All the color drained from Eloise’s face as she stared at her grandson, her hands tightening around her staff.

"You don’t mean that..."

Rodrigo blinked, and then a short scoff left his throat. "If they planned to take the Alpha’s seat, they should have been ready to fight." He paused, a smile stretching the corner of his lips. "But of course, I would give them a chance to take back their words."

Eloise’s grip tightened around her staff before she turned back to the girl on the bed.

"The Luna coronation will be held in two days. Invites will be sent out today. Everyone must know that my grandson is not cursed." She smiled as she turned towards the doors, her hand settling on the handle before she paused and glanced back at Rodrigo. "You should get some sleep. You look like death."

Rodrigo blinked once, his eyes drifting to his reflection in the mirror beside him. His face looked sharper than he remembered, his eyes sunken, his hair disheveled. He dragged his fingers through it slowly.

He hadn’t slept in days.

His gaze flickered back to the girl on the bed before he turned away, walked to the table, and sat down, letting his eyes close.

Nina’s eyes opened slowly. The ceiling above her was unfamiliar, carved with intricate detail, and she blinked up at it.

She drew in a breath and pushed herself upright. She lifted her hands, turning them over, then curled her fingers into fists before releasing them again.

How had she reincarnated?

Gordon’s men would have not have let her go alive, so who performed the reincarnation ritual?

Wind blew into the room, and Nina’s gaze shifted toward the study table and settled on him — his head resting against his arm, dark hair fallen across his face as he slept. Nina tilted her head, watching him before the movement of the curtains caught her attention.

Cold air drifted through the open window, stirring the papers on his desk until they slipped loose and scattered across the floor. Her brows drew together.

She raised her hand toward the window, casting a spell.

Nothing happened.

She frowned and tried again, slower, her focus sharpening.

Still nothing.

Nina straightened, looking at her hands. What was happening?

She stared at the curtains, summoning all the powers within her, but curtains continued to sway, the wind slipping through the room, stronger now.

Nina stared at her hand, her fingers curling slowly into her palm.

No...

She was... powerless?

Her eyes widened with dread.

How could she, the strongest witch alive be powerless?

No no this was not happening. She shut her eyes tightly as she tried to remember anything.

The vision at the abandoned house made sense now...

The Vothraki.

Her eyes whipped to Rodrigo. He had it.

She could use the Vothraki to regain her powers.

She stepped down from the bed and crossed the room, her steps quiet against the wood.

Stopping beside the table, she let her gaze settle on his face, the tension in it almost gone in sleep. She leaned closer, studying his features.

She needed to get him to trust her enough to tell her where it was.

Nina tilted her head to the other side, still watching him.

There was only one way to get a man to trust you.

She smiled.

The wind shifted again. His brows tensed faintly.

She straightened and walked to the window, pulling it shut. The latch clicked and he stirred, and when she turned his eyes were already on her. Nina stood still, her hand still on the latch.

"What are you doing?"

Nina held his gaze as her eyes filled slowly, her voice coming out small. "The wind was cold." She hesitated slightly. "You looked troubled in your sleep."

His eyes moved to the window then back to her, his shoulders dropping a little as he stood. "You shouldn’t be standing. Go back to bed."

Nina shook her head. "I’m fine." She paused. "It didn’t—" she swallowed lightly, "it couldn’t hurt me."

His frown returned. "What are you talking about?"

Nina looked down briefly then back up. "The creature. It killed them," she said, quieter. "The guards." Her voice faltered slightly. "I tried to get out, I was knocking and calling but no one came and then it—" She stopped, her breath catching. "It held me," she continued, her hand rising to her throat. "And then a guard struck it from behind and it let me go." Her fingers curled. "They fought, and the guard killed it."

Rodrigo didn’t interrupt. His eyes moved to her neck — the skin was clear, not a single mark on it. His gaze lingered a moment longer, a faint crease forming between his brows before lifting back to her face.

"It turned into this black dust." She pointed at her dress.

Nina stared at him, waiting. His gaze held hers, his expression giving nothing away.

"Sit down," he ordered.

Nina moved to the bed and sat. He turned, picking up the medicine from the side table and bringing it to her. She reached for the bowl but her grip was unsteady, the liquid tilting toward the rim. Rodrigo caught it before it spilled, their fingers brushing slightly.

Nina let go immediately. "Sorry. My hands are still weak."

He watched her for a second, then pulled the chair closer and sat, his focus settling on the bowl rather than her face as he lifted the spoon to her lips.

Nina watched him, then she leaned forward and took it.

He continued to feed her quietly, not looking at her.

Nina’s hands clenched the side of her dress, his silence stretched longer than it should.

He brought the spoon to her lips again. She chuckled.

Rodrigo paused, his gaze lifting to hers, "What is it?"

Nina searched his eyes.

"Nothing," she said. "It’s just... the second time you’re feeding me."

He blinked, his eyes dropping to the spoon before coming back to her. "You seem to have the strength to talk." He brought the spoon back to her lips without warning, and Nina coughed as she swallowed, a little spilling down her chin. She wiped it away with the back of her hand.

A knock came at the door just then.

Rodrigo didn’t look up. "Come in."

The door creaked open and a guard stepped inside, head bowed. "A new room has been prepared for the Luna, Alpha."

Nina’s attention shifted. Her hand moved before she could stop it, fingers closing around his sleeve. Rodrigo went still, his gaze dropping to where she touched him.

She loosened her grip and drew it back slowly. "I’m scared," her voice dropping low as her eyes lifted to his.

"It’s over," Rodrigo said, looking at her. "The creature was killed. It can’t hurt you again."

"What if it comes back?" Her voice tightened. "What if there’s another one?"

"I’ll station guards outside—"

"No." Nina cut in quickly, and he stilled as a long second passed between them, her eyes on his. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

Rodrigo didn’t answer immediately. His gaze stayed on her, unreadable.

Then—

"Where do you want to stay?"

Nina didn’t look away. "I want to stay here," she said, sucking her lips in as she held his gaze. "With you."