Page 124 of When Sisters Collide
Leukos—the proud, stoic Megarian prince who had never bowed to anyone—had just humbled himself. Forher.
Even Charis’ eyes widened, and a dozen court ladies craned their necks, murmuring at the sight of the prince kneeling.
“Your Majesty,” Leukos intoned, his voice carrying through the hushed hall, “I beseech you. The Omega was sent by the Grey-Eyed Maiden to join our alliance and fight against Rasenna. Now is not the time for petty grievances. Please grant her request. Allow her sister to heal.”
The priest flushed crimson with fury. “How can we be certain she was sent by?—?”
“So be it.” The queen’s voice cut in, cool and final. “When the Omega slipped through the barrier with her companions, I felt a sensation I hadn’t felt in years. Acceptance. The barrier has repulsed many, yet it allowed the Omega and her guests safe passage. Itisthe will of the Grey-Eyed Maiden. We cannot deny it.”
A ripple of assent swept through the hall. The priest’s furious blush deepened, but he bowed his head in reluctant acceptance.
Danaos’ features remained hard, resignation etched in every line.
Alena’s heart pounded as Charis’ words settled over them all.
“Guards,” the queen commanded, “do as the Omega asks.”
“Thank you, Queen Charis.” Leukos rose, offering her a gracious nod. Without sparing Danaos a glance, he strode back to Alena’s side, his presence steady and grounding.
As they turned to leave, Danaos’ voice cut through the quiet. “We will hold you accountable if she tries to escape.” He paused, the faintest edge of sarcasm in his tone. “Though I suppose the prince could simply freeze her in place if necessary.”
Freeze her? Had Leukos lost so much control that his touch was now a threat?
Alena’s gaze shifted to him, but his eyes neither confirmed nor denied Danaos’ claim. He strode from the Great Hall without another word, and Alena followed, the guards and wolves in tow.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
ALENA
Alena stood tense between Nik and Leukos, her attention fixed on the guard approaching her sleeping sister. He retrieved a burnished golden key from a worn leather pouch, unlocking the manacle on Katell’s wrist with a harsh clink. The room, far removed from the revelry of the Great Hall, amplified every sound, each metallic scrape reverberating through the stillness.
Her sister, curled into a foetal position, didn’t stir. Sweat glistened at her hairline and along her neck. The white wolf at the foot of the bed let out a soft whine before settling down, eyes alert as it watched the room. Alena had decided to leave it with Katell for the night, a silent guardian.
Her gaze flicked to Nik, catching his eye as it darted towards the guard’s pouch. Nik’s subtle nod acknowledged her unspoken question. When it came to Katell, Alena knew she could trust him.
Once the guards had left, Alena dipped a cloth into the basin of cool water, wrung it out, and pressed it gently to her sister’s fevered forehead.
She didn’t know how long Katell’s body would take to heal, but she hoped it would be fast. Growing up, Katell was almost never ill, but when she was, Alena was always there beside her. She’d curl up on the cot next to hers, whispering stories from their father’s scrolls, spinning familiar tales into new adventures with fierce queens and galloping horses. Katell knew some of the stories by heart, yet she listened to every word, clutching Alena’s hand as if the legends themselves held some secret magic that could soothe her.
Katell’s smile in those moments filled Alena with warmth and a fierce determination to protect her sister.
But now those cherished nights were gone. Would Katell even want Alena at her side? Would she reject her if she tried to lie beside her, to hold her hand the way they used to?
The fear of that answer tightened Alena’s chest, silencing her before she could even try.
“Would either of you mind staying with her?” she asked. “I need to get back to Kaixo.”
Nik leaned against the stone wall, arms crossed. “I’ll keep an eye on her. You should check on Kaixo—he seemed off earlier, and skinnier since last summer.”
Alena froze. He was right. The wild boy who once loved catching insects and climbing trees had been subdued ever since Dodona.
A sharp pang of grief struck her, and she struggled to find her voice. “San is dead,” she whispered, the finality of the words ringing in her ears. She’d never spoken them aloud before, and now she could no longer deny her new brutal reality.
Her friend was gone, and Kaixo would never see his mother again.
Nik straightened, eyes wide with disbelief, while Leukos’ brow knitted in concern. He reached out, his fingers brushingtowards her arm—then froze, pulling back and clenching his hand into a fist at his side.
Alena didn’t comment, though a cold knot tightened in her chest. She dropped her gaze, unable to meet the sympathy etched on their faces. “I stayed with Phoebe in a settlement hidden deep in the northern mountains, a refuge for the Grey-Eyed Maiden’s priestesses. The journey there was sheer madness, too dangerous for San and Kaixo. We agreed it would be safer if they stayed at the foot of the mountain with a shepherd and his wife. The village was so remote, we thought they’d be safe.” She shook her head. “But nowhere is safe anymore. Slavers sold them to the stone quarry in Dodona. When I arrived, it was too late. There was an accident and… San passed away in the night.” She swallowed hard, the lump in her throat choking her words. “We buried her in the sanctuary.”
