Adolphus's POV
Marcus was the name that came out of my mouth as soon as I woke up with a start.
My breathing was ragged, my heart pounding against my ribs.
A rush of memories flooded my mind, breaking through the fog that had clouded my identity for so long. I had seen Katrina first, and suddenly, I remembered everything.
I had regained all my memory, except for one thing. That one thing was what had just come back to me now, my true name. My true name was Marcus, and my father's name was Adolphus.
I had dreamt of my father while unconscious a year back when Katrina rescued me. When I woke up then, I had mentioned that name and claimed it as mine, but it wasn't. I was Marcus.
The room was dimly lit, a rustic scent of herbs filling the air. A woman was smiling down at me.
At first, I thought it was Katrina, but when I looked closer, I realized she wasn’t. Her features were softer, her eyes filled with relief rather than concern.
The girl suddenly shrieked. "He's awake! He's awake!"
I winced at the sound as hurried footsteps echoed through the space. Three elderly women appeared before my bed, their faces wrinkled with wisdom and time. It was then that I noticed the unfamiliar surroundings.
Where was Katrina? Who were these people?
One of the women, dressed in a long gray cloak, stepped forward. "How are you feeling, child?"
I blinked a few times before nodding. "I'm fine. Where is Katrina?"
The women exchanged glances, and an uneasy silence filled the room. My stomach clenched.
"Where is she?" I repeated, this time more urgently.
"She has been thrown into the cell," one of the women finally said.
The words sent a shock through my body. I swung my legs off the bed, attempting to stand, but the moment I did, a sharp pain shot through my arm, making me wince. I had almost forgotten about my injury.
One of the women gently pushed me back onto the bed. "You mustn't move so quickly. Your body is still weak."
"I don't care," I snapped. "I need to see Katrina."
"Not yet," another woman said. "First, you must answer our questions."
I ground my teeth, my patience thinning. "What questions?"
"Is it true?" The first woman narrowed her eyes at me. "Is it true what the girl said? That you are the heir of the Indigo Pack?"
My lips parted slightly as I tried to process her words. "I...I don't know."
"Then tell us why you've been missing all these years."