Chapter 41

Chapter 41
Chapter 41

Isabella led James a few paces away from the others, her voice low and even. The firelight cast long shadows across their faces as she knelt beside him. His shirt was still crumpled, half-buttoned from earlier, and his hands trembled slightly where they rested on his knees. His eyes, usually steady and clear, were clouded now, dull with confusion and the remnants of whatever still lingered in his system.

“James,” she said softly, “I need to know what happened between you and Aurora. No one else. Just you and me.”

James winced, pressing the heels of his palms into his forehead as if trying to squeeze the memory from his skull. “I... I don’t know,” he muttered. “I remember sitting by the fire. She offered me a drink—some kind of berry wine. I took a sip. After that, it’s all a blur.”

Isabella didn’t interrupt. She watched him carefully, her eyes searching for signs of truth, of hesitation, of anything that might help her make sense of the story forming around them.

“When I woke up…” James swallowed, his voice hoarse. “I was on the ground. Naked. Nova was shouting. I didn’t even understand why. I still don’t. I don’t remember doing anything. I swear, Isabella, I don’t remember.”

She nodded slowly, processing his words, her face unreadable. There was no rage in her expression, no judgment. Only the deep, quiet focus of someone trying to see the picture behind the pieces.

When he said no more, Isabella stood and turned to where Aurora stood under the tree, her arms wrapped around herself. Her golden hair fell across her shoulders in soft waves, her eyes shimmering with tears that clung to the edges of her lashes. She looked up as Isabella approached.

“I want to hear from you now,” Isabella said, her voice neutral. “All of it. From the beginning.”

Aurora sniffled and wiped her cheek. “I couldn’t sleep,” she began, her voice small. “I went outside to get some air. I saw James sitting alone near the fire, so I walked over. We just talked for a while. Just... small things. I didn’t mean anything by it.”

She paused, glancing toward the fire. Her shoulders slumped slightly. “I offered him some wine. Just a taste. It’s a blend I made from mountain berries. It’s strong, yes, but it’s not dangerous. I’ve drunk it before.”

Isabella watched her closely, saying nothing.

“After a few sips, he started acting... strange,” Aurora continued, her voice cracking. “His eyes changed. He wasn’t making sense. Then he—he grabbed me, said things I didn’t understand. I tried to push him away, but he kept coming closer. I didn’t know what to do.”

She buried her face in her hands for a moment before looking up again. “I didn’t want any of this. I just wanted to breathe, to be alone for a while. I didn’t know he’d react like that.”

Isabella took a slow breath and reached for the wine flask lying near the base of the tree where Aurora had left it earlier. She uncorked it, lifted it to her nose, and took a cautious sniff. The scent was sweet, thick with the fragrance of berries and herbs. It didn’t smell unusual—no sourness, no trace of anything bitter or chemical.

She tilted it and let a few drops fall on her tongue. The taste was strong and heavy, but not unpleasant. A bit heady, yes, but there was no sharpness, nothing that suggested poison or tampering. The warmth spread through her chest as she swallowed, just a hint of dizziness, but it passed quickly.

Isabella held the flask in her hand, her thumb brushing over the smooth metal. Her eyes lifted to Aurora’s, steady and unreadable.

“It’s strong,” she said evenly. “But not drugged. Not enchanted.”

Aurora blinked. “I... I didn’t say it was.”

“No, but I needed to be sure.”

She handed the flask back and turned her head slightly, glancing toward James in the distance. He sat slumped over still, rubbing his temple, the confusion etched deep into the lines of his face.

Isabella folded her arms and regarded Aurora for a long moment. There was no accusation in her posture, no sudden movement. Just a thoughtful silence. The night wind stirred the grass around them, carrying the faint crackle of the dying fire.

Aurora shifted under her gaze. “You believe me, don’t you?” she asked, her voice tentative.

Isabella didn’t answer immediately. Her gaze lingered on the flask one more time, then slowly returned to Aurora’s face.

The fire had burned low, its flickering light barely warming the quiet clearing. The tension still hung in the air, thick and uneasy. James sat beside Isabella, eyes on the ground, while Aurora kept to herself, silent and distant.

No clear truth had come from the night. What happened between James and Aurora remained uncertain, clouded by hazy memories and quiet accusations. Isabella had tasted the wine—strong, but not enchanted. Nothing proved deliberate harm. Still, something had gone wrong.

At last, Isabella stood and brushed her hands together, her expression calm but firm.

“We may never know exactly what happened,” she said. “But I’ve made my judgment.”

James looked up, his face tight with guilt.

“I believe the wine clouded your senses more than you expected,” Isabella continued. “You’ve been under pressure. Maybe your guard slipped. That doesn’t make it right—but I don’t believe it was intentional.”

James gave a slow nod, shoulders heavy. “I understand.”

“Stay away from Aurora,” she added. “At least until things are clearer.”

James nodded again. “I will.”

With that, he rose and crossed the clearing toward Nova. She hadn’t spoken since their earlier argument, her back turned, arms folded tight.

“Nova,” James said quietly. “Can we talk?”

She turned slowly, her eyes full of pain. “Talk?” she repeated. “After everything?”

James swallowed. “I don’t remember what happened. But I’m sorry. I never meant to hurt you.”

Nova stood, her voice cold. “You don’t remember? That’s your excuse?”

James didn’t answer. Her words hit hard.

“You let it happen,” Nova said. “Intentional or not, you broke something. You broke us.”

He opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came.

“I can’
t forgive you,” Nova said. “Not now. Maybe not ever.” She turned and walked away.