Chapter 26.

Mara's POV

Ronan caught my shoulder before I fell completely, although he dropped to one knee beside me a moment later. My arms were shaking, and a deep ache had settled through my back and abdomen as if my body had been wrung out from the inside.

Ronan looked worse. The skin around his blood seal had turned angry red.

“You idiot,” I managed.

His mouth curved faintly. “That feels repetitive.”

“Good. I plan to keep saying it until you learn something.”

My mother crouched beside him. Elara crouched beside Ronan and placed two fingers against the mark over his heart. Her expression changed.

“Alden broke more of the oath than I thought.”

“Did he betray you?”

“Not willingly.” Tho