-Finn-
Zeus sat close by Alexia's side, his body tense, ears flicked toward every murmur in the chamber. I could see the protective edge in his amber eyes, a silent warning none of us seemed ready to heed.
Alexia was trembling, her golden eyes wide, shimmering faintly with magic she barely understood—and didn't know how to control.
The five Council members—Aelira, Magnus, Rhian, Seraphine, and Thorne—stood in a tight semicircle around her, their voices low and steady as they spoke in an ancient language that hummed through the air.
Her gaze darted between them, confusion and fear growing in her eyes.
Before she could speak, the Council's hands lifted, and shimmering golden threads of magic shot out, weaving around her wrists, chest, and throat, forming a cage of light that pulsed with undeniable power.
"No," I growled, stepping forward. "You don't have to do this."
Aelira's eyes locked on mine, calm but unyielding. "Finn Auric, this is necessary."
"She's scared," I insisted, moving closer, trying to break through the invisible barrier that sprang up between us. "She didn't lose control on purpose. You're punishing her for something she can't help."
Magnus's voice was cold. "She nearly destroyed part of this chamber with her chaos magic. This is about safety—for her and everyone else."
I raised my hands, stepping between the bindings and Alexia. "You're making her worse. The magic's part of her. If you take that away, what's left?"
Alexia's panic flared, her magic reacting to my desperation. The golden threads tightened. She gasped, eyes flickering wildly.
Then Zeus growled low, fur standing on end.
And in a blink, he was gone.
I reached out, stunned. "Zeus?!"
Alexia collapsed to her knees, silent tears streaming down her cheeks.
"I don't understand…" she whispered, voice breaking. "What are you doing to me?"
The Council's eyes were steady, but even I could see the weight of the decision in their faces.
"This is for your protection," Thorne said, voice firm.
"I don't want this," Alexia said, shaking. "Please, let me go."
"We can't," Morigan's voice echoed in my mind—the unyielding authority of the Headmistress. "Not until she's stable."
I clenched my fists. "There has to be another way. You don't just bind her like she's a weapon."
"She's already a danger—to herself and to everyone else." Aelira's voice was soft, but resolute.
I looked down at Alexia's trembling form, her golden eyes dimming under the weight of invisible chains.
And I realized—the Council had already made their choice.
The chamber felt unbearably silent after the binding took hold. Alexia collapsed to her knees, the last sparks of her magic flickering out like dying embers. The golden glow that always surrounded her dimmed—gone. Just like that.
I dropped beside her, heart pounding. "Alexia," I whispered, gathering her into my arms. Her body trembled like a leaf caught in a storm.
"I'm here," I murmured, brushing her hair back. "I've got you."
She clung to me, silent tears slipping down her cheeks. "It feels like… like something inside me just disappeared."
A part of me broke at her words—and another part burned with fury.
Not just at the Council.
But at Asher.
He had brought this to them. Told them everything. Threw her to the wolves—our wolves. I knew he thought he was protecting her, but gods, had he even thought for a second what this would do to her?
He should have come to us. To me.
I clenched my jaw, holding her tighter, grounding myself in her heartbeat. I couldn't afford to explode. Not now. Not with her shattered like this in my arms.
Zeus had vanished the second the binding snapped into place. Just—gone. Like he'd never been there at all. And that, more than anything, told me just how deep the spell had gone.
"We'll fix this," I promised. "We'll find a way to break it. Bring Zeus back. Bring you back."
She looked up at me, golden eyes rimmed red. "Why didn't they tell me?"
"They don't trust what they can't control," I muttered. "They're afraid of you, Alexia. And people who are afraid make stupid, cruel choices."
My eyes flicked up—past her, to Asher, standing in the shadows. He wouldn't even meet my gaze.
Coward.
And still, I couldn't decide which was worse: that he went to the Council behind our backs… or that he believed they'd do this to her and let it happen anyway.
"I hate this," Alexia whispered. "It feels like I'm not even me anymore."
I pulled her closer, my voice rough. "You are still you. You are still ours. No spell, no Council, no fear is going to change that."
And as I held her, fury still simmering beneath my skin, I swore I'd find a way to make this right.
Even if I had to tear the Council apart to do it.