Elira's hand was still resting in the beast's claw when it moved.
With no warning, he swept her up into his arms.
"Wait—!" she gasped, struggling. "What are you doing?! Put me down!"
But the beast didn't listen.
It launched forward into the trees, its massive limbs propelling them through the forest like wind and shadow. Branches snapped overhead, leaves whipped her face, and all Elira could do was cling to the thick fur and pray she didn't fall.
"Where are you taking me?! I don't want to go back—stop!"
Still nothing.
Just the powerful rhythm of his body moving—fast, angry, unstoppable.
Within minutes, the forest broke open.
The palace loomed in the distance.
"No. No no no no—" she whispered, realizing.
She twisted in his arms. "Let me go! I ran away for a reason! I don't want to be locked up again!"
The beast didn't even glance down. But a deep, low growl rumbled through its chest.
Elira froze.
The sound wasn't threatening—not quite—but it was final.
A warning.
One she didn't dare test.
Her chest rose and fell in silence as the creature carried her across the side gardens and up the hidden east wing steps. No one saw. No one stopped him.
By the time they entered the palace walls again, Elira was shivering—not just from the cold, but from the flood of questions with no answers.
He carried her up the old stairs, past unused hallways, and finally—
Back to the chamber.
His chamber.
He pushed the door open with one clawed hand and stepped in, lowering her carefully onto her feet.
The moment she tried to speak again, he turned his back to her—then walked out.
The door slammed shut behind him.
Locked.
Again.
Elira spun, pounding on the door. "Hey! What is wrong with you?! I didn't ask you to save me just to be thrown back in your cage!"
No response.
Just silence.
She sank to the floor, hair falling over her face, her breath shaky.
Everything hurt. Everything was confusing.
Who were those soldiers in the woods?
Why were they after her?
How did the beast find her?
And… why bring her back?
To protect her?
To control her?
She looked down at her hands—still shaking—and whispered, "Why me?"
No answer came.
Just the soft flicker of the torches along the wall.
She was alone again.
Only now… she had seen too much to pretend she was safe.
And far too little to understand what she was caught in.