<b>Chapter </b><b>77 </b>
Still in Francesco point of
The first rays of morning spilled through the windows, casting golden light over the chamber floor, but none of it touched the darkness the in my chest
Eine hadn’t stirred all night
I hadn’t moved from my ce beside her.
The fire in the hearth had long died down, leaving only embers and a room chilled by silence. My tunic was damp with weathers and mine—and my arms ached from holding her so long, but I didn’t care, Her hand remained in mine, fingers pale, unmoving, the pulse beneath them fragle but steady.
She’s stable,” Manica had whispered hours ago, before slipping out with Lira. “But she’ll need time, Alpha.”
Time…
I could give her that.
I could give her all the time in the world, if only she’d open her eyes
I sat there, my thumb brushing faint circles against her knuckles, studying the curve of her <b>lips</b><b>, </b>the tremble of her breath. The scent of magic still clung to her skin–faint, bitter–and I hated it. Hated that she’d touched something so dangerous. Hated that she hadn’t told me. Hated that I hadn’t seen iting.
Was it because had been too busytely? Had she felt alone?
A soft knock came at the door.
“Enter” I said, barely above a whisper
Audrey stepped in. Her hair was pulled back into a tight braid, but her eyes were shadowed with fatigue. She carried a tray–tea, soup, bread–untouched from the night before.
“I thought you might need something warm, Alpha” she offered.
I shook my head. “Later.”
She hesitated. “Healer Lira wants to see you when you’re ready, She’s still trying to identify the spellponents. She thinks there might’ve been bloodroot and marrowstone in the mix, Alpha.”
Iflinched.
Bloodroot was toxic inrge doses, Marrowstone–sacred and forbidden–hadn’t been seen in spellwork since the old <b>wars</b>.
“How she got that,” I murmured. “Is it someone <b>gave </b>it to her. Or left it for her to find?”
Audrey nodded. “That’s what Lira fears too. She’s tracing the magical <b>residue </b>now. But Alpha. She <b>paused</b>. “If someone wanted herlu use it—”
“They almost seeded in killing her
I didn’t look at Audrey. Couldn’t. The thought <bde </b>my wolf <b>rise </b>in fury, pacing beneath my skin.
<b>“</b><b>She’ll </b><b>wake </b>soon,” Audrey <b>said </b>gently. “I can feel it Just…don’t be angry when she does, Alpha”
That caught my attention. Hooked at her sharply.
She gave a faint smile. “She’s going to me herself. You know the will‘
And that was what terrified me mort.
When Audrey left, I sat back against the pillows and pulled in closer, pressing a kiss to her temple. Her skin was warmer now The tremblinghe
But gods, the silence between us still screamed.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” I whispered. “Why didn’t you wait for me before do something dangerous!”
Her eyelids fluttered.
A spark of hope ignited in my chest
“Eine?” Istraightened.
She stirred faintly, her head rolling toward the sound of my voice.
“Amore, I’m here. You’re safe.”
Another twitch. Her lips parted with a low, hoarse breath. <b>“</b><b>F</b>–Fran..
The sound of my name–broken, breathless was the most beautiful thing I’d <b>ever </b>heard.
I’m here, Amore mio said again, brushing my hand gently along her cheek. “You’re alright. You’re with me.”
Her eyes opened slowly, the silver–<b>blue </b>of them dulled with exhaustion but filled with quiet recognition.
And shame.
She tried to sit up. I stopped her with a hand on her shoulder.
“<b>No</b><b>,</b>” I said gently. “Don’t move yet. You’re still healing
“I’m sorry,” she whispered, her voice cracking. “I didn’t <b>want </b>anyone <b>to </b>worry. I thought
“Stop.” My voice was rougher than I intended. I softened. “You don’t have to exin. Not yet”
“But I do,” she whispered, tears welling up. “You don’t understand, Francesco –
“No, you don’t understand,” I cut in, cupping her face. “I thought I lost you. I searched every inch of this estate, tore it apart looking for you, only to find you cold and shaking on the floor of that <b>cursed </b>library. You nearly died. Eine. That’s not something you just apologize for
Her lip trembled. She looked away.
Trested my forehead against hers, exhaling <b>shakily</b>,
“But you’re alive,” I murmured. “And that’s all <b>that </b>matters now
We stayed like that for a long t
<b>time</b>..
The quiet between us wasn’t painful anymorg
It <b>was </b><b>healing </b>
“Francesco…she <b>whispered</b>, voice hoarse.
“I’m here,” I said, brushing her hair back. “Don’t talk too much. You need rest.”
But she shook her head slowly, her fingers curling weakly into my shirt. “You need to know”
She didn’t wait for permission. Her voice was barely more than breath, but I listened like it was prophecy.
“I made it,” she said “the potion
Everything inside me stilled.
<b>“</b>What?”
She swallowed, her throat working. I found the instructions in Anastasia’s <b>diary</b>. It wasn’t just personal thoughts–she recorded spells, potions, cloaking enchantments. Warnings”
I stared at her, torn between disbelief and something far more dangerous–fear.
“So, you made something you found there?” echoed in disbelief.
Her eyes welled. “I had to try, Francesco. I had to know how Luca could move between territories–how he could be everywhere and no one could track him. I found the answer in her notes. It was right there. A potion that erases not just scent, but magical presence…even bond recognition
My pulse spiked “You were trying to mimic Luca’s ability to disappear”
She nodded “I was trying to understand what he took And… maybe use it myself Just for a moment. Just to see
She flinched as if expecting me tosh out
I didn’t..
I just looked at her–really looked.
At the exhaustion. The guilt. The brilliance.
The terrifying, beautiful truth that Eine wasn’t just brave.
others.
brave. She was dangerously smart. And entirely unafraid of risking herself if it meant protecting
“You found this in Anastasia’s <b>diary</b>,” said quietly. “All of a
She nodded. “She was hiding more than her pain. She had knowledge.”
“And you used it,” I whispered. “Without telling anyone. Or me?
<b>Tears </b>slipped down her temple. “I thought I could control it. That I was strong enough. But it reacted to my blood… to something in me it fought back”
I cupped her face again, unable to keep the edge from my voice. “You almost died, Eine
She sighed “I know”
<b>“</b><b>And </b>still you’d do it again?”
A pause. <b>Then</b>, “If it meant keeping others <b>sale</b>…yes.” She said stubbornly.
<b>I </b>closed my eyes.
She would break herself for this pack. For me.
And it terrified me.
Chap 77
Trested my f
forehead against hers and breathed out, “NG HIGH SACAITL
She nodded faintly “No more
E