Chapter 36

I never thought I’d be scared of anything as much as I was of the lycans that night. Ever since Lord Jekia saved me, I’d felt a sense of warmth and safety. I’d convinced myself that nothing could truly harm me, no matter how uncomfortable it made me feel.

This belief had made me a strong-minded Faerie, but I was beginning to realize it had also shielded me from some harsh realities. This became painfully clear after Dominick took me. He wasn’t just cruel and manipulative—he was a living lesson in how jealousy and hatred can darken a soul.

After my encounter with Dominick, I stayed in my room for a few hours, hiding the key under my mattress and waiting to see if he’d come looking for me. In the end, it wasn’t Dominick but Ginger who knocked on my door, telling me dinner was ready. She looked shocked when I opened the door.

“You’ve been crying. What happened?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

I gestured for her to come into my room and closed the door behind her. It felt safer to talk this way.

“Dominick tried to attack me, but Umira stopped him.”

Ginger’s eyes widened. “Umira stood up to him? She usually avoids making him angry!”

“I guess she did it for me,” I said, hesitating before sharing the next part. I wanted to trust Ginger, but I knew it was safer to be cautious. “I can’t take much more of this. I’m going to try to break down that barrier.”

“When?”

“When I get the chance.”

Ginger looked determined, but I could see the fear in her eyes. “We might have a chance tonight. If Dominick is upset, he might avoid us. But we should see what’s happening first,” she suggested.

“So, we should see if he comes to dinner,” I concluded.

“That should give us a clue. I also hope it will give us a chance to help Umira. As much as I hate to admit it, I’m sure he punished her for what she did.”

I knew she was right. I’d seen Dominick grab Umira’s neck, and I’d seen the scars on Sky’s back.

I tried to keep my anxiety in check as I washed my face and walked to the dining room with Ginger. The house was eerily quiet. Sky was setting the table when we walked in, her eyes downcast. She was clearly upset about something.

Ginger went over to her and whispered, “You already know, don’t you?”

“Yes,” Sky replied. She straightened up and looked at us. “Lord Dominick said he won’t be joining us for dinner. I left his meal by his door. Umira said she’ll be here soon, even though I told her she should rest.”

“He let her go?” I asked.

“He did, but she’s not doing well.”

“What did he do to her?” Ginger asked, her voice barely audible.

“There’s no need to ask. What’s done is done,” Umira said as she walked into the dining room.

I rushed over to her, immediately noticing the bruises on her neck and the bandage on her head. “Oh, God. Are you okay? I’m so sorry!” I blurted out.

“It’s okay,” Umira reassured me. She gave me a pained smile and held my shoulders. “I’ve seen better days, but I’ll survive. What’s important is what you have, right?”

I nodded, knowing she was talking about the key she’d thrown to me.

“Then we can solve this. Let’s stay calm and enjoy our meal,” she said.

We sat down at the table, but none of us ate much. We wanted to talk, but we knew it was risky, especially after Dominick’s recent outburst.

Ginger finally broke the silence, keeping the conversation light. “Are you sure you’re okay, Umira? You look pale.”

“I’m fine,” Umira said softly. She put her fork down. “I’m a bit sore, so it’s hard to eat, but I’m feeling a little better.”

“I’m sorry. This is all my fault,” I apologized once more.

“Don’t beat yourself up over this. I made the choice to step in and try to stop him. Honestly, I couldn’t have lived with myself if he’d hurt you and I’d just stood by,” Umira admitted.

“We all know what it’s like to feel degraded,” Ginger chimed in, glancing toward the door. “But I think we’ve had enough. From now on, we’re going to stand up for ourselves, no matter what.”

“We have to, not just for Raelina, but for us too,” Umira said, her gaze falling on Sky. “I’m sorry I haven’t been there for you more, Sky. You were there for me after he left, and I don’t know what I would’ve done without you.”

“There’s no need for that. We’ve all been focused on surviving. The truth is, we haven’t been as strong as Raelina. But that doesn’t mean we can’t change,” Sky reassured her.

Her words were a beacon of hope for me too, even though I was still racked with guilt. I had to make things right once I got out.

“Will you guys help me?” I asked, hoping they understood my implication.

Ginger nodded. “Way ahead of you. Let’s put this to bed,” she agreed, turning to the others. “You’re on cleaning duty after this, right, Sky?”

“Yes,” Sky confirmed.

“Good. I’ll go check on Lord Dominick. I’m sure he’s still fuming, so my company might calm him down.”

We all understood what Ginger was really saying. She planned to distract Dominick while I went after the stones.

Umira straightened up. “Raelina, would you mind keeping me company while they’re busy? I could use the company.”

“Of course,” I agreed without hesitation.

We split up soon after, Sky heading to the kitchen with the dishes and Ginger off to find Dominick. I stayed with Umira, unable to tear my eyes away from the bandage wrapped around her head. The thick padding where her right ear used to be was a stark reminder of the harsh reality.

“Umira, your ear…is it…?” I couldn’t bring myself to finish the sentence.

“Please, don’t dwell on it,” she pleaded. She pulled me into a comforting hug, whispering in my ear. “It hurts, but I’ll survive, and my hair can cover it. What matters is that we’re all safe and sound.”

“You’re right,” I said, pulling myself together and holding her hands. “Let’s go to my room first. There’s something I need to get.”

Umira nodded, understanding what I meant, and we left the dining room together.

I hadn’t felt this nervous since I was a little girl. I was hyper-aware of every sound as we reached my room, my ears straining for any sign of someone coming. I couldn’t shake the fear that Dominick would see through Ginger’s ploy and figure out what we were up to.

That fear drove me to move quickly. I retrieved the key from under my mattress, tucked it into my bodice, and hurried out of the room with Umira.

We made a beeline for the kitchen, where Sky was busy cleaning the counters. She put a finger to her lips when she saw us, pointing to the locked door.

We got the message and quietly approached the door. I took out the key and inserted it into the lock, watching it glow faintly before it clicked open.

My heart pounded as I slowly opened the door and saw the staircase beyond. The air was charged with energy, confirming we were in the right place.

Umira and I crept down the stairs as Sky gently closed the door behind us to cover our tracks. The stone steps led down to a cavern lit by dim golden lamps on the walls.

We stopped at the bottom of the stairs, taking in the sight of the large stones on concrete pedestals. There were four of them, arranged in a circle, pulsing with a blue light.

“Wow. These are bigger than I thought,” Umira murmured.

“It’s logical, considering the strength of the barrier,” I reasoned.

I moved closer to one of the crystals, pondering how to dismantle this barrier now that I was here. I could attempt to topple them, but there was no guarantee that would be enough to shatter them.

I should’ve brought something to strike them with.

Umira joined me, raising her hand and closing her eyes. “They’re incredibly potent, but it seems like their power comes from their arrangement,” she informed me.

“So, you’re suggesting that if we can separate them, the barrier will be disrupted,” I inferred.

“That’s what the energy dispersion feels like,” Umira confirmed.

“That’s all I need to know.” I moved to one of the pedestals, placing my hands against it. “As long as I can create an opening for Navine and Lord Jekia, that’s all that matters.”

The pedestal and crystal were heavier than I’d anticipated as I began to push against them, but I was resolved not to quit. Even if it took all my strength, I’d bring down at least one of these.

Suddenly, another pair of hands joined mine. I glanced to see Umira beside me.

“Hey, watch out! Don’t overexert yourself!” I cautioned her.

I was concerned about the wound where she’d lost her ear. It hadn’t been long, and too much strain could reopen it, causing further harm.

“I’ll be okay. Even if it worsens this, nothing could be worse than enduring more time here!” Umira declared.

Her words motivated me, and together we pushed with all our might. Finally, the pedestal started to tilt, falling forward and knocking into the adjacent crystal, causing it to topple as well.

The sound of all four crashing onto the stone floor was deafening, making my ears ring.

But even as the dust swirled and the crystals crumbled, I knew we had to escape. I was certain Dominick would soon discover what had transpired, and we’d be sitting ducks if he found us there.

If we wanted to reach safety, we needed to be where Navine could reach us.

I don’t think I’ve ever sprinted up a flight of stairs so fast. It was a miracle neither Umira nor I tripped.

We didn’t slow down when we reached the kitchen, continuing our dash through the hallway.

But as we neared the double doors, a large figure suddenly blocked our path. Umira and I skidded to a halt as Dominick obstructed our way.

A thought crossed my mind that we could split up and run for another door, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it when I saw he wasn’t alone. He was gripping Ginger and Sky by the backs of their necks, holding them firmly in place.

“So, this was your plan,” he said quietly, his gaze icy as he looked at Umira. “All three of you dared to betray me, even after everything I’ve given you!”

“It’s not like that! Raelina shouldn’t be here! Her presence is driving you insane!” Umira protested.

“Silence!” Dominick commanded. He threw the two women to the floor in front of us. “Do you even comprehend what you’ve done?! All my efforts to contain you all have been wasted!”

His massive wings flapped in his rage, sending a shockwave through the room that flung us all across the room. My breath was knocked out of me as I hit the wall and collapsed onto the floor.

The next thing I knew, I was being lifted, my head buzzing, and my eyes locked onto smoldering prism ones.

“You’ve left me no choice. I would’ve given you everything if you’d chosen me. Now you’ll have to be just like her.”

The wind whipped around me as I was thrown again, my body crashing through the glass doors and skidding across the yard. Pain surged through me, so intense that I couldn’t move.

I could feel the sun’s rays on me as I tried to lift my head, and through my hair, I could see boots approaching.

“No! Raelina!”

A distant voice reached my ears. Was it Ginger’s? It sounded like her, but it seemed so far away.

The boots halted in front of me. The figure knelt down, and I heard Dominick’s low voice.

“Such a shame. You would’ve been the crown jewel of my collection.”

This was the end. My life was about to be snuffed out. His words echoed in my mind, a chilling promise that no one else would ever possess me.

Suddenly, a rush of wind swept over me, muffling all other sounds. My hair whipped across my face, obscuring my vision.

But when I peered through the strands, a new silhouette had taken shape before me.

For a moment, I doubted my own eyes. Was this some cruel illusion?

“Navine?”