Elara and Given moved quietly down the corridor, the weight of their footsteps the only sound accompanying them as they sought a quieter place where their conversation could unfold without prying ears. The thick walls of the tower seemed to offer a sense of protection, their solitude a temporary refuge from the chaos that surrounded them.
Elara's mind, often clouded with doubt and fear, now settled into a quiet resolve. It was time to stop second-guessing herself, to trust someone who had never betrayed her, someone who, despite all the turmoil, had remained by her side.
"Given," she finally spoke, her voice soft but sure. Her gaze lingered on him, and her eyes softened as she took in his tired and limping form. A flush of guilt rose to her cheeks at the sight of his pain. She had been so focused on her own thoughts that she had failed to notice the toll the journey had taken on him.
"I can heal you," she said, her words a quiet offer of help.
Given looked at her, his voice carrying a calmness that matched her own. "Yes you can , Your Majesty. But not now."
Guilt threatened to drown her once more as she thought back to Lord Edward's words—the blame he had placed on her for everything that had gone wrong. If only she had stayed away from the lycan, from the temptations of a world that she never truly understood. If only she hadn't followed her heart... if only she hadn't let her emotions guide her. Then perhaps there would still be peace.
But she couldn't undo the past. She could only face the truth now. And she wasn't even sure she would even change it or live in a different way if she was given another chance .
"You were calling for me?" Given's voice pulled her from her spiraling thoughts, grounding her once more.
She blinked, her mind refocusing. She stole a glance at him before looking away, her eyes drifting ahead. "I wanted to ask if I can trust Leroy. What do you think of him?"
At the mention of Leroy's name, Given halted, his sudden stillness causing her to stop as well. A flicker of hesitation passed over his face, as if he were carefully weighing his response, unsure whether to reveal the truth she sought. But his voice, when it came, was gentle.
"Come on, Your Majesty," he said, offering a reassuring smile. "I'll tell you all about it in a private place."
They continued down the corridor until they reached a door. Behind it lay a study—one that seemed oddly familiar to Elara. The room appeared almost identical to the one she had left behind at the castle. It was as if nothing had changed, but the memories it stirred within her felt sharp, like fragments of a forgotten life.
She halted at the entrance, her gaze shifting to Given, her expression unreadable. "What seems to be the problem, Your Majesty?" he asked, his voice almost playful, though there was an edge of concern in it.
Elara took a step back, her eyes scanning the room. "Who's tower is this?" she asked quietly, her voice betraying the sudden unease that crept over her.
Given's expression softened, a touch of nostalgia in his eyes. "Yours. You built this tower many years ago when you first arrived on this Earth. Leroy was here, helping to build it, along with many others... who we've lost along the way."
The mention of Leroy and the others sent a jolt through her. A fleeting memory attempted to surface, but she pushed it away, not wanting to confront it. Instead, she followed Given inside the study and behind the bookshelf leading to a secret room. He led the way, his presence offering her some measure of comfort as they entered the room.
The familiarity of the space did little to quell the growing unrest within her. It was just like the study she had once had at the castle, the one Theron had claimed after the great war that he has caused to befall on her kingdom. But it wasn't just that—the memories of the lycan, of love and betrayal, clung to her thoughts.
Her emotions were always her greatest weakness, the driving force that had led her to make choices that she now regretted. But how could she change that? How could she control what made her feel alive?
Her eyes landed on Given once more. He was the one person who had never abandoned her. He had stood by her even when everything seemed to be falling apart.
"So tell me about Leroy," Elara said, her voice steady now, despite the storm of emotions swirling within her. "All about him."
The request hung in the air, a moment of trust between them, a quiet plea for answers in a world that had grown increasingly complicated.