Cambria stood motionless for what felt like an eternity, the weight of Elara's words sinking in like an anchor in her chest. Maddox. The very person she had trusted with her deepest secrets, the one who had been by her side in every battle, was now the center of the storm. Her mind raced, each thought spiraling faster than the last.
Could it really be him? Could he have been the one feeding Elena all the information about her? The thought of it made her feel sick, as if the ground beneath her was giving way.
Elara's message kept flashing in her mind: "Someone close to you." Someone from her inner circle. Maddox had been her closest ally. She had trusted him with everything. Everything. But now, she was left with nothing but doubts and questions.
"Maddox," she whispered to herself. "Please tell me I'm wrong."
