Justice for the baby they buried beneath lies and betrayal.
Ronan thought he could pretend Elior never lived. Thought he could rewrite reality by burying it under manipulated tests and selfish denial.
But I would drag that truth into daylight. And watch it burn him to the ground.
He took Elior from me.
Now I would take everything he valued.
Aldric’s eyes gleamed with a flicker of amusement as he studied me.
“You seem driven by a deeply personal vendetta,” he murmured. “But know this—once the deal is struck, there’s no undoing it.”
“I understand.”
His expression turned solemn. “And you’re ready to trade your life, your freedom—perhaps even your soul—for this?”
Without emotion, I nodded. “I’ve been dead inside for a long time.”
A dark chuckle escaped him.
“I don’t need your soul, Selene,” he said with a smirk. “But I will ask for something else.”
I tensed. “What do you mean?”
His stare darkened, his smile slow and unsettling.
“I can give you everything you asked for,” he replied, voice a quiet threat wrapped in charm. “But not life. That’s beyond any power I possess.” He leaned toward me, eyes gleaming. “As for what I want? Let’s say the stories about me don’t quite capture the whole picture.”
I swallowed hard. “Then tell me—what is it you want from me?”
His grin widened. “Are you offering yourself, Selene?”
I didn’t look away.
“If what you need is my body,” I said, voice unwavering, “then you may have it. Just tell me what the terms are… and I’ll accept them.”
