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Before Killian completely grabbed the stranger's outstretched hand, his fingers jerked. Cold as death, a shudder went down his spine as soon as their hands touched. The figure's hold was hard and unforgiving, but oddly cold.

With her knife still in her grasp and her body as stiff as a bowstring, Thalia observed. Her gut told her that this newcomer was hazardous, an unidentified factor in a conflict she believed to be resolved.

Ryker's amber eyes grew gloomy. He demanded, "Who are you?" in a steady but somewhat menacing voice.

The cloaked figure gave a subtle, almost amused inclination to their head. Their voice was calm and smooth as they pondered, "Names are such fickle things." "But if you have to give me a name, let's say Elias."

Killian swallowed forcefully, his eyes darting between Thalia and Elias. His breathing was erratic, as though he was only now becoming aware of the consequences of his own decisions. He rasped, "What do you want from me?"

Elias's mouth twisted into a sort of smile. "Killian, what do you want?"

Quiet.

Killian hesitated for the first time since the end of the war. Anger, desperation, and a feeling that was perilously close to regret were all mixed together in his mind. But everything inside him twisted horribly when his eyes finally met Thalia's.

She had changed. Not only in her demeanor, but also in the steely calmness of her eyes and the way she gazed at him. As if he were nothing. As if he had never been more than a negative recollection she had already let go of.

He approached her slowly. Thalia, he whispered.

She remained motionless as Ryker stiffened next to her. didn't even flinch.

Killian had a bob in his throat. "You—" His voice was filled with irritation as he let out a harsh exhale. "Are you truly going to abandon me here? such as this?

Thalia's expression was unreadable as she cocked her head. "Killian, you made your decision."

He balled his hands into fists. "I made mistakes," he said quietly. However, it was Astrid who poisoned you. It was Orion who desired your death.

Thalia's face remained fixed. "And you? Killian, what were you doing?

He opened his mouth, but said nothing.

She moved forward, reducing the distance between them to just a few inches. Something unsaid, something irreparably damaged, cracked in the air between them.

"You allowed it to occur," she said. "You allowed them to ruin me. You did nothing but watch while I suffered the consequences of your errors.

Killian's face was pale behind the blood and dust, and his breathing was labored now. "I was mistaken."

Thalia looked at him silently for a long time.

Then—

"I'm not interested."

The final remarks were gentle.

Killian winced.

Unevenly, his chest rose and sank. His words broke beneath the weight of everything that had already been lost as he said, "I loved you."

Thalia's mouth moved in a way that resembled laughter. "You cherished being my owner."

Something wild and urgent burned in his eyes. "I was a kid—"

"And your mate was me." Her speech was like a dagger, piercing through his justifications. "And you threw me out like I didn't exist."

Killian's hands were shaking at his sides as he shook his head. "Please, Thalia. I—

"Avoid it." She spoke in a steady, composed tone. However, it lacked warmth. Without hesitation.

Killian's breathing became labored.

He had been the one in charge for years. She had been the one left in need for years, the one who had to bear the consequences of his decisions.

Now, though?

It was he who was drowning now.

He twitched his fingers as though he wanted to grab her, to grasp something, anything, but nothing remained.

She had already left.

He let forth a hollow, sad laugh. "So that's it?" He spoke in a harsh, raspy voice. "You prevail. You receive what you deserve. You simply leave like that?

Thalia let out a slow breath. "Killian, you don't understand."

His eyes remained fixed on hers.

"I no longer need retribution."

And the thing that broke him the most was that.

He had anticipated her anger, anticipated her wrath. He had reasoned that if she detested him enough, there could still be some hope for their relationship.

She wasn't upset, though.

She was nothing.

Before he could stop himself, he reached for her, his fingers grazing her wrist—

A roar sliced through the atmosphere.

Ryker's hand jerked out and seized Killian's wrist, causing it to bruise. A barely contained rage blazed in his golden eyes. "You keep your hands off her."

Killian stopped.

Thalia remained motionless and unresponsive. She just gave Ryker a quick glance, her face unreadable. "Give him up."

Ryker's jaw clenched, but he gave Killian's wrist a sharp shove to loosen it after a beat.

Breathing unevenly, Killian stumbled back a step.

Thalia continued to observe him. She then turned and left after giving Elias one more look and glancing at the weird, unknown figure that now loomed by Killian's side.

She didn't turn around this time.

Despite the pain in his chest, Killian made himself straighten up straight. His voice seemed empty as he turned to Elias. "What brings you here?"

With a slight smile, Elias's hood moved slightly to show off their piercing, cunning eyes. "Because I see potential where others see ruin, Killian," they whispered.

Killian's stomach twisted uneasily as he swallowed hard. "What if I say no?"

Elias laughed quietly. "Oh, you won't."

Their faces were obscured by a shadow. "Because I am needed by you."

Killian felt a tingle run down his spine as a chilly wind ruffled the deserted courtyard.

He felt completely helpless for the first time in his life.

What about Elias?

Elias grinned.

\---

The air was pierced by a long, eerie, and faraway wail.

With her blood freezing, Thalia stopped in the middle of her stride.

Ryker's visage sharpened as his eyes darted toward the sound's origin.

It wasn't a triumphant yell.

It served as a warning.

And the palace was the source of it.

Thalia's heartbeat accelerated.

There was a problem.