The Omega Mated To The Four

The weight of everything that had happened sat heavy on hidden aleine beneath the roots of an ancient tree, covered by thick, moss strong, but it would have to do

for now,

we settled into our makeshift shelter. It wasn't much past'a

wergrown vines. The air was damp, the scent of earth and

balah had disappeared into the shadows moments ago, determined to spy on the Children of the Eclipse and see what they were doing in the castle. He believed there was a chance Elijah had handed over a fake map, that the real one was still with on. If that was true, then the enemy was still searching, which bought us tinte but it also meant Elijah might be in danger.

As much as I wanted to be angry, to hate him for his betrayal, a part of me couldn't stop worrying about him. What if they realized he tricked them? What if he was suffering because of 117

1 pushed the thought away. He made his choice. Now, we had to den with the aftermath.

The silence between us was thick with unspoken words. Austin Пnal broke It, his voler low but sharp with frustration.

"We should talk about it."

Alex sighed, rubbing a hand down his face. Talk about what?"

"Elijah, Austin said, his jaw tightening. "What he did. Why he did it, I mean... come on. He didn't just wake up and decide to betray

Alex scoffed, "Didn't he? He handed the damn map over, Austin. He made a choice."

Austin shook his head. "I know then ut turned out we have the map. He must have switched the map out before handing it over."

"But how?" Alex challenged. "We were all right there. It's not like he had time to do a sleight-of-hand trick.

1 had been sitting quietly, listening to them go back and forth, but when the question lingered in the air, I suddenly remembered something-something I should have realized before.

"Magic," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

Alex turned to me, frowning. "What?"

"Elijah has always been interested in magic," I said, my thoughts racing. "Even back when we were training at the castle, always fascinated by the witches" spells. He watched them, asked questions. He even tried casting spells himself." Austin's eyes narrowed. "Wait-you actually saw him use magic?"

I nodded slowly. "Yeah. It was small stuff. Nothing like the witches can do, but I saw him enchant a stone once. It was when he first took myto the hot spring. He whispered something to a rock, and it lit up, like a little lantern. I didn't think much of it at the time,

but now...

Now it made sense. If Elijah had been practicing magic, even in secret, he could have learned enough to pull off a switch. A spell that would let him swap the real map for a fake just before handing over to Mother.

Austin muttered. "So

breath, shaking his head, "Damn it. If that's true, then he's in way more trouble

in a hole in the ground while he's who-knows-where, probably

1/3

Chapter 186.

I wanted to believe he had switched sides for a reason, but the betrayal still

Then he was

traitor I

he was

in silence for a while, the tensions

leaves in the

physical weight. The

the d

distant hoots of mets

around my knees, my

figure out what to do. But for now, we have

assume the worst."

his

hand through his

I hated waiting.

we

I hated that jah had put them in this position. I wanted to believe in him, but doubt gnawed

began to settle over us. But just as Alex was about

Then, Isaiah appeared,

hard, his body slick with sweat. His usually confident posture was gone, replaced by something that made my stomach twist-

said his

Austin

bad news. It's never good

did you see?"

his head.

Relief flooded through

was quickly followed by dread.

catch his breath. He looked up, his face grim, and spoke through ragged gasps. "Elijah is

"Of

"They've been

heavy silence fell over us. My heart

his damp hair. "It's bad. They've beaten him nearly to death, but that's not the worst of it." He hesitated, his eyes dark

closer. "Isaiah.