The door to the hospital room creaked open.
Ethan stepped inside, his broad shoulders and tall frame nearly eclipsing the doorway. His jet-black hair was slightly disheveled as if he'd run his fingers through it on the way here, and his piercing eyes locked onto Janet. His alpha aura rolled off him hinting at the fury under his calm composure.
"Ah," Janet muttered, her voice low and razor-edged. "So, you finally make your appearance. Did you get tired of eavesdropping like a coward?"
Ethan said nothing at first. He moved further into the room, and Lana edged away from the bed, giving him space. The air seemed to grow heavier with each second of silence.
"Janet," Ethan said finally, his voice calm yet heavy with restrained power. It wasn't a greeting. It wasn't a question. "Of all people, I never thought it would be you."
"Save it," Janet hissed. "I don't need the Alpha King's pity tonight. Or his lectures."
"That's enough." His tone didn't rise, but it didn't have to. The authority in it was absolute, silencing even the hum of Lana's thoughts. Ethan came to a stop at the foot of the bed, towering over Janet. "We're going to talk about this. Now."
"Talk?" Janet laughed bitterly, the sound ragged and broken. "I didn't pledge my allegiance to you. You can't control me. Anyway, we're way past talking. Didn't you hear? I've already told them everything. You're wasting your time if you think you're going to get any remorse from me. Or are you going to plead for forgiveness?"
"Don't do that," Ethan said sharply, his jaw tightening. "Don't turn this into another game. I've had enough of everyone's games. You've hurt enough people for one lifetime. That includes yourself."
"Spare me. I don't care about your issues. You ran off to look for your mate and got yourself into trouble that I won't help you out of," Janet snapped back. Her chest rose and fell unevenly, the strain of both the serum and her emotions wearing her down. "You don't get to use me anymore, Ethan. You're on your own after what you let happen."
"Let happen?" His eyes narrowed, the faintest flicker of something raw- guilt, maybe?- crossing his face before he masked it again. "You think I wanted any of this? You think I haven't carried the weight of my father's choices every single day since-"
"Since he got my family killed!" Janet's scream tore through the room. Her entire body trembled, a mix of fury and exhaustion battering her fragile frame. "Don't you dare stand there and act like you're a victim! You stood by him while he did nothing. I don't care about your guilt. I want my family back, you bastard!"
"Janet, stop." Lily's voice broke in, instinctively reaching out to diffuse the escalating tension. "Just hear him out." But Ethan raised a hand without looking at her, a silent command to stay back.
"Is that what you really believe? You think I let your family die?" Ethan asked.
"Yes. You should have been the one to die," Janet growled.
And then, Ethan's composure cracked, just slightly. His brow furrowed, his jaw twitching as though he were holding back a flood of words. "With your experience and resources, I thought you would have learned the truth by now," Ethan finally responded.
Before Janet could respond, the room filled with laughter. The hair on Lana's skin rose at the sound. Before Lana could process what was happening, she felt Lily's iron grip on her arm, yanking her toward and behind her. The sudden movement disoriented her, and her attention focused on the woman materializing right in front of them in a swirl of blue smoke.
"What is going on?" Lana thought. She looked at Ethan, who stood rigid with his jaw clenched. Even as a human, Lana could feel the waves of tension radiating from him. "Why is everyone so tense?"
As the blue smoke dissipated, revealing Queen Eliane in her full, terrifying glory, Lana couldn't help but stare at the woman before her. Was she a vampire? The woman's beauty was otherworldly, her features sharp and perfect, framed by hair that seemed to shimmer with starlight. But it was her eyes that disturbed Lana – ancient, knowing, and filled with a cruel amusement.
"Well, well," Queen Eliane's melodic voice cut through the tension like a knife. "What an interesting gathering we have here."
"Your Majesty," Ethan's deep voice rumbled, a forced politeness. "To what do we owe the... pleasure of your visit?"
Queen Eliane's laughter rang out again. "Oh, my dear Alpha King. Always so formal, even when your world is crumbling around you."
Lana's mind raced, piecing together fragments of lore and whispered stories. "She's toying with us," she realized with a start. "But why? What does she want?"
As if sensing her thoughts, Queen Eliane's gaze locked onto Lana, a predatory smile curving her perfect lips. "How cute, Lana Thorne. Is this your first time meeting a fae?"
Lana felt exposed and vulnerable. Had she heard her thoughts? She quickly began replaying the most annoying song in her head she could think of, which caused Queen Eliane to laugh.
"You have nothing to fear from me. I am here for the traitor," Queen Eliane responded, turning her attention back to Janet.
Janet's eyes narrowed, her defiance flickering in the face of Eliane's overwhelming presence. "You?" she asked, her voice shaking despite herself. "Why would a fae queen care about me?"
Eliane's smile widened, though it held no warmth. "Oh, Janet. Do you truly believe you can conspire with the Hunters without drawing attention? I have my reasons, and you are… inconvenient." Her gaze slid to Ethan, sharp as a blade. "Though, I must admit, your little rebellion has proven most amusing."
"You knew about her betrayal?" Ethan asked.
"Of course. I told you I have eyes everywhere," Queen Eliane responded.
Janet's face contorted with rage, her sharp features twisting into an ugly snarl. "This is exactly what I'm talking about!" she spat, her piercing blue eyes darting to Ethan. "You just let the other races walk all over us, with no regard for your own people!"
Before anyone could react, Queen Eliane's hand shot out, her long fingers wrapping around Janet's slender neck. Janet's eyes widened in shock and fear as the Queen's nails dug into her flesh, drawing pinpricks of blood.
"You silly, silly girl," Queen Eliane tsked, her eerie grin growing wider. "Did you really delude yourself into believing that Ethan was the cause of your misery?"
Janet's gaze darted desperately to Ethan, silently pleading for help. But the Alpha King stood frozen, his expression unreadable as he watched the scene unfold.
Queen Eliane's grip tightened, forcing Janet to look back at her. "You look at me when I'm speaking to you, dog," she said, her melodic voice a chilling contrast to the malice in her eyes.
Queen Eliane's lips curled into a sneer as she leaned in close to Janet. "Your fool of a father got your family killed."