The atmosphere in the room was charged with tension as Aldric demanded, "Who the fuck are you?" His steely gaze bore into the woman chained before him, devoid of the warmth it once held for Islinda.
His mate looked at him as if he were speaking nonsense. "What are you talking about? Of course, I'm Islinda."
"Don't—!" Aldric warned through gritted teeth, fighting the urge to throttle the truth out of her. He was on edge, feeling the unsettling disconnect between the woman's appearance and her behavior.
"I don't understand," She tried to move, but the chains held her back. Her face fell, lips trembling as she looked at him with pitiful eyes welling up with tears.
She cried out, "Why are you doing this to me, Aldric? Is this the effect of the witch's magic? Haven't I suffered enough? Have you forgotten what you did to me? You tried to kill me, yet I forgave you. And in the end, it's still not enough for me. Who am I if not Islinda?"
