Betrayed By One. Bound To Three-Chapter 68: The antidote.

"Tell me exactly what we need," Edris said.

His voice was low, controlled, but the urgency beneath it was clear. His eyes stayed fixed on the healer as if forcing the answer out of her.

The healer hesitated. Her gaze drifted to Selena lying weak in the sling between them. Her breathing was shallow.

"It will not be easy," she said at last. "The poison in her blood is powerful. It is old and tied to nature itself. That makes it difficult to fight."

Kael stepped forward, his jaw tight.

"We are not asking if it is easy," he said. "We are asking if it exists."

The healer met his gaze calmly.

"There is a way," she said. "But it will not be simple."

Edris leaned forward slightly.

"Then tell us."

"There is a plant," the healer said. "A very rare one. Its flowers produce the poison that now runs through her blood. But the root beneath the ground carries the antidote. If the root is prepared properly, it can draw the poison from her body."

Silence fell.

Edris spoke first.

"Where do we find it?"

The healer shook her head slowly.

"That is the difficult part. The plant no longer grows freely. The few that remain are hidden and guarded."

"Guarded by who?" Kael asked.

The healer took a breath.

"A witch."

None of the brothers spoke.

"The witch’s name is Eldira," the healer continued. "She collects rare things. Rare plants. Rare knowledge. It is said she possesses one of these plants."

Kael’s hands slowly curled into fists.

"And where is this witch?"

"Deep in the dark forest," the healer said. "Far beyond the places most travelers dare to walk."

Edris frowned slightly.

"You sound unsure."

"I am," the healer admitted. "I have never seen her. I have only heard stories. But every story points to the same place. Somewhere deep in the forest where sunlight barely reaches the ground."

The forest around them suddenly felt colder.

Kael glanced at Selena. Her skin looked pale against the cloth of the sling.

"We will go," he said.

Ronan finally spoke.

"We will find the cure, no matter where it is."

The other two brothers turned toward him.

"We cannot all go," Edris said. "Selena is too weak for the journey."

Ronan looked between them, understanding passing through his eyes.

"Someone has to stay," he said quietly.

Edris nodded.

"I know."

The weight of the decision settled between them.

"Kael and I will go," Edris said.

Ronan looked up immediately.

"And leave me here with her?"

"You will not be alone," Edris said. "The healer will stay."

Ronan shook his head.

"That is not what I mean."

He looked down at Selena again. Each breath was a small struggle.

"You are asking me to stay here and watch her fade while you chase rumors through the forest."

Edris did not answer right away.

"I am asking you to keep her alive."

Ronan’s jaw tightened.

"We cannot all leave her," Edris continued. "Someone must stay with her."

Ronan understood.

The brothers had fought, traveled, and survived everything together.

They had never split apart like this. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

The healer stepped closer.

"If you go to the witch," she said, "you must understand something. Eldira does not give anything freely."

"What does she care about?" Kael asked.

"Bargains," the healer said. "If you want something from her, she will demand something in return."

Kael’s expression hardened.

"Then we will pay it."

"You should be careful with promises like that," the healer said. "Her prices are rarely small."

Edris flexed his fingers.

"That does not matter."

"What matters is Selena."

The healer studied him, then spoke again.

"The forest itself will also be a challenge. Many who enter it do not return."

Kael gave a short breath through his nose.

"We are not most people."

Edris turned toward him.

"We leave soon."

Kael nodded.

"No wasted time."

They both looked toward Ronan.

He was still kneeling beside Selena, his hand lightly holding hers.

For a long moment he said nothing.

"I will stay with her," he said finally.

His voice was steady.

"I will watch her breathing. I will make sure she drinks when she can. I will keep her warm."

Edris nodded once.

"That is all we ask."

Ronan looked up at them.

"You had better come back."

"We will," Kael said.

"If you fail—"

"We will not fail," Edris said.

Failure meant Selena would die.

And that was not something any of them were willing to accept.

The healer watched the three brothers quietly. She could see the tension in their shoulders, the fear none of them spoke about.

Two would walk into one of the most dangerous places in the land.

The third would stay behind with the person they were trying to save.

Kael stepped closer to Ronan and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Keep her safe."

Ronan nodded once.

"Bring the root."

Edris crouched beside Selena and brushed a loose strand of hair from her face.

"We will bring it back," he said softly.

Selena did not respond.

Edris stood again and turned toward the healer.

"You will help Ronan keep her stable."

"I will," the healer said.

Kael adjusted the strap of his satchel and looked toward the dark forest. The trees rose thick and tall in the distance.

Somewhere beyond them waited the witch.

And the root.

Ronan looked up at his brothers.

For a long moment, the three of them simply looked at one another.

They had fought, hunted, and survived everything side by side.

Now the path ahead was splitting.

"We will not be gone long," Kael said.

"You had better not be," Ronan replied.

Edris stepped closer.

"Do not let her slip away."

"I will not."

A faint sound escaped Selena then.

All three brothers froze.

Ronan leaned closer, watching her chest rise and fall.

"She is still fighting," he said quietly.

Edris nodded.

"Then we will fight with her."

Kael glanced toward the forest.

"We should move."

Edris finally turned toward the trees.

Kael moved beside him.

Behind them, Ronan remained kneeling beside Selena, his hand still holding hers.

"Be careful," Ronan said quietly.

Neither of them turned back.

The trees slowly swallowed them.

Ronan watched until they disappeared between the trunks.

Only then did he look down at Selena again.

"You heard them," he murmured softly. "They are coming back."

Far beyond the dark forest, the witch waited.

And two brothers were already walking toward whatever price she would demand.