<h4>Chapter 413: Betrayed By Her Own</h4>


    "What are you doing?" Daisy asked in confusion, standing at L’s doorstep. The girl was hurriedly stuffing her things into a small backpack.


    Daisy wasn’t alone. Ivy stood beside her, brows furrowed as she asked cautiously, "What’s going on, L? Where are you going?"


    L finally looked up, registering their presence.


    "Good, both of you are here," she said, turning to her desk and picking up a folded letter.


    "I was going toe find you two, but things worked out anyway." She walked over and ced the letter in Daisy’s hand. "Give this to Violet when she returns."


    Daisy frowned, trying to return the letter to her, but she wouldn’t take it.


    "I don’t understand. What is going on, L? Where are you going? Why can’t you wait for Violet yourself? She and Griffin already called to inform us they’ll be back tomorrow. So whatever you have to say, you can tell her directly."


    But L remained said. "You don’t understand, Violet will never forgive me for the things I hid from her. If she’s truly mated to Griffin, then everything changes. I have to return to the Fae realm. The Queen must unlock her powers—trust me, Violet needs it now more than ever."


    "Do you have to go?" Ivy asked, her tone exasperated. "Can’t you, I don’t know, give the Queen a call or however you people notify each other in the Fae realm?" She sighed. "I don’t like this, L. Everything’s happening so fast and our group is falling apart. I don’t even understand what the heck is going on anymore."


    L turned to her. "It’s moreplicated than you think. I’ve been operating under the radar, that’s why Baron and hisckeys haven’t found me. Or Violet. But I’ve been called back home, and I need to know what’s going on."


    She reached into the pocket of her pants and pulled out a strange medallion, pressing it into Ivy’s hand. "When Violet returns tomorrow, give this to her. Make sure she wears it. You know how stubborn she can be."


    "What’s it for?" Ivy asked, lifting the medallion and examining the Fae engravings etched into its surface.


    "It’s to mask her from any of my kind who might try to snitch her out in my absence. I’ve ced a masking spell on her already, but I don’t know how effective it will be once I cross realms. So think of it as backup."


    "And the letter?" Daisy asked, eyeing it again. "What’s in it?"


    "Enough clues to answer the questions she’s been asking herself all this while. It’s spelled so no one else can read it except Violet. Whatever knowledge she decides to share with you afterward is her choice."


    She paused, then added with sincerity, "But I truly hope both of you stick by her side until the end. I can feel it inside me dark times areing."


    Daisy and Ivy exchanged an uneasy nce, visibly unsettled by her ominous words.


    L turned back to her bed and slung the backpack over her shoulder, tightening the straps.


    "When are you going to be back?" Daisy wanted to be sure.


    "Time works differently in the Fae realm, but let’s say in two weeks. If I don’t return by then, you should be worried. However, be rest assured once I’m back, things would be different. I’ll make it up to Violet for real. No more secrets and if it works out well, she might meet her mother for real this time."


    Daisy and Ivy looked at each other and shrugged. That sounds nice?


    "So," Ivy said, "How does this work exactly? Do we escort you to the bustop or something? Is there a route that takes you exactly to the Fae realm?" She was curious.


    "You both don’t need to see me out, I’m good." L said to them.


    Ivy then stepped forward and pulled her into a hug, saying, "Come back soon, else I’ll find another person to fill your void."


    "Yeah, you can try." L was not threatened.


    Daisy said to her cooly. "Be careful out there."


    "You too. Take care of each other."


    "We would."


    "I still think this is ufortable leaving without seeing Violet. " Ivy said.


    "It’s now or never. Violet will understand." She said and took her leave.


    L did not leave through the school gate, instead, she slipped away under the cover of the night, heading deep into the Silver de and reached the stream.


    Looking around to ensure she was alone, she reached into her pocket and brought out a coin etched with Fae sigils.


    She tossed it into the water and whispered. "Aeslién."


    Theke rippled almost immediately.


    Then L took onest nce over her shoulder and without hesitation, she jumped in. Just like that, she vanished beneath the surface.


    Momentster, L emerged, gasping softly, into the familiar chill of the Fae realm. She was home.


    Earlier that day, she had nned to send a message to Queen Seraphira, updating her on Violet. But instead, a message from Zyre had found her first.


    Zyre was her second-inmand, the one tasked with protecting the Queen in her absence. If anything had gone wrong, Zyre would have been the first to send word. And she had.


    L now stepped cautiously through the elusive moss-covered spot where they had agreed to meet.


    Zyre was there already, standing at the center of the clearing, in her silver armor. Her dark braid hung down her back, and her sharp eyes softened slightly when theynded on L.


    "Sister," she said.


    "Sister," L replied, walking over.


    They embraced tightly, foreheads pressed together in recognition. They have been apart for a while now.


    But there was no time for pleasantries.


    L pulled back. "Tell me. What’s happened with the Queen? Is the pce secure? What has Baron done to her?"


    "The Queen is safe. Nothing happened," Zyre said.


    L froze, confused. "What?"


    And then it hit her.


    Her eyes widened as the truth clicked into ce.


    Zyre smirked cruelly. "We only needed to draw you back to the Fae realm."


    "You betrayal! How could you do this to Queen Seraphira?" L hissed, her hands already glowing with raw magic.


    Energy surged through her fingers, and she hurled a bolt of light at Zyre, but the woman was fast. She dodged it, retreating as the woods came alive with movement.


    Fae soldiers poured in from the trees, armored and armed, surrounding L. They were Baron’s loyalists.


    L fought hard, taking down every soldier who got too close. But they were endless and it was not long before she was overwhelmed.


    She screamed as iron chains suddenlyshed around her throat, sizzling against her skin. L copsed, writhing in pain as the chain burned into her corbones.


    Zyre stepped forward, crouching beside her with an almost amused expression. "The great L, finally on her knees. This is going to be so much fun."


    The Fae then punched her across the face, knocking L unconscious.