Chapter 244 CHAPTER 244

Chapter 244 CHAPTER 244
Sebastian’s fingers tightened slightly around Helena’s hand, not enough to draw attention, but enough that he could feel the warmth, the reassurance that she was still there. His gaze shifted toward the entrance just before the air changed, a subtle shift that made his shoulders straighten.

Footsteps followed.

Seraphine stepped into the space, her presence filling the room without force, her eyes moving slowly across the faces in front of her until they settled on him.

Then on their hands.

She didn’t speak immediately.

Her gaze lingered there, her head tilting just slightly, like she was studying something that didn’t quite fit.

“What is this?” she asked finally, her voice calm, but edged with something sharper underneath.

Sebastian didn’t answer.

Helena didn’t pull away.

For a moment, nothing moved.

Then Seraphine took a step closer.

“I ask a question,” she said, her tone still even, “and I expect an answer.”

Sebastian released Helena’s hand slowly, his expression steady. “We were talking.”

Seraphine’s eyes lifted to his face. “Talking,” she repeated softly. “And that requires this?”

Helena’s voice came before Sebastian could respond. “He is helping me remain steady,” she said. “Or would you prefer your prisoners collapse before you can use them?”

Seraphine’s lips curved faintly, but the smile didn’t reach her eyes. “Careful,” she said. “You’re beginning to sound bold.”

Helena held her gaze. “I’ve been quiet long enough.”

A flicker of something passed through Seraphine’s expression, then disappeared.

Her attention shifted back to Sebastian.

“You,” she said, stepping closer, “have been far more… adaptable than I expected.”

Sebastian didn’t move.

“That can be useful,” she added. “Or inconvenient.”

A brief silence stretched.

Then she straightened slightly. “Come with me.”

Sebastian’s brows drew together just slightly. “Why?”

Seraphine’s gaze sharpened. “Because I said so.”

He didn’t step forward.

Ella moved before he could respond and stepped between them, her posture firm despite the tension in her shoulders. “He hasn’t done anything,” she said. “You don’t need to….”

The movement was quick.

Seraphine’s hand came forward, striking Ella across the stomach with a force that folded her instantly. The sound of it echoed briefly before silence rushed back in.

Ella’s breath left her in a sharp gasp as her body bent forward, her hands instinctively moving to her middle.

For a second, she leaned into Seraphine’s shoulder…

Then slid down, her knees hitting the ground before the rest of her followed.

Sebastian’s body tensed, his hands curling at his sides.

“Don’t,” Helena said quietly, her voice low enough that only he would hear.

Seraphine looked down at Ella, her expression unchanged. “You should learn when to stay out of things that do not concern you,” she said.

Ella’s breathing came uneven, her fingers pressing against the floor as she tried to steady herself.

Seraphine lifted her gaze again, her attention returning to Sebastian. “You see?” she said lightly. “This is what happens when boundaries are not understood.”

She turned, already moving toward the exit. “Come, both of you. Staying with the adults is making you two terrible guests.”

This time, Sebastian followed without resistance.

Behind them, Helena’s gaze stayed fixed, her hands curling slightly at her sides as they disappeared through the doorway.

The corridor outside stretched long and dim, lit by narrow openings that let in thin lines of light. The air felt cooler there, quieter in a way that carried distance instead of weight.

Seraphine walked ahead, her pace unhurried.

Sebastian followed a step behind, his gaze fixed forward.

Behind them, footsteps stumbled slightly.

Sebastian turned.

Ella.

She followed, one arm wrapped around her middle, her steps slower but steady.

Seraphine stopped walking.

Then turned fully.

For a moment, she simply looked at Ella.

Then her expression softened.

It was subtle.

But different.

“I had to make that believable,” she said quietly.

Ella lowered her arm slowly, her breathing still uneven, but her posture straightening.

“I know,” she replied.

Sebastian’s gaze flickered between them.

Something shifted.

Seraphine stepped closer to Ella, her voice dropping slightly. “You said you had something for me.”

Ella nodded once.

“I do.”

Sebastian’s brows drew together.

Seraphine’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Then speak.”

Ella glanced briefly at Sebastian.

Then back at Seraphine.

“They made contact,” she said.

The words landed softly.

But they carried weight.

Seraphine didn’t react immediately.

“Through him?” she asked.

Ella nodded. “Through the bond.”

Sebastian’s chest tightened.

Seraphine’s gaze flickered toward him, sharper now. “Interesting,” she murmured.

Sebastian’s mind raced.

The way Ella stood.

The way Seraphine listened.

The way this conversation moved without hesitation.

The realization settled slowly.

Then all at once.

Sebastian’s eyes fixed on her.

“You…” he started, his voice low.

Ella didn’t look at him.

Seraphine smiled faintly. “You’ve been very useful,” she said.

Sebastian stepped forward slightly. “You were working with….?” His hands were shaking as his gaze moved from Ella to Seraphine.

Ella’s jaw tightened just a fraction, but she still didn’t meet his gaze.

“I did what I had to,” she said.

Something in his chest shifted—tightened, then dropped.

Lisa…

The call barely formed in his mind before something snapped tight inside him.

Pain shot through his chest, sharp enough to force his breath to hitch.

He stopped walking for half a second, his hand pressing lightly against his side.

“Trying to use the bond again?” Seraphine asked without turning.

Sebastian straightened slowly. “What did you do?”

Seraphine glanced over her shoulder, her expression almost amused. “Adjusted the connection,” she said. “You won’t be reaching anyone without my permission.”

His jaw tightened.

He tried again.

Lisa—

Pain slammed into him harder this time.

His body jerked, his knees threatening to give out as the force coiled tighter around him.

“Stop,” Seraphine said calmly. “You’ll only hurt yourself.”

Sebastian forced himself upright, breathing heavier now.

Inside, Kael stirred.

Don’t push it, his wolf’s voice came, steady despite the strain. Not like this.

Sebastian clenched his jaw.

“They’re waiting,” Kael continued. Your father. The others. Hold yourself together until they get here.

Sebastian exhaled slowly, forcing the tension down.

Seraphine watched him for a moment, then turned away. “Take him,” she said.

Two guards stepped forward.

Sebastian didn’t resist this time.

He let them lead him further down the corridor, away from the others, away from the space he had just left.

The air changed as they moved deeper.

He felt it before he saw it.

The door to the dungeons opened.

And the smell hit first.

Stale.

Drained.

The guards pushed him inside.

He stumbled once, then caught himself.

Figures filled the room.

Boys.

Young.

Older.

All of them slumped against walls or lying where they had fallen, their breathing shallow, their bodies thin in a way that spoke of something being taken from them again and again.

Sebastian straightened slowly, his gaze moving across them.

One of them lifted his head weakly, his eyes unfocused before settling on him.

“Another one,” he murmured.

Sebastian didn’t respond.

The door closed behind him.