Chapter28: Betrayal

*Maerilee* I can’t believe it. My heart sinks deep into my chest as Commander Heela approaches, his soldiers swiftly surrounding us, their weapons gleaming in the faint light. I feel the sting of betrayal, sharp and cold, radiating through me like ice. Permiton stands there, so calm, so collected, while we’re about to be captured. “How could you?” I hiss under my breath, barely able to contain the fury bubbling inside me. My hands shake, clenched at my sides. Permiton doesn’t even look at me. He moves to stand behind Heela as if he’s always belonged there. His expression is infuriatingly calm, like this is all going according to some master plan. But I can’t see the plan. All I see is betrayal. And then everything happens at once. Before I can even blink, River and Brook surge forward, their hands outstretched. The air around us shivers, the tension crackling like lightning. I feel the pull of their magic immediately, the water in the air responding to their commands. In an instant, th