Genevieve's POV
The accusation hit me like winter air. Not a burning slap across my face, but something colder. Something that crept under my skin and made breathing impossible.
I stood frozen in place.
"What did you say?"
My voice barely made it past my lips. Thin and hollow, like someone had stolen all the oxygen from the room.
Kaelen remained motionless. He watched me with eyes that used to hold warmth when they looked at me. Eyes that once trusted me completely. Now they carried something different.
Doubt.
"You heard what I said, Gen." His tone softened, like he was trying to pull a confession from me with gentle words.
My legs threatened to give out beneath me.
I forced them to stay steady. My hands shook at my sides and I pressed them flat against my legs to stop the trembling.
"You think I murdered a witch?" The words scraped against my throat as they came out. "One of our own people?"
He gave me nothing. No answer. No denial.
