"The palace is large. Easy to lose your way."
I swallowed the scream clawing up my throat.
He held me down.
He looked me in the eyes that day.
He let the King open the portal.
And now… nothing?
I couldn't trust this. Not yet. I needed to understand what this was—why he had no memory, if he was faking, or if something else was happening.
"I'm Athena, once again," I said quietly, offering a hand.
He took it politely. "Lucas once again."
His touch didn't spark anything for him. But for me, it felt like touching fire and frost all at once. My heart ached.
I nodded and backed away. "It was nice to meet you again."
He returned the nod. "And you."
I walked out of the library on unsteady legs, the moment etched into my mind like a scar.
He didn't remember me.
Or he was pretending not to.
Either way… I was on my own.
When Lira found me later, I was sitting beneath a glowing tree in the garden, staring at my reflection in the water.
