Chapter 276 The whispers reveal

Chapter 276: Chapter 276 The whispers reveal

Talia’s POV

Kaelen looked at me, his gray eyes steady. "Then we find a way, Talia. We always do."

I nodded, and I felt the hope rising in my chest. "You are right, Kaelen. We always do."

The whispers grew louder, more urgent. They were pressing in on me, and I could feel the fear in them. Something was wrong.

"Kaelen," I said. "Something is wrong."

He stepped closer, with his hand on my arm. "What is it, Talia?"

I listened, and the whispers became clearer. They were faster now, almost frantic.

"She comes. The last one of us comes. But he waits, he knows, and he is ready." The whispers carried through the tunnel.

I felt my blood run cold, and I gripped Kaelen’s arm. "Malachai, Kaelen. He knows we are coming."

Kaelen’s voice was sharp. "What, Talia?"

"The whispers," I said. "They are warning me, Kaelen. Malachai knows I am coming. He is waiting for us."

Kaelen pulled me close, with his arms wrapping around me. "Then we are careful, Talia. We do not rush."

I looked at him, and I felt the tears prick at my eyes. "What if he is ready for us, Kaelen? What if we walk right into his trap?"

He squeezed my hand. "Then we fight, Talia. Together."

I shook my head. "Kaelen, I cannot lose you. I cannot."

He cupped my face with his hands. "You will not lose me, Talia. I promise."

I looked at the tunnel ahead, and I felt the fear and determination mixing in my chest. The darkness stretched out before us, endless and cold.

"Kaelen," I said. "I am scared."

He pulled me close. "I know, Talia. So am I."

“You are scared?” I asked him.

Kaelen looked at me. “Of course, Talia. But do not tell the others I said that.”

I laughed out. “That makes two of us.”

“I agree.” Kaelen said, and kissed my forehead.

I looked at him. "What if I am not strong enough, Kaelen? What if I fail?"

"I keep thinking about my mother," I admitted, my voice cracking with emotion. "She was the strongest person I ever knew, and even she could not escape Malachai’s grasp. She fought, and she fought, and she still ended up in a cage beneath this mountain. And I am standing here, in the same darkness that swallowed her, trying to convince myself that I am going to be the one to succeed where she failed."

Kaelen cupped my face with his hands again, with his gray eyes steady on mine. "You are strong enough, Talia. You have always been strong enough."

I shook my head. "But what if..."

"Talia," he said. "Listen to me."

I looked at him.

"The whispers know who you are, Talia. They know you are coming, they know you are the last one, and they are not afraid. Because they know you will win." Kaelen said.

I felt the tears spill down my cheeks. "How do you know, Kaelen?"

He pressed his lips to my forehead again. "Because I know you, Talia. And I believe in you."

I nodded, and I felt the determination rising in my chest. "Then we keep going, Kaelen."

He took my hand. "Together, Talia."

I squeezed his hand. "Together, Kaelen."

We resumed our walk forward into the darkness. The whispers followed us, pressing in from the walls. They were still there, and still warning me. But I did not stop.

I would not stop, not until I found my mother.

We walked in silence for a while. The tunnel was still dark, and the cold was still biting. But I felt different now, and stronger.

"Kaelen," I said. "Thank you."

He looked at me. "For what, Talia?"

"For believing in me," I said. "For not giving up on me."

He squeezed my hand. "I will never give up on you, Talia. That is not who I am."

I looked at him, and I felt the love in my chest. "I know, Kaelen."

We continued walking, and the whispers grew softer. They were still there, but they were not as loud now, like they were done with their job.

"Kaelen," I said. "The whispers, they are quieting."

He looked at me. "Is that a good sign?"

I shook my head. "I do not know, Kaelen. But I think they are leading us somewhere."

He nodded. "Then we follow them."

I looked ahead, and I felt the pull of my mother. She was close, and i could feel her.

"She is close, Kaelen," I said. "My mother. I can feel her."

He squeezed my hand. "Then we keep going, Talia."

We walked forward, and the tunnel stretched out before us. The whispers guided us, leading us deeper into the earth.

And I knew, with every step, that I was getting closer to my mother.