It happened too fast. Before I could react, she was already shrieking as she tumbled down the stone steps.
I stood frozen, looking down on instinct.
Sure enough, Alaric's face changed in an instant. He lost control, sprinting toward her with a speed that was no longer fully human.
"Ivy!"
He gathered her into his arms. She was deathly pale, cold sweat beading across her forehead, as though she were fighting through terrible pain.
She spoke, her voice thin and wounded.
"Darling… don't blame my sister. She was just too upset… I'm fine…"
As if defending me. But every word pressed the blame deeper into my skin.
"I didn't—"
I barely got the words out before he cut me off.
Her choked sob ignited his fury completely.
He didn't hesitate. His voice was ice. "Selene, even if your mate is dead, that's no reason to take it out on someone else. Don't forget: Ivy isn't like you. She has a mate who protects her."
He lifted Ivy into his arms and turned away.
From start to finish, he never looked at me again.
I stood there and watched their silhouettes grow smaller until they disappeared beyond the cemetery ridge.
My heart twisted, wrung hard, as if something had seized it in a fist and refused to let go.