"You used me," I whisper, the full weight of his deception crashing down. "You tricked me into healing her. To helping… you’re⁠—"

Milena rises gracefully to her feet, her movements fluid despite centuries of stasis. "You are unbound," she says, studying me with open curiosity. "Like me." Her gaze drops to my marked hand. "Though you hide it. Why?"

Before I can answer, the floor beneath us begins to glow, patterns of ancient runes illuminating one by one in concentric circles.

"What's happening?" I demand, feeling magic building around us.

"A necessary departure," Lorkan says, helping Milena to steady herself. "The ruin will collapse once the stasis chamber is fully deactivated. A failsafe I installed long ago."

The walls tremble, dust and small stones raining down as the runes glow brighter.

"You're just leaving me here?" I back away, looking for an exit.

Lorkan regards me with what seems like genuine sympathy. “I know this is confusing. But it’s not what you imagine, Nessa.”

"Why?" I ask. "Why all of this?"

"Because the world is broken," Milena answers, her silver eyes burning with conviction. "It has been since the Empire and the Red Kingdom tore it apart. Since they hunted our kind to the edge of extinction."

"We're going to fix it," Lorkan adds. "And when we do, there will be a place for you among us. Among your own kind. You may think us your enemy, but know the deception was a necessary one. We are not your enemies, Nessa."

“You certainly look like fucking enemies from where I’m standing,” I say between clenched teeth. My confusion is slowly turning to rage. Anger. Hurt.

“There are others like you, you know,” Lorkan says softly. “I’ve been monitoring the various primal academies for centuries now. Both here and in the Red Kingdom. There have been several others, but none quite like you. I could take you to meet them, if you like. They are all quite eager to meet you.”

I shake my head, still feeling dazed. Confused. “I don’t want to go anywhere with you.”

His smile is sad, but doesn’t seem surprised. “Yes. I imagined you would say that. It’s because of young Aurenciel, no?”

My chest goes tight. He knows who Raith is. How the hell does he know?

“It’s quite alright,” Lorkan continues. “You’ve done me a favor I cannot begin to repay. For this, I’ll allow you to see for yourself that the Aurenciels cannot be trusted—that their hatred of our kind runs through their very blood. So you may return to Confluence. You may go back to Raith. And when you’ve seen him for who he truly is, we will be waiting for you. Ready for you to join us.”