Elena’s POV

“Elena, slow down!” Zane’s voice echoed behind me but I did not stop. My feet were moving on their own, pounding against the stone floor as I ran through the hallways. My chest hurt. My heart raced.

I pushed the heavy door open and froze.

The whole room smelled of blood. It was thick, metallic, and choking. My stomach twisted.

Kael was there with two elders. Ethan stood in the corner, his face pale, his eyes red like he had been holding back tears.

And Leon…

“Leon,” I whispered.

He lay on the bed, his face completely white, lips dry. An arrow stuck out dangerously close to his heart. His chest rose and fell unevenly.

I rushed to him. “What happened to him?” My voice shook.

Kael’s eyes darkened. “He was shot. A poisoned arrow. We could not catch the one who did it.”

The healer beside him pressed herbs against Leon’s wound, sweat dripping down his forehead. “His life force is almost drained completely,” he muttered. “I do not know if I can save him.”

The elders began to murmur.

“This is bad.”

“He may not survive.”

“Cassian’s men must be behind this.”

“No,” I said, shaking my head hard. “No… you cannot die, Leon. Not like this.”

I ignored Kael’s hand pulling at my arm and dropped to my knees beside the bed. My hands trembled as I reached for Leon’s cold fingers.

“Elena, stay away,” the healer warned. “The poison can…”

“I don’t care!” I snapped through my tears. My grip tightened on Leon’s hand. His skin was cold, too cold.

“Leon, you hear me?” I sobbed. “You cannot just leave like this. You are supposed to regret everything you did to me. You are supposed to suffer. You are supposed to… you cannot just leave me now!”

“Elena,” Ethan whispered. His voice cracked.

I shook my head. “No! He cannot die.”

My chest burned. My brother’s words echoed in my head. Our parents were hybrids. They had supernatural powers.

I pressed my forehead against Leon’s hand. “I am not a mere omega. I am not. I am a hybrid. So why can’t I do anything?”

Tears streamed down my face. My heart screamed.

“Why can’t I do anything!” I yelled with every ounce of desperation in me.

And then…light.

A bright light burst from my chest, spilling out in blinding waves. Everyone gasped.

“Elena…” Zane whispered.

The light poured from me into Leon through our connected hands. His body jerked. The black veins spreading from the arrow began to fade. Slowly, the poison retreated. His wound started closing before our very eyes.

The healer dropped the cup in his hand. It clattered to the floor. “Impossible…”

Kael’s eyes widened, shock written all over his face. “Elena…”

The elders stepped back. “What… what is this?”

I could not see anymore. My vision blurred. My whole body felt heavy. My eyelids dropped.

Through the haze, I saw Leon’s chest rising more steadily now. Color slowly returned to his cheeks.

And then darkness swallowed me.

The last thing I felt was strong arms catching me before I hit the ground. Kael’s voice roared. “I’ve got her!”

And the healer’s voice followed. “His life force is back!”

In the darkness of my mind, I saw them.

“Mother?” My voice trembled.

Her smile was warm. My father stood beside her, his proud eyes fixed on me.

“Dad?” I whispered.

They reached their hands out.

“Come to us, Elena,” my mother said softly.

I stumbled forward, tears running down my face. “I thought you were gone… I thought I lost you…”

I reached for them. Just as my fingers brushed theirs, everything faded again.

My eyes opened slowly.

“…wake up…”

Voices. Arguing voices.

“She must be killed.”

“No, her magic is pure. I saw it.”

“We cannot take the risk. She is dangerous.”

“Do not touch her. I said no one touches her.”

That last voice. Kael’s voice. Strong. Firm.

I blinked. My vision cleared. I was lying on a bed. Kael stood in front of me, his arms stretched protectively. His eyes blazed with fury.

“She used magic. It does not matter if it looked pure. Magic is forbidden,” one elder snapped.

“It is not forbidden when it saves lives,” Kael shot back. “She is under my protection.”

“She is a hybrid. She could turn dark any moment.”

“She is not dark,” Kael growled.

Ethan stood silently by the corner, his fists clenched. Zane’s jaw was tight, his eyes darting to me every second.

“She is awake,” one of the elders muttered.

Kael turned to me instantly. “Elena, do not move. I am here.” His voice softened when he looked at me.

But before I could respond, another elder’s face twisted in rage. He pulled out a silver dagger from his robe.

“No!” Kael shouted, but it was too fast.

The elder lunged straight toward me, dagger gleaming in the torchlight, aimed directly at my chest.

And that was the last thing I saw before everything turned into chaos.