew she couldn't hear. "Ella, I'm sorry."