chapter 15

Rayel's POV

"Hazel…"

I was lost for words at Hazel's sudden change in behavior. Just a few minutes ago, she was crying and sobbing about what had happened to Elara. And now, she was saying words that I found hard to understand.

"Hazel, she died. Elara died today and it was all our fault." There was a hitch in my voice that prevented me from being able to continue.

"It was not our fault, Rayel," she replied softly, looking up at me through her lashes. Before Elara, I would have melted the very moment she looked at me that way. But this time around, I was enraged. I felt like I was dying inside, but no one felt the same way, which made me want to scream and shout and throw things.

My hands curled into fists, coaching tightly as Hazel continued, oblivious to the intense emotions raging within me.

"She left. No one forced her to. She was taken well care of here…"

"She was in a literal prison!!!" I could not stop myself from yelling out those words. It had been eating at me ever si