The door remained open.
No one moved.
For several seconds, the entire chamber seemed to forget how to breathe.
The chained man stood beyond the threshold.
He did not step forward.
He simply watched them.
His golden-red eyes remained fixed on Aliena.
Not Sebastian.
Aliena.
As though Sebastian was nothing more than an afterthought.
As though he had been waiting for her.
For years.
For centuries.
For a lifetime that she could not remember.
Aliena's fingers tightened around Sebastian's arm.
"Who is he?"
Sebastian didn't answer.
His eyes were locked on the man.
The resemblance was impossible.
The same dark hair.
The same sharp jaw.
The same golden-red eyes.
Even the shape of his mouth was familiar.
But there was something different.
Something ancient.
Something that Sebastian himself seemed unable to understand.
The man smiled.
"You're still afraid."
Aliena's breath caught.
Sebastian stepped in front of her.
"Don't speak to her."
The man's smile disappeared.
