(Saiph)

I had found myself helpless most of the time. Constantly, under her spell, abused and controlled.

But when she abused Amaia and her daughter raped me in front of my mate—thay broke something inside me. The will to live was taken from me.

She ordered me to kill my mate. A part of me was relieved knowing that I had taken an oath and I couldn’t hurt her. There is no coming back from hurting your mate, whom you love more than yourself.

Seeing her always brightened my gloomy world. It was the highlight of my day to meet her, be in her proximity, and tease her, sleep with her.

Never had I imagined the abusive life I spent, the shameful acts I was made to perform, observe and witness would have a light shining in it.

I was made to give her that potion. I was made to watch her get tortured. No matter how much I screamed and bled inside, I couldn’t move, I couldn’t get to her, or save her.

Amaia was my light until I was asked to extinguish it.

A man like me, wasn’t even worthy of her. She was better off with my brothers. With me gone, no one will be used against her.

But the horror I witnessed on her face when my head was severed from my body seeped into my soul and somehow it latched onto Rigel’s shadow. Her grief and screams didn’t let my soul leave.

That bond we shared coiled around my soul, tethering me to Rigel’s shadow.

But, I was stuck, between life and death.

That state of paralysis, unable to move. A light twinkled on one side, and an endless void waited on the other.

That’s when clarity came. I wished to live, spend a lifetime with her, apologising, rewriting my wrongs.

This couldn’t be the end of our story. There has to be more to it.

Simply, I didn’t wish to die just yet.

It finally ended when a force dragged me towards the light instead of the darkness.

And I breathed. My chest burned as my soul returned to my body. Another being seen to have been plunged into me and seemed to crawl inside my brain.

I am here, I am alive. I don’t deserve to be but I have always been selfish when it comes to Amaia. She brought me back, gave me a second chance and this time I won’t disappoint her.

Here, she is feeding me, wiping my face, holding a reassuring smile. But her hair is back to black, with hints of silver and red as they used to be when she had herself concealed. They are tied back in my handkerchief. She still keeps part of me with herself even after everything I did to her.

Atleast her injuries are healed.

Her eyes and ears tell me that her appearance is not concealed. That light she carries appears dim; instead, I sense darkness inside her.

"Is she dead? Tell me she is dead and didn’t hurt you further," I pleadingly ask.

A tenseness ripples through my brothers which I sense. Amaia shakes her head at me and I realise she hasn’t told them how that wretched woman abused her, using Alnilam’s hair.

"What did she do?" Rigel questions, his anger sitting on the tip of his nose.

"It’s not important now. I am healed and we have Saiph back. That’s all that matters," Amaia quickly says.

"It is important to us. There were so many bruises on you. Tell us what she did?" Alnitak demands from my side. His brows creasing in rage.

The horrors of being locked up in my body, made to watch her go through torture, hurt my soul. The helplessness I had experienced in those moments is something I never wish to live through again.

But my brothers need to know. They should know the extent of the depravity that woman possesses. So I tell them.

What she did to Amaia, what she did to me, what her daughter made me go through. How they made Amaia watch.

The pain both of us were made to experience.

This time I don’t hold back. The part of me that had been locked up has been set free and I won’t be shamed into silence.

Rigel curses loudly, hearing my words.

"That’s why I felt pain in my neck and body," he blazes, his crimson eyes like two burning coals.

The other three are too ashamed to speak. Alnitak appears on the verge of breaking down. Although it’s not their fault. You can’t choose your parents.

"I now understand why the streak of my hair hides amidst others and refuses to return to you. It’s ashamed," Alnilam painfully laments, placing his hand on Amaia’s shoulder.

"It returned to its original state?" Amaia asks, lifting her grieved eyes to stare at Alnilam’s hair and he nods.

"My powers removed her rot from everything, including the streak of your hair."

That would make sense. It must have been how the final curse on me was broken.

"You should rest a bit," she says with a small smile.

"No, I have rested enough. Tell me what I missed. What happened?" They all exchange looks. They think I am fragile, my state of mind might be broken.

It is to some extent but only they can heal me.

"We have some good news. If you are feeling up to it and ready?" Amaia smiles. My heart jumps up and down and I hear a whisper inside my head. But I can’t make out what the voice is trying to say. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

Something is awakening inside me.

"I am ready. I have rested enough."

With love, Amaia squeezes my hand.

"Your mother is here and she wishes to see you. Your father knows as well. Would you like to meet them?" She expectantly asks.

Mother? My real mother? I had grown up around Queen Adrnia but never knew she was my real mom. She was always kind to me.

How was she rescued?

How will it feel to meet her?

So many questions whirl in my mind as I nod my head at my brothers and mate.