Alright... let’s make this fun for all of us. 😌

Here’s how I’m rewarding you, my special readers, and the ink to my pen.

1. Hit a top ranking for a week straight → mass release of 3 Chapters.

2. Send a super gift → mass release of 5 Chapters.

Now for the real mischief, these are the rewards. Also, this is where the real chaos lies.

1. Top interactive reader in a week → gets a shoutout

2. One-time super gift → gets a Chapter dedicated to you.

3. Repeated super gifts → you start getting little spoilers + future hints.

4. Highest Golden Ticket sender of the month (20–30 range) → you get a permanent role in the book

Yes, an actual role. 😅🥹 Immortality secured.

Let’s build this story together 🤍

....

By the sixth day, the hate and fear of Aire grew more unrestrained. Aire didn’t go as far as her door anymore.

A lot changed in just six days.

Inside her chambers, time became something she only recognized by light changes through the window.

That afternoon, Marsali arrived. Her knock on the door, was soft.

Aire did not move.

She was lying on her bed, half turned away from the world. Her hair was loose across her pillow, with her eyes open but unfocused.

Marsali knocked again.

"Aire?" her small voice called.

Still nothing. Aire didn’t even shift.

Marsali pushed the door open carefully.

She stepped inside holding a small cloth doll in one hand. The other of her hand clenched the hem of her sleeve like she wasn’t fully sure she should be there.

Her eyes scanned the room, then landed on Aire.

"Oh..." Marsali whispered. She walked closer to Aire slowly. "Your Grace, I came to—"

Aire’s voice cut in flatly without soaring her a glance. "I don’t want company."

Marsali stopped walking immediately. The little girl frowned. She looked offended by Aire’s word sending her away.

She climbed onto the bed anyway.

"Your Grace," she said firmly, "you didn’t even look at me properly."

Aire sighed faintly, still not moving.

"Marsali..." the name left Aire’s lips tired and drained. "I said I don’t want company."

Marsali huffed. Wthout warning, she grabbed Aire’s arm and tugged.

"Sit up." She ordered softly.

Aire blinked.

Marsali’s hands were small and warm and insistent in a way that didn’t allow argument. Her touch felt so pure.

Aire slowly pushed herself upright.

Marsali nodded like she had just won a battle.

Aire exhaled. "You are very persistent."

"I learned from you," Marsali said confidently. "You made sure we became friends even if i was scared of you."

Aire almost smiled, then it faded again.

Marsali climbed fully onto the bed now, sitting cross-legged near her.

"I brought you something," she said proudly. "Beta Rhys let me come to see you."

Aire’s eyes flickered toward her briefly. "I don’t want food."

Marsali ignored her.

Aire closed her eyes for a moment.

A knock sounded at the door again.

Aire didn’t react immediately. She frowned lightly, wondering why everyone seems to want to knock her door today.

Marsali turned her head. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

"Come in," Aire called flatly.

The door opened, and Michelle stepped inside. She came in, holding a tray covered neatly with cloth.

"I brought your dinner," Michelle said softly.

Aire didn’t move. "I’m not hungry."

Marsali, however, leaned forward immediately. "What’s that?" she asked protectively.

Michelle’s gaze shifted to her smoothly. "A meal for the Luna," she said gently.

Marsali brightened slightly. "Oh."

She turned to Aire, not catching a glimpse of Mitchell’s face, as she made sure not to meet Marsali’s eyes. "You should eat."

Aire sighed again. "I said I’m not hungry."

Marsali climbed off the bed again, and walked straight toward Michelle.

Aire watched her faintly, too tired to intervene.

Marsali peeked at the tray. "It smells good," she said. "You need to eat, Your Grace. I overhead Alpha Alaric telling Beta Rhys that he worries over you."

Michelle smiled faintly. She kept her face on Aire. "I made sure it would."

Marsali reached for it.

Michelle paused just slightly. Then very subtly, she shifted her grip. The cloth slipped, and the tray tilted.

Hot water spilled directly onto the stone floor near Marsali’s feet.

Marsali yelped and stepped back quickly.

Aire reacted instantly before it would touch Marsali’s leg. Her eyes lifted sharply, and the water slowed mid-spill.

The water stopped, and shifted sideways, away from Marsali. Not a single drop touched her.

Marsali blinked in shock. "...Huh?"

Aire’s breath hitched slightly. Marsali didn’t notice what Aire had done. Not consciously, but Michelle did.

She said nothing.

Instead, she stepped forward calmly.

"Oh dear," she murmured, kneeling to clean it. She bowed her head to the floor, refusing to let Marsali catch a glimpse of her face

Aire stared at the floor for a moment, then at Marsali. "Are you alright?" she asked automatically.

Marsali nodded quickly. "Yes. I’m fine."

Aire’s gaze flickered back to Mitchell and she got unsettled behind her ribs. She didn’t understand why.

Michelle stood again. "I’ll replace it," she said softly.

She left the room, and immediately closed the door behind her.

Marsali refused to leave.

She stayed on the bed with Aire, talking about nothing important. She talked about small things, stories, and random thoughts until evening came.

She did anything to fil the silent and take Aire’s mind off the sadness and hopelessness she felt.

Aire listened without really listening. She stayed awake.

Michelle returned twice. Each time, she returned with something else and each time she returned, something slightly wrong happened.

It was either she had a cup slipping too close to the edge, or a sharp utensil left a little too near Marsali’s side.

Each time, Aire reacted automatically and without awareness.

Marsali never noticed.

Aire barely noticed what she was doing, until it was done.

By nightfall, Aire looked exhausted. Each second she spent using her power drained her. She never had knowledge of that until today.

Marsali had fallen asleep against her side with her small hands clutching Aire’s sleeve.

Aire didn’t move her away.

She just sat there, watching the dim light of the room.

She stared at the candle near the desk. It tilted at the movement of Aire’s eyes. It slipped too close to a fabric.

Aire’s eyes lifted again in control.

The flame stilled mid-fall, and stated frozen in place. With her eyes, she shifted it slightly away from the cloth, and set it safely upright again.

Unkknowingly to her, Michelle stood in the doorway watching her.

Her lips curved faintly into a smile of joy. "Progress," she whispered.