Chapter 26 The Witch's Confession I wake up from a nightmare in which every member of my pack is choking on wolfsbane . It takes me a moment to separate the dream from reality , and as the horror settles , Kade's words cross my mind : I haven't - 1 haven't heard him very clearly for a long time , Freya . That's what he'd said , talking about his wolf , Emris . 1 hadn't connected it before , but now it suddenly seems very obvious . I shake my head , still , cursing myself for jumping to that conclusion . I focus on Finn's small , hot body pressed against my side . Ivy's hair fanned across my collarbone - and then the dream claws back into me : shadows , black flowers , the slow , steady drip of poison into a cup , I bolt upright , heart hammering . Nyx echoes . You know what you have to do . Rising carefully from the bed , I wrap my cloak around me and make my way to the pack's conservatory . Brin is grinding something with a mortar and pestle when I stumble into the glass hall , slippers slapping stone . " Luna Freya , " he greets , bowing deeply . " You look worried ." " I need those leaves , Brin ," I blurt out , breathless . " The ones that confirm wolfsbane poisoning . " " What is going on ? " he mumbles , but he moves , abandoning his work before crouching and tearing a few familiar leaves . " What if it wasn't just me ? " I murmur , clawing at my chest , " What if this isn't just about claiming Kade but something more ? " Brin's lips curl into a frown . " You think Izel has been poisoning the Alpha too ? But that's not possible . Everything he eats is checked by the expert healer- " " I don't understand , " I tell him . " But I have to confirm . How do we know she wasn't glamouring him as well ? And not just my children ? " Brin gasps , but he doesn't stop me when I turn and stride out of the conservatory . They are at breakfast when I reach the hall - Kade and Rowan sitting side by side in a strange , formal case Jax stands guard , arms clasped behind his back . The sight halts me . Rowan's eyes flick up and hold me steady ; his face is a quiet refuge . Kade's jaw is a stone wall . He's reading papers , his knuckles turned white from how hard he's gripping them . " This is a petition for the Luna Competency Trial , " he whispers with disbelief . " Signed by Izel and ... Elder Thane . " My breath slows . I watch the documents , then bring my gaze to Rowan . He doesn't answer me , 175 21:37 Wed , Oct 15 Chauler 26 The Witch's Confession . but he turns back to Kade . A ( 163 Finished Rowan slides another parchment across the table . " We intercepted more , " he says . " Correspondence between elders of the High Council . They discuss Freya's identity as High Luna - and lay plans to use Silvercrest against Nightfell . " His voice is flat . " They argue the pack must be broken . " My throat dries up . No , no , no . Why would he tell Kade about that ? What is going on ? Kade's eyes flick to the second page , then back to me . For a moment , there is only stillness . Then his face tightens into something I don't recognize . " Forged , " he says too quickly . " It's all forged . " He stands up suddenly , his chair falling back to the ground with a loud clatter due to the force . " Is this what you've been doing behind my back all this time , Freya ? You're a part of this plot , aren't you ? Izel was right . You've been colluding with the rogues ! You've been having an affair with this man ! " I scoff , suddenly feeling too empty and angry . If I could yield fire , I'd burn him to ashes right here . " You are accusing me ? " I snap . Kade's jaw clenches . " Did you ... set it up ? The whole shadow attack ? " " Alpha , " Jax tries , but his voice is ignored . There is an ache in my chest that is no surprise . I have been awake to the shape of betrayal for months . " Why would- " I start , and my voice is hot . " Why would I put my son's life at risk ? " Kade looks at me like I have sprung a blade . " Do you - did you ? " He stomps towards me . " Freya " Do you still not see it ? " My voice snaps . I am too tired to be gentle . I step forward until I can see the tiny white crescent on his knuckle where he always toys with his ring . " Then put these leaves on your tongue . " He argues . " I won't- " " You will , " I command . Nyx's voice threads through me , and the words move from thought to bone . Kade's fingers tremble ; his breath quickens . For a beat he resists - anger flaring bright and ugly - but then his movements go mechanical , like a man pulled by strings . He takes the leaves and puts them in his mouth . I count the seconds . Ten . Nine . Eight . One . His throat works , and when his mouth opens , the leaves come back blackened . " She's been poisoning you , too , " I gasp in disbelief . Jax shakes his head . " It's not possible . Any poison in his food will be discovered when the expert healer tastes it . " 2/5 21:37 Wed , Oct 15 Chapter 26 The Witch's Confession 家政 Finished Kade's face unravels , a sickening comprehension taking over . " What - what is going on ? " His voice is small and boyish , stripped of the Alpha's armor . I tell him about Nyssa : Brin's recollection , the witch who survived the pyre and turned Draven's last years into a map of rot . I tell him about glamour and about Izel's soft hands and the way the servants obeyed her as if pulled by a hidden cord . I watch Kade's eyes narrow , then cloud before pooling with something that looks dangerously like shame . " You know nothing of Izel , " he snarls , and the sound is wrong - muffled , like someone trying to speak through cloth . His words slur . Rowan's mouth curls . " Or perhaps she knows more than you think ." He rises to a confident stance . I step forward . " What do you really know about her ? Where did she come from , Kade ? Who are her parents ? " Kade opens his mouth and speaks . It's all gibberish . " Alpha ? " Jax comes forth , trying to help but he has no idea how to . Kade's eyes widen as realisation dawns . He coughs , clamping his mouth . He tries to speak again , of Izel , but it is still gibberish . " What is going on ! " he growls in frustration . Without awaiting an explanation , he storms out of the hall . I follow him , and Rowan and Jax tail behind me . Izel is waiting in her chamber , sitting elegantly on her vanity chair , staring out of the window . She rises when we enter . Her lips spread into a hesitant smile . Kade's question slams through the air . " Who are you ? " he says , voice shredded . She reaches for him with practiced tenderness . " Kade , love- " He grabs her shoulders and shakes her as if by force he can dislodge the lie . " Did you poison me ? Did you - my children- " Izel's eyes flash . " I have done so much for you . Did you forget ? I lied for you . I killed for you . Do you not love me anymore , Kade ? " she coos . " It was never love , " Kade spits . " You tricked me . " Izel pauses , watching his face for a long time . Her gaze darts to me and to Rowan before it returns to my husband . She laughs . " Ah . So you see the game finally ? " She drops the sweet 3/5 21:37 Wed , Oct 15 Chapter 26 The Witch's Confession 99 Finished voice , and her next admission is a blade . " It was difficult to poison your food ," she says , almost regretful . " Healer's tests . So 1- " she lifts her chin- " slathered it on myself . My body . Your hands couldn't resist me . You couldn't help but ... touch me ." My stomach folds in disgust as the thought takes form in my head . Kade's face goes hard . " How dare you ? " He lashes out , his hands closing around Izel's throat . She struggles , fingers clawing at his grip for a beat , then she throws back her head and something like wind explodes from her palms . It slams Kade aside as if he were a reed . He topples like a felled tree and scrambles up , eyes dazed and furious . Jax charges forward , growling , but Izel knocks him out with another gust . His head hits the wall and he falls to the floor , unmoving . " Thane is wrong , " Izel blurts , voice high . " We've waited long enough . Your father used my mother , discarded her , and you- " she spits the name like a curse- " you would have done the same . You used my magic to your pleasure . Got rid of your enemies by deceit . You got everything you wanted without as much as a blink . And now - now you strangle me , you fucker ! " Rowan steps in front of me , his sword drawn . Kade roars a feral sound and launches himself at Izel . He moves with claws bared ; whatever charm held him slackens now into raw rage . Izel answers with witchfire . It erupts from her open palms , a blinding , burning green that hits Kade right in the face . He stumbles back , screaming . The blasting heat engulfs me , shutting my eyes . My hands rise to cover my face as I stagger back , but then the warmth soothes . I force my eyes open and see Rowan holding his sword against the fire , throwing it back - creating an invisible barrier in between . Izel groans , and another gust of wind rips through the chamber . When the dust settles , Izel is gone . Kade drops to his knees where she had stood , growling like a beast . " I will kill her ! " he declares with fury . Jax wakes up , blinking , wincing as he touches his head . " Where did she go ? " he asks , confused . I stand there , stunned , still reeling from the confession . Kade used her for her magic . He knew . " You knew she was a witch , " the words escape my mouth as my feet move backward on their own . I fall back into Rowan's chest , and he steadies me . " I don't even know who you are anymore ," I tell him , cutting the last thread that held us together . 4/5 21:37 Wed , Oct 15 Chapter 26 The Witche Confession 家 Finished Kade falters , rising to move closer to me , but I hold my hand up , stopping him . " No , " I say . " No. " I leave him there with his burned hands and the taste of the ultimate betrayal on my tongue . Send Gifts