Chapter 264 The Walls of silver

Chapter 264: Chapter 264 The Walls of silver

Talia’s POV

I looked at her, and my voice was steady despite my fear. "Nothing happened to them, Piper. They are fine."

Piper’s voice was desperate. "How do you know, Talia?"

I squeezed Kaelen’s hand, and I felt the warmth of his fingers through the cloth. "Because I believe in them, Piper."

Kaelen looked at me, and his gray eyes were soft. "You are right, Talia. They will be back."

Piper stopped pacing, and her voice became quieter. "I am sorry, Talia. I am just scared."

I smiled at her, and I felt the warmth spread through my chest. "We are all scared, Piper. But we are not giving up."

Kaelen pulled me closer, and I rested my head against his shoulder. His breathing was still shallow, but I could feel his steady heartbeat beneath my ear.

"We will get through this," I said, my voice soft. "All of us."

Cain spoke from the entrance, with his voice relieved. "They are coming back, Alpha."

Silas and Jax ducked into the cave, and their faces were grim.

Kaelen stood, his voice sharp. "What did you see, Silas?"

Silas sat down, and his voice was low. "The main fortress is still two days north, Alpha."

Kaelen’s jaw tightened. "Two days, Silas?"

Jax shook his head, and his voice was grim. "That is not the worst part, Alpha."

Piper stepped forward, with her voice trembling. "What is the worst part, Jax?"

Silas spoke, but his voice was heavy. "The walls are made of silver, Luna. Everything is made of silver. The cages, the gates, and the barriers."

I felt my blood run cold. "Silver, Silas?"

Jax nodded, his voice grim. "The entire fortress is coated in it, Luna. There is no way in without touching it."

Kaelen’s hand tightened around mine. "Silver walls. Silver cages. Silver everywhere." He whispered.

I looked at him, and I saw the fear in his eyes. The one thing that could kill him was everywhere.

Piper’s voice was barely a whisper. "How are we supposed to get in, Silas?"

Silas shook his head. "I do not know, Piper, but we have to find a way."

I gripped my pendant, and I felt the cold weight of it against my skin. "I will find a way," I said, my voice firm. "I have to."

The cave was silent after Silas finished speaking. But the words “Silver walls. Silver cages. Silver everywhere.” Kept ringing in my head.

I looked at Kaelen, and I saw the fear in his eyes. He was trying to hide it, but I knew him too well.

"Kaelen," I said, my voice soft. "You do not have to come inside."

He looked at me, his eyes wide. "What, Talia?"

"The main fortress is made of silver," I said. "It will kill you, Kaelen."

Kaelen shook his head, with his voice fierce. "I am not letting you go in there alone, Talia."

"Kaelen..." I started.

"Talia," he said, cutting me off. "I am coming with you."

Piper stepped forward, her voice determined. "Then we find another way, Talia."

Jax nodded, his voice serious. "We have come this far, Luna. We are not stopping now."

Silas’s voice was calm but firm. "We will find a way in, Luna."

Cain spoke from the entrance, his voice low. "I will find a way in, Luna."

I looked at all of them, and I felt the tears prick at my eyes. "I do not know what I did to deserve all of you."

Kaelen squeezed my hand, his voice soft. "You survived, Talia. That is enough."

I looked at the cave entrance, and I felt the determination rising in my chest.

Silver walls or not, I was going to find my mother.

I whispered into the darkness. "I am coming, Mother. I am coming."

Piper moved to sit beside me, her voice full of hope. "We are going to find her, Talia. I know we are."

I looked at Piper. "How do you know, Piper?"

Piper smiled, and I saw the hope in her eyes. "Because I believe in you, Talia."

Jax walked over, his voice lighter than before. "And because we are too stubborn to fail, Luna."

I laughed despite everything. "That is true, Jax."

Silas spoke from across the cave. "It is also because we have no other choice, Luna."

Kaelen pulled me closer, his voice low. "We will find a way, Talia. I promise you."

I looked at him, and I saw the love in his gray eyes. "I know we will, Kaelen."

Cain spoke from the entrance. "We should rest, Alpha. We have a long journey ahead of us tomorrow."

Kaelen nodded. "You are right, Cain. Everyone, rest. We move at dawn."

Jax leaned against the wall, with his voice flat. "Two more days of walking through this nightmare. And then a fortress made of silver. This is going to be fun."

Piper shook her head. "Jax, stop complaining."

Jax sighed. "I am not complaining, Piper. I am just stating the facts."

Piper rolled her eyes. "You are still complaining, Jax."

"I am expressing my feelings," Jax said.

"You are still complaining," Piper repeated.

Jax threw his hands up. "Fine. I am complaining. Happy now, Piper?"

Piper smiled. "Very happy, Jax."

I laughed, and the sound carried through the cave. It was a small thing, but it felt important. It felt like hope.

Kaelen held me close, his voice soft. "Rest, Talia. I will watch over you."

I closed my eyes, and I let myself rest.

Somewhere out there, my mother was waiting. And tomorrow, we would continue walking toward her.

I gripped my pendant, and I whispered into the darkness. "I am coming, Mother. I am coming."