(Amaia)

Getting up from Saiph’s lap, I approach Alnilam’s glass shelves and grab the black book case with those horrendous dolls inside. Flipping it open, I approach Saiph and show him.

Horrors are openly displayed on his face as he inspects each of them.

"We were all cursed by the queen?" He asks, his stunned eyes finding me.

Slowly, I nod. "Yes, and it seems like you still are."

I let my magic surge forward into my fingertips, a fire burst forward, brightening my fingers turning them into burning candles.

I shove my fiery fingers into these hideous dolls, setting them on fire. "Burn and set my mates free." My voice comes out demanding and authoritative. I have observed every time my mates are involved, my voice changes, taking on this brusque tone.

They instantly catch fire. The black smoke and nose-burning stench they release. My body shakes from the rage embroiling inside me.

I am not going to let her control my mates or me.

A surge of memories must have hit Saiph. Vacantly, he stares at the burning remains of the dolls, but he appears to be somewhere else. The emotions he had openly displayed a few minutes ago, are hidden once again.

"Saiph!" I slowly call him out.

His dazed eyes slowly lift and find me. "I remember now." Endless pain and deep-buried emotions, I witness.

Dumping the box on the table, I grab Saiph’s face. "Talk to me. What do you remember?"

But he grabs my waist, burying his face into my belly, hiding away. The trauma, the torment, the memories must be creating chaos in his mind and heart.

The regrets and immense despair fill the bond between us. It is already trembling from the unleashed havoc of the revelations.

Saiph doesn’t speak, doesn’t share unlike others. He suffers alone. I ask him but I do not push. He will open up, once the shock of what has happened and who he truly is has settled for him.

Saiph is burying the pain like he has been trained to do. Slowly, I need to bring him out of this habit, tell him he is safe to share with me.

Finally, he lifts his head a notch, letting my fingers remain in his silky hair. His eyes peek at me through the thick lashes.

"You deserve the truth Amaia. Even though I wanted to tell you before, I couldn’t."

My thumbs rest on his temples.

"Tell me now."

"In the beginning, I was afraid that you would think poorly of me. But it wasn’t my choice...Bellatrix is obsessed with me. Every time I visited Istrale with the Queen, I was forced to...I didn’t want to."

Oh, Saiph...my heart shatters like a mirror being smashed with a hammer. That vile woman has hurt all of my mates. Saiph and Rigel, the most. I want to remove her head from her neck for hurting them and taking away their innocence.

"I am sorry, Saiph. I didn’t know and I judged you. Let jealousy taint my heart and abandon you when you needed me the most. Forgive me." Guilt rushes down the bond and his arms tighten against me.

"No, it’s not your fault. I wish to be only yours now."

"You are mine and we will not let anyone come between us. And that Bellatrix, I will handle her." Bending down I place a tender kiss on Saiph’s forehead, letting him know that I mean what I say.

No more misunderstandings. I should have trusted my gut and known that Saiph would never sleep with such a woman.

Saiph doesn’t open up about anything else and I don’t have the heart to repeat about his mother. He already knows.

He only lets me go when the partition opens and twins walk in. Their combined scents are such a welcoming feeling.

"Alnitak!" Seeing him awake and walking brings a broken smile to my lips.

He stumbles forward and embraces me like a starved man.

"Amaia, I am sorry. Everything was revealed because of me," he regretfully says. His warm hands rub my back, his voice heavy with laments.

"It’s not your fault. It was that bloody witch."

I step back. "How are you feeling?"

"I am fine but I don’t know..." he shakes his head, his eyes slowly waver towards Saiph. "There are these new memories. I am not sure where they are coming from. They are destroying something inside me."

Alnitak is always open and shares the most but he always makes these happy moments, making us all laugh.

Not today, today he appears as broken as the rest of us.

"I understand." I hold his arms.

"I am going to let the three of you speak. There is a lot that needs to be unpacked. Saiph will tell you the details of what has come to light and explain these memories." My gaze wavers from one to the other. "I need to check up on my brother."

It’s time they catch up, recognise Saiph as their older brother and give him the respect he deserves.

"Your brother?" Saiph speaks out, his startled gaze focused on me.

"I will fill you in. Let Amaia visit him." Min then turns to Ali. "You also need to sit down." Min places a calm hand on Alnitak’s shoulder.

I offer my mates a smile. "I will be back soon. There is a lot we need to discuss once Alnilam and Rigel return. Don’t leave this place."

The restlessness that disrupts my heart doesn’t wish me to leave my mates but I have to check up on Aziel. Ensure he is safe and eating. No one can know of his presence.

Once the partition is securely closed, I hurry towards the infirmary. TJ stops me as soon as I enter and takes me to a side. The hardened features of his wrinkled face tell me it’s urgent.

"We won’t be able to hide Aziel here for long. The headmaster and sentinels are snooping. I had to hide him in the bathroom."

TJ is right. If they find him, I am sure he will be handed over to Istrale as per the treaty between Orion and Istrale.

"I need a safe place for him. Just a few days until we secure somewhere to shift him."

"I can always take him to my home. No one goes there much since Larissa and I spent all of our time here. He will be safe and no one will suspect," he offers. I don’t have any other options for now.

"Let’s do this. Please, keep my brother safe," I plead with TJ and he pats my shoulder.

"I will or I will die trying."