Page 50

Hagan

The moment Hagan realized Seren was gone—truly gone—something inside him snapped.

The healer's cottage bore the first blow.

Furniture shattered under his fists. The small table she once ate from splintered into pieces. Shelves overturned, bed linens ripped from their corners. Glass crunched beneath his boots as he stormed from room to room, calling her name like he could summon her back through sheer force of will.

"Seren!"

He ran into the forest, wild-eyed, barefoot, bleeding.

He knew all her favourite places.

The mossy stone clearing where she liked to photograph the sunrise.

The grove where the robins gathered.

The patch of riverbank where she once lain beside him and whispered about the animals of the forest, her teeth chewing on a blade of grass.

But each place was empty.

Every clearing—cold.

Every path—silent.

And then he caught it.

Their scent.

Hers. And Veyr's .

Fresh. Intertwined. Lingering outside the healer's cottage, then veering off into the woods—straight toward the border.

His body went still. Still as death.

Then he ran.

He found Veyr near the edge of the forest, leaning against a tree like he'd been expecting this.

Hagan didn't even speak at first. Just stared at him, chest heaving, pupils blown wide.

"You..." he breathed, voice ragged. "You did this."

Veyr didn't flinch.

"You took her." Hagan raged.

"She asked me to help." Very replied, undaunted.

"You took her away from me!"

"I didn't take her," Veyr said, eyes narrowing. "She left."

Hagan lunged.

Fists flew.

They collided in a blur of movement, two beasts barely contained in skin. Branches cracked. Blood spattered bark. Hagan's knuckles split on Veyr's jaw. Veyr's elbow cracked against his ribs.

Neither held back.

This wasn't training.

This was punishment .

They broke apart, panting, both bloodied and bruised, limbs shaking with restraint.

"She would've found a way," Veyr said, breathless. "With or without me. "

Hagan wiped blood from his mouth. "Where is she?"

Veyr didn't answer for a second.

" I don't know. She wouldn't tell me. She said it was better this way. She asked me to wish you well."

So, Hagan sent the trackers.

He mobilized the best of them. Pushed the network. Called in favours.

But it was too late.

She'd left in a car.

The trail was cold.

Her phone—switched off. That didn't stop Hagan from sending her hundreds of messages.

Her scent—washed away.

Every lead dissolved into dead ends.

And still, he kept looking.

One week after Seren's disappearance, his feet led him to the prison cells.

Airlia waited in the shadows behind the iron bars, her once beautiful face drawn and pale. The confidence and poise of before was gone.

He stepped in .

She rose, hopeful. "Hagan—"

He didn't let her finish.

"Why?" His voice was quiet. "Why did you do it?"

She blinked. "I... I love you."

"No," he said. "You manipulated me. You manipulated all of us."

"I didn't mean to—"

"I trusted you. Even when I didn't love you. Even when I was honest about what I did feel—you used it. You twisted it. You tainted it."

Airlia's lips trembled. "Because I was afraid."

"You are vile."

He stepped closer.

"Even if you were dying," he said, his voice like a sleek blade sliding between her ribs, "I wouldn't lift a finger to help you. The only feeling I have for you now is disgust."

She flinched as if he'd slapped her.

"They're going to bind your powers," he continued. "With the Oracle's sigil. Don't bother trying. It is unbreakable. Your days of tampering with people's minds are over. And your mother—will be found. She will face the punishment you both deserve."

He turned to leave.

"Wait!" she shouted. "You felt something for me. That's why it worked. You loved me once— "

He didn't even pause. "I felt pity," he said. "And guilt. For leaving you behind."

He glanced over his shoulder.

"I feel nothing now."

"Hagan!"

"Try your tricks," he said, cold and final. "You'll see."

He extended his hand. She reached between the bars of the prison cell to touch it.

She reached out—sank into her power.

And found nothing.

No pull. No tether.

Just silence.

"No—no, no, no—Hagan—please—please!" she screamed after him. "I'm sorry—I didn't mean—don't leave me here!"

But he was already walking out.

Veyr was waiting outside.

Hagan's lip had healed. One eye still had a fading bruise. But he was calm now.

More than calm. Resolute.

"Call the Oracle," he said. "I want to see the sigil put on her skin. With my own eyes."

Veyr nodded .

"And keep looking for Seren," Hagan said, voice hoarse but firm. "We will find her."

There was emotion behind the words—quiet and aching.

"She tried, every day, to be the best version of herself," Hagan said, staring at the trees of the forest. "And if I want to be worthy of her—then I have to be the best version of me."

He exhaled, a bitter, tired laugh ghosting past his lips.

"Not having her around is like... when you lose a tooth."

Veyr frowned.

"There's a raw wound in your mouth," Hagan said softly. "Your tongue keeps going back to it, over and over, even though it hurts. Even though it won't heal."

He looked down at his wrist—there was still blood drying in the lines of his knuckles from before in the training field. He was still faster and stronger than all, but it was like a gift with no substance.

"I want that pain," he said "The pain right here in my chest. It tells me she hasn't chosen another"

"It's what keeps me going."