Selene's POV
“Explain,” I said, sharper than I meant. But I needed answers, and I needed them now.
“She used to be cool,” Leena replied, almost breathless. “I mean, really cool. She dressed in bright clothes. Neon pinks, bright blues. She had a yellow jacket she wore all the time. And she always smelled like engine oil.”
“Wait. Engine oil?” I frowned.
She nodded eagerly. “She loved machines. Cars, bikes, aircraft parts, everything. She worked at the repair zone near the west side of the palace. Everyone knew her because she could fix almost anything. And she was always laughing. Loud and wild and carefree.”
“That doesn’t sound like Elara at all.”
“I know, but it’s her. Her face, her eyes. The same, just softer back then. Rounder. She didn’t wear fancy clothes or heels. Her hair was
