Chapter 19

Quinn's curled up in a dank cell, her belly burning with pain, blood soaking her skirt. My fingers tremble as they touch the sticky crimson between her legs. Tears long gone, all that's left is raw hatred in her eyes.

"Shawn…" I hear her hiss his name, nails digging into her palms. "You killed my pup… you ruined everything!"

Footsteps echo outside. A guard tosses a bowl of cold porridge on the floor, sneering, "Eat. Don't starve."

Quinn lunges, grabbing his sleeve. "I need to see Shawn!"

He kicks her away. "Crazy she-wolf! Shawn's half-dead from your stab, still out cold. You think you'll see him?"

Quinn slumps, then laughs maniacally. "He deserves it! He deserves it!"

Three days ago, Shawn visited her cell. She was weak from losing the pup, sprawled on straw. When she saw him, hope flickered in her eyes. "Shawn… our pup's gone…"

He stared down, cold as stone. "Quinn, do you know your crimes?"

"Crimes?" She froze, then screamed, "What crimes? You killed our pup! You threw me in that tavern, and that's why—"

Shawn cut her off with a sneer. "If you hadn't pushed Leah into the lake, you wouldn't be here."

"Leah! Always Leah!" Quinn's eyes blazed. "You only care about her! What am I to you?"

"You?" Shawn leaned down, gripping her chin. "A liar who stole her deed."

She shook, her world crumbling.

"It was Leah who saved me three years ago, not you," he said, voice like ice. "You took her act of mercy, tricked me into loving you. This is your reckoning."

Quinn's laugh turned wild. "Reckoning? You think you're free of one?" She yanked a sharp hairpin from her hair and plunged it into his chest. "Die!"

Shawn staggered, blood pouring out. "Shawn!" Guards rushed in, kicking Quinn aside.

She hit the floor, grinning at his bloodied chest. "I curse you, Shawn! You'll never have Leah! You'll die alone!"

Back in her cell, Quinn's laughter stops as the guard mutters, "The healer says it's up to fate if Shawn wakes."

She stares at the moonlight spilling through the tiny window, her face ghostly. "No…" she whispers. "He can't die… If he's gone, who'll see my ruin? Who'll hate me?"

She clutches her head, tearing at her hair, screaming, "He won't die! He won't!"

The guard shakes his head. "She's lost it. Completely mad."

At the general's den, I'm sewing Jason a winter coat when Talia bursts in. "Leah, news from Belmor Town—Shawn's gravely wounded. Quinn stabbed him. He's still unconscious."

My needle slips. I sit silent for a long moment before sighing softly. "Got it. You can go."

After Talia leaves, Jason steps in, noticing my distant look. "Thinking about Shawn?" he asks, brow furrowed.

I meet his eyes, emotions swirling. "Jason, I…"

He steps closer, his hand brushing my cheek. "Wanna go see him?"

I blink, surprised. "You… wouldn't mind?" I take his hand, voice soft. "I'm not going."

"Why not?"

"Because…" I look up, resolute. "My future's here. With you."

His throat tightens, and he pulls me into a fierce embrace, so tight I can barely breathe. "Jason?" I murmur.

"Don't move," he rasps. "Let me hold you."

I rest against him, his heartbeat steady, grounding me in a way I've never felt before.