Chapter 126

I finally had him in my arms, and for a moment everything felt right again. “Oh my God, you’re here,” Elias breathed into my hair as we remained wrapped tightly together on the couch. “Yeah, I’m okay,” I replied, my voice soft but steady.

Then my gaze drifted across the room to Thomas, and I saw the blood soaking through his shirt sleeve. Instinctively, I tugged myself away from Elias’s embrace. “Oh my gosh, Thomas—what happened?” I sprang to my feet, heart pounding.

Elias straightened beside me, arms folding across his chest. “I did that to him,” he said flatly, eyes flicking to Thomas’s wounded arm. “Because clearly he’s a traitor.”

“No, Elias, it’s not like that,” I sighed, dropping my hands to my sides.

“Maya, stop trying to defend him!” Elias snapped.

“I’m not defending him,” I insisted. “Come in—let’s talk.”

We stood frowning at each other, voices rising as shock and anger rippled through us both. But as the shouting continued, I realized th