Eirene’s POV
Jareth’s eyes widened in shock. Without a word, he shoved me aside and lunged down the staircase.
He knelt beside Lucienne, gathering her into his arms with trembling urgency. Panic clouded his wolf-gold eyes.
“Lucienne...goddess, are you hurt? Is your womb hurting? I’ll get you to the healers right now.”
Lucienne clung weakly to his sleeve, her fingers shaking, a whimper slipping from her lips as she pointed directly at me.
“Jareth… I don’t know why Eirene pushed me, but… m-my belly… it hurts so much…”
I stared at her, stunned.
She had clearly fallen on her own...no one had touched her.
Jareth turned toward me, his aura flaring, eyes blazing with fury.
“Eirene! Do you even understand what you’ve done?”
I forced myself to breathe evenly.
“I didn’t touch her,” I said firmly. “The Elder Den has Moonstone wards...every corner is under scrying. Check the recordings.”
But Lucienne...who had been sobbing in pain moments earlier...went utterly still.
Then she suddenly threw her arms around him, her voice trembling with manufactured guilt.
“Jareth, please… don’t argue with her because of me. Just… let it go. Maybe… maybe this pup really isn’t destined to survive…” Her voice cracked and she collapsed into him, crying even harder.
I didn’t move.
I didn’t look away.
I simply watched Jareth.
He refused to meet my eyes. His jaw clenched.
Then, with Lucienne still in his arms, he said coldly, “I believe Lucienne. There’s no need to review the scrying stones. Eirene, you’ve crossed the line. If anything happens to this pup… I won’t forgive you.”
Nerielle stood to the side, expression icy and full of contempt.
She had been standing at an angle where she could clearly see I had not touched Lucienne.
But she didn’t hesitate to choose her side.
With a flick of her hand, she motioned to the butler.
“Remove her from my sight. She’s poison...she returns here and nearly kills my grandpup? Throw her into the frost cellar. Let the cold purge her cursed aura!”
The butler seized me by the arms. I struggled, twisting away with all the strength I had left.
I turned toward the doorway and shouted:
“Jareth! I said I didn’t push her! Just check the Moonstone scrying...why won’t you look?!”
He hesitated.
Just for a heartbeat.
One step faltered as if he might finally turn around.
But Lucienne let out a soft, pitiful moan.
And that single sound erased me from his world.
He rushed out the door with her cradled in his arms, not sparing me so much as a backward glance.
As for me?
I was dragged to the frost cellar and thrown inside like discarded prey...no hesitation, no mercy.
The heavy iron door slammed shut.
Darkness dropped over everything.
Cold seeped instantly into my bones, sharp enough to numb my heartbeat.
I curled in on myself, trying to hold on to whatever warmth remained.
A dull ache throbbed low in my abdomen...the lingering reminder of the pup I had just lost.
Jareth had forgotten. Or perhaps… he simply didn’t care.
He once vowed he would always place me first.
Now, his heart belonged entirely to Lucienne.
Hot tears slipped down my cheeks.
And before my eyes finally fluttered closed, I could almost see the Jareth I once loved...
the one who no longer existed.
