Eira’s Influence
The absence of Isla’s twins weighed heavily on her heart, an ache that didn’t subside no matter how many days passed. She found herself wandering the halls of Crimson Fang, her thoughts clouded with despair and anger. Every sound seemed to echo with phantom cries, every shadow felt like a glimpse of something lost.
Eira’s presence was a constant, always close to Kaelen. Isla couldn’t ignore the way her father seemed to hang on Eira’s every word, the subtle way her advice shaped his decisions. The bond between them unsettled Isla, stirring a deep mistrust she couldn’t shake.
One evening, Isla crossed paths with Eira in the packhouse’s main corridor. The older woman moved with her usual grace, her silver eyes calm and steady. Isla blocked her path, her silver hair catching the torchlight like a halo.
“I need to know something,” Isla said, her voice sharp but low enough to keep their conversation private.
Eira tilted her head, her expression serene. “Of course, Luna. What is it?”
“Do you even care about finding my children?” Isla asked, her voice trembling with restrained fury. “Or is this all some grand game for you and my father?”
Eira’s eyes softened, her gaze meeting Isla’s without hesitation. “Isla,” she said gently, “everything your father and I do is for your children. For their future. This isn’t a game—it’s about ensuring they grow up in a world where they can thrive.”
“Then why does it feel like you’re more concerned with power than with finding them?” Isla demanded, her voice rising. “You talk about the future like it’s already written, but what about now? What about their safety?”
Eira stepped closer, her tone measured but firm. “You’re a mother, Isla. You understand that protecting your children isn’t just about the present. It’s about building a world where they’ll never have to face the dangers you’ve faced. That’s what Kaelen and I are trying to do.”
Isla’s fists clenched at her sides. “I didn’t ask for this ‘world’ you’re building. All I want is my children back, safe in my arms. What good is your vision of the future if they’re not here to see it?”
Eira reached out, placing a cool hand on Isla’s arm. Her touch was steady, grounding. “Sometimes, protecting what we love means making sacrifices we can’t fully understand. Your father knows this, and so do I. Trust us, Isla. We want the same thing you do.”
But Isla couldn’t find trust in her heart. Eira’s calm demeanor felt like a mask, her words too carefully chosen. Isla stepped back, shaking her head. “I don’t think you and I see the same future.”
Eira’s smile was faint but unshaken. “You’re strong, Isla. Stronger than you realize. That strength will guide you, even when everything feels lost.”
As Eira turned and walked away, her words lingered, echoing in Isla’s mind. They felt like both reassurance and warning, a cryptic promise that did little to ease her unease. Alone in the quiet corridor, Isla pressed a hand to her chest, her heart aching for her missing children.
Her silver eyes glimmered with determination. “No one is taking my family from me,” she whispered. “Not again.”
