THE WORLD seemed to stop, collapsing into the narrow space between them.Alesteria stared at Parie. Parie stared back. Neither of them moved; neither dared to breathe. The air in the room grew instantly heavy, thick with a truth that had just been unceremoniously dragged into the light."...What?"The word came out as a fragile thing, barely above a whisper, cracking under the weight of her disbelief.Parie looked away first. It was a mistake. Because the exact moment the fairy’s gaze dropped, Alesteria knew. She knew with an absolute, terrifying certainty that whatever impossible words had just left Parie’s mouth were true."Say that again," Alesteria commanded, her voice dropping an octave, steadying with a dangerous edge.Parie’s shoulders slumped, the weight of a centuries-old secret finally crushing her small frame."Alesteria—""Say it again."The fairy closed her eyes tightly, as if bracing for an impact. "...Ich is Zane."The room fell into an absolute, suffocating silence. A
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