"I don't know what you're talking about."
Maeline chuckled, shaking her head. "Do you really believe you could've taken her to the healer without someone noticing? Without Selena catching wind of it? Or that you could visit the child so frequently without attracting attention?"
She tilted her head.
"You're still so naïve."
Lilian's skin turned pale. She felt exposed, vulnerable—two things she hated. "How do you know?"
Maeline rose from her chair and walked to the corner of the room where a raven sat perched in a small wooden nest. She fed it a few seeds and smiled faintly.
"A little birdie told me."
Lilian crossed her arms. "What do you want?"
She wasn't foolish. If Maeline knew, and hadn't turned her in, then she wanted something. The question was what.
Maeline turned to her, eyes glinting with something deeper—sorrow, maybe, or memory.
"That same little bird told me Alpha Kaelen is building a new clan. A sanctuary. A place where witches, werewolves, vampires—even humans—can live without fear. You should send the child there."
Lilian's gaze sharpened. "Why would you help me protect her?"
For a moment, Maeline said nothing. She returned to her chair, this time slower, more thoughtful.
"You've heard of my disappearance, haven't you? Years ago?"
Lilian gave a slight nod. It was a story whispered often, filled with speculation.
"I was kidnapped," Maeline continued. "Back then, witches like me—those not born under the moon—were slow to develop magical strength. We were weak. Easy targets."
She stared into the dancing flames beneath the cauldron.
"While I was captive, I met someone. A vampire. He told me I was his mate. I laughed in his face. We were raised to hate creatures like him. To consider them... impure."
Her voice caught, just barely.
"But the bond… the bond said otherwise. And slowly, I believed it."
Lilian stayed silent. She could hear the ache in the elder's voice.
"He died in my arms," Maeline whispered. "Torn apart by his kind for accepting the bond with a witch. I couldn't save him. And in that moment, I broke."
She turned her eyes back to Lilian. "But I made a promise—to him, and to myself. That no one would suffer like we did. That the world I build would be different."
She reached into her robes and pulled out a small, glowing stone. It pulsed with a faint blue light.
"This will guide you to Kaelen's clan. Give it to someone you trust—someone who can take Bellas there."
Lilian hesitated, reaching for the stone slowly.
"I haven't told anyone," Maeline said. "But secrets have a price. One day, I might call on you to repay this favor."
Lilian nodded, tucking the stone into her pocket. "Understood."
As she turned to leave, Maeline's voice stopped her one last time.
"And Lilian?"
She looked back.
"Don't wait too long. The world doesn't grow kinder with time."
_____________________
King Valoise Bloodwood burst into the meeting room, his memento cloak whipping behind him as the doors slammed shut. His assistant, Sir Victor, followed, wincing—nearly struck by the door.
"Has he been found?" the king demanded.
"The tracker returned, Your Majesty," Victor said. "He couldn't locate Prince Ray."
Lady Aria Acturus, one of the Seven Elders, replied with a stern frown. "We lost our chance the moment he took Piper with him. If Ray doesn't want to be found, no one will."
Victor nodded. "With Piper's help, he's untraceable."
"Send more trackers to search for him. I don't care how you do it—just get it done," King Valoise ordered sharply.
"Yes, my lord," Lady Aria said with a bow before turning to leave.
Valoise turned to Victor. "Get me Lord Orion Blackhood. His son is as skilled at tracking as Raymond is at hiding."
Victor hesitated. "Permit me to say, my lord… Sir Julian and Prince Ray aren't exactly friends."
"That's why he's perfect for the job," the king replied coldly. "No mercy. No bias."
The coldness in his voice lingered in the air, sharp and unforgiving, as he turned and walked away, his heavy steps echoing through the chamber like a warning.