Olivia stood frozen at his words.
Shaya took a slow sip from her goblet, her gaze sharp and unbothered. "You hide like a frightened mouse, Olivia. Flinching at your own shadow." She set the cup down with a soft clink, her voice turning colder, more serious. "But you are not weak. You have fought with the royal family, used them, manipulated them when you don’t even know about your powers. You have challenged them. But now.. You look like a ghost."
She rose to her feet and walked toward Olivia, her steps slow, deliberate.
"You are a witch," Shaya said, standing close enough that Olivia could see the flicker of fire in her eyes. "And instead of fearing that, you should wear it like a crown."
Olivia blinked, stunned into stillness.
"Witches are wicked. They have been hunted all their life." the words co out shivering from Olivia’s mouth as if she abhorred what she was.
"Yes, there are those who would hunt you," Shaya said, almost gently now. "Those who would chain you, use you, curse your very na. That will never change. But the real difference," her hand lifted, not touching Olivia but hovering near her heart, "is whether you let their fear define you... or you make them fear you."
Olivia’s throat tightened. Her heart thudded painfully.
"So you want to challenge the whole world? How? With my ability to make dicines? I know nothing else!" Olivia claid in a loud and frustrated voice. But suddenly, the mont where Damon had fallen on the ground in her old house, flashed in front of her eyes. She knew one more thing, harming others! Even if it was unintentional! She had done it.
Shaya’s eyes flickered as if she knew what Olivia was thinking about. Shaya leaned in slightly, her voice dropping to a whisper, "Hide it if you must. Conceal it behind smiles and sweet lies. But in your heart, you should know—you are powerful. And power is not sothing to be ashad of."
For a mont, Olivia could not breathe. Shaya stepped back, studying her like one might study a fragile blade, testing if it would snap or endure.
"You survived," Shaya said simply. "That alone proves you are ant for more than trembling in the dark."
"I will rember," she whispered.
Shaya’s smile widened, satisfied. "Good. Then maybe, next ti... you won’t walk into a trap thinking it’s a feast."
The words stung, but Olivia only nodded once, stiffly and left the room without caring about Shaya’s laughter at all.
Olivia barely had ti to understand her own thoughts when the sound of hurried footsteps echoed down the hall.
Damon was running toward her, his coat half-buttoned and hair slightly disheveled, as if he had left whatever he was doing the mont he heard she was there. His sharp gaze imdiately landed on her face, scanning her as if searching for wounds.
"Did she hurt you?" he demanded, his voice rough with worry.
Olivia blinked, startled by the urgency in him. She shook her head slowly, feeling the tremors still running beneath her skin. "No," she whispered. "Not... not like that."
Damon’s brows furrowed, his hands curling into fists at his sides as if he barely restrained the urge to storm into the room and demand answers himself.
"What did she say to you?" he asked, softer this ti,
"You act like you want to protect when all you do is hide things. Did you not know that she knew? I am sure you have approached her and made a deal with her too." Damon paused. His eyes widened and shifted before he closed his eyes.
This ti, he did not want to lie or hide. Olivia knew that he was involved yet seeing it with his own eyes felt like another stab in her heart.
"Co with ." he looked around. And though she wanted to refuse to share a closed room with him, she knew this place was not safe and she must know the truth.
She followed him silently. The silence was heavy between them. He looked at her a few tis, but she ignored it.
"I do not want any staff near my chambers. All of you leave." The servants were shocked. But then they looked at Olivia and then at him, understanding downed and they bowed their heads and left with hurried steps.
Olivia knew they believed Damon would take her to bed. He had taken her to bed. She had begged him to take her when he was selling her as a witch to others.
He took her to his room and closed the door. The look in her eyes when he turned to et her eyes stabbed him again. He exhaled sharply with pain and staggered himself on the sofa.
She frowned looking at his actions but he stared at the ceiling with a dim look in his eyes.
"She was here because an oracle happened in their temples. They were told that a plaque would kill half of them. Even the royal families could not survive it. Worried, they researched and perford rituals when they were told that only the bloodwitch had the power to kill and heal. They must find her and convince her to make the dicines for them.
It did not matter what ingredient she would use, as long as she made them with an intention to save them, the dicine would work." Olivia’s eyes widened.
She had never heard that the dicines would work only with the intention, no matter what the ingredients would be used! But the way he looked at her, she was sure it would happen!
"Just what am i?" she looked at her own hands with shock, bile rose to her throat just thinking about it.
"You can kill soone with just an intention, Olivia. You can do anything." he confessed. "A part of did not want to tell you because I was afraid of your powers. But now, I am more afraid of losing you. I do not care what you are or what you beco as long as you are with ."
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