Chapter 1093
Chapter 1093:
She fell silent.
For the first time, the fierce coldness in her gaze seemed to waver. There it was—a flicker of hesitation. A crack in the ice.
It reignited the spark of hope I had left, and I leaned in to convince her. “I know the pain you carry. But the princes… they’re trying to change. They saved us, Paula. Without them, we couldn’t have escaped the werewolf forest. That’s the truth. Doesn’t that mean something?”
Paula said nothing. Her eyes slipped shut, as though she were trying to shut out the truth—to silence the part of her heart that still wanted to believe.
At that moment, Clayton stepped quietly into the room.
He stood beside me, but his gaze was fixed on Paula.
The sound drew Paula’s eyes, and she glared up with bloodshot eyes. “Why did you come in? Get out! I don’t want to speak to anyone from the royal family.”
But Clayton didn’t budge. “The Wizard Clan has a potion—one that forces absolute loyalty. Paula, if you can’t trust us, then I’m willing to take that potion.”
My breath caught in my throat. “Clayton…”
But I barely had time to stop him. He reached into his pocket, pulled out a small glass vial filled with clear liquid, twisted off the cap, and tipped the contents into his mouth in one go.
“Clayton!” The cry tore from my lips, my heart seizing as I lunged forward and wrenched the bottle from Clayton’s grasp.
The glass still radiated the warmth of his palm. Examining it carefully, I recognized the unmistakable potion Jett had administered to Evelyn weeks ago.
“Are you insane?” I demanded, fear and fury tangled in my chest. “Spit it out immediately! This concoction is dangerous beyond measure!”
Clayton captured my trembling hand in his, his voice a gentle caress. “Makenna, as long as my loyalty to you remains unbroken, no harm will befall me.”
𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗽𝗮𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 g𝓪l𝗇ovè𝗅𝓈.𝓬𝗈𝗺
“You utter fool…” I whispered, gazing at him as tears carved silent paths down my cheeks, emotion strangling my words.
His lips curved into a tender smile as he drew my hand to his face, brushing it lovingly against his cheek, his eyes swimming with devotion. “For you, every risk is worthwhile.”
The sensation of his warm skin against my knuckles sent conflicting waves through me. My heart constricted painfully even as an inexplicable warmth bloomed within my chest, impossible to suppress.
His gesture stirred a bittersweet mixture of anguish and profound gratitude within me.
Paula observed our exchange, her hardened expression gradually softening.
Despite this, a thread of mockery still wove through her words. “You’re nothing like your cunning father.”
Brushing away tears with my free hand, I turned hopefully toward Paula. “Can you find it in yourself to trust them now?”
Paula bowed her head, her response barely audible in the stillness.
“Forgive me, but I still require time to consider.”
I recognized the subtle shift in Paula’s demeanor.
.
.
.