Chapter 46

Chapter 46: Chapter 46

The first pale light of dawn crept through the cracks in the stone walls, painting thin golden lines across the floor of the hut. The lantern on the table had long since burned out, and the fire in the hearth had dwindled to cold ash. But Soren didn’t feel the cold. He couldn’t feel anything except the warm weight of Nyra against his chest, her breath slow and steady, her silver hair spread across his shoulder like spilled moonlight.

She was still asleep. Peacefully, deeply. Her face was relaxed, the tension she carried during her waking hours smoothed away. She looked younger like this. Softer. Unburdened.

Soren’s hand moved in slow, gentle circles on her bare back, tracing patterns that only he could feel. He had been awake for nearly an hour, but he hadn’t moved. He couldn’t bring himself to disturb her.

She was pure, he thought, the realization settling into his bones like something sacred. She gave herself to me. Her first time. And I didn’t even know.

He had claimed her body, but he had not marked her. The mate bond pulsed between them, strong and steady, but it was incomplete. He could feel it the place where his teeth should have sunk into the soft flesh of her neck, where his claim should have been sealed in blood and instinct. But he had held back. Even in the heat of passion, even when every fiber of his being screamed at him to complete the bond, he had held back.

Not yet, he had told himself. Not here. Not like this. She deserves more than a hut in the middle of a cursed forest. She deserves candles and silk sheets and a night that isn’t shadowed by danger and death.

Kael stirred in his mind, quiet and contemplative. You’re thinking too much again.

"Someone has to," Soren murmured aloud, his voice barely a whisper.

She’s beautiful when she sleeps.

"Yes. She is."

Her hair is getting longer. It suits her.

Soren looked down at the silver strands spread across his chest. Kael was right. When she had first arrived at the academy, her hair had been cropped short, harshly cut to mimic her brother’s style. Now it was growing back, soft and long, curling at the ends. It caught the morning light like threads of starlight.

"It reminds me of someone," Soren said quietly.

The Moon Goddess?

"No. Someone else. Someone I knew a long time ago." He shook his head, pushing the thought aside. "It doesn’t matter now."

Selene, Kael said, and the name hung in the air like a blade.

Soren’s jaw tightened. "I know."

You didn’t tell Nyra about her. When you were talking about your family, about your sister and your mother and your father, you conveniently left out the part about your betrothed.

"I know."

How are you going to explain to your father that you won’t marry Selene? The contract was signed when you were children. King Thornridge and Duke Vale sealed it with blood. Breaking it would mean—

"I know what it would mean." Soren’s voice was sharper than he intended. Nyra stirred against his chest, and he forced himself to soften, his hand resuming its gentle rhythm on her back. "I know everything that’s at stake. But I can’t think about that right now. She just lost her brother. Her parents are dead. Her uncle is trying to kill her. She’s been carrying all of this alone, pretending to be someone she’s not, and she never complains. She never breaks. She just keeps going."

She’s strong.

"She’s the strongest person I’ve ever met. But even the strong have their limits." He pressed a kiss to the top of her head. "The throne is vacant right now. The council is waiting for Thorne to return from the academy. Her uncle is in control, but he can’t sit on the throne because it wasn’t appointed to him. Everyone thinks Thorne is the one here no one knows Nyra exists. No one knows she’s the true heir."

And when they find out?

"They’ll try to take it from her. They’ll try to use her, or kill her, or both. And I won’t let that happen." His arms tightened around her, protective and fierce. "I’ll help her. Whatever it takes. I won’t let her face this alone."

That’s what mates do.

"Yes." Soren looked down at her sleeping face, at the faint smile still curving her lips. "That’s what mates do."

When will you tell her about Selene?

"Soon. When we’re back at the academy. When she’s safe and rested and the world isn’t crashing down around us." He exhaled slowly. "I’ll tell her everything then. And I’ll face whatever comes after."

She’ll understand.

"Will she? I just took her virginity without telling her that I’m promised to another woman. That’s not exactly a recipe for trust."

You’re not promised to Selene. Your father promised you. There’s a difference.

"Not to the king. Not to the court. Not to Selene herself." He closed his eyes. "It’s a mess, Kael. All of it. But I meant what I said. I won’t marry Selene. I won’t. Nyra is my mate. The Moon Goddess chose her. And I choose her too."

Good. Then we’re agreed.

"We’re agreed."

Nyra stirred again, her eyes fluttering open. She looked up at him, those silver eyes still hazy with sleep, and smiled.

"Good morning," she murmured.

"Good morning." He kissed her forehead. "Did you sleep well?"

"Better than I have in months." She stretched, wincing slightly. "Though I’m a little sore."

"Sorry."

"Don’t apologize. It was worth it." She propped herself up on her elbow and looked at him. "You’ve been awake for a while, haven’t you?"

"How can you tell?"

"Because you’re brooding. You always get this little line between your eyebrows when you’re brooding." She reached up and smoothed her thumb over the furrow. "What were you thinking about?"

He caught her hand and pressed a kiss to her palm. "You. Us. The future."

"That’s a lot of thinking for this early in the morning."

"I’m a thorough thinker."

"Clearly." She studied his face. "Are you going to tell me what specifically, or do I have to guess?"

"I’ll tell you. Soon. When we’re back at the academy." He pulled her down against his chest. "For now, let’s just... stay here. A little longer. Before the world catches up with us."

She settled against him, her head tucked under his chin. "Alright. A little longer."

The morning came crisp and cold, the mist rising from the forest floor in ghostly tendrils. Valeria stood at the edge of the camp, her pack already slung over her shoulder, her crossbow loaded and ready. The others were stirring behind her, shaking off sleep and stamping out the remains of the fire.

"We move now," she said, her voice brooking no argument. "We need to reach the academy as quickly as possible and send help back for Soren and Thorne."

Orion nodded, shouldering his own pack. "Agreed. The sooner we get back, the sooner we can organize a search party."

"Assuming they need one," Silas said. "Soren’s survived worse."

"Thorne hasn’t." Valeria’s voice was clipped. "And Soren will prioritize protecting the prince over protecting himself. If they’re in danger, he’ll sacrifice himself to keep Thorne safe. We need to get back before that happens."

Elias appeared at her side, his expression as unreadable as ever, but his eyes lingered on her a moment too long. "The path is clear. I scouted ahead. No signs of rogues."

"Good. Let’s move."

They set off through the forest, a smaller and more battered group than the one that had entered the Mistwood days ago. But they moved with purpose, their steps quick and determined, and the forest seemed to part for them as if it, too, was ready for this mission to be over.

The sun had barely crested the towers of Shadowmoon Academy when Ragnar burst through the treeline, his chest heaving, his scarred face slick with sweat and blood. Senior Lecturer Valdis hung limp across his back, his skin gray and clammy, his breathing shallow and uneven. Behind Ragnar came Finn and Marek and the others, all of them staggering with exhaustion.

"Help!" Ragnar’s roar echoed across the courtyard. "We need a healer! Now!"

The gates swung open, and healers rushed out to meet them. Valdis was lifted from Ragnar’s back and carried inside, his condition clearly critical. Students and staff swarmed around the returning team, offering water and blankets and urgent questions.

Corvin was at the entrance before anyone else. He had been standing there since dawn, unable to sleep, unable to eat, unable to do anything but watch the treeline and wait. When he saw Ragnar, he ran.

"Ragnar!" He grabbed the scarred Alpha’s arm. "Did you see her? Did you see Thorne?"

Ragnar shook his head, still catching his breath. "No. We got separated. Soren’s with him. He’ll keep her safe. He always does."

"He had better keep her safe." Corvin’s voice was a growl. "Because if he doesn’t—if something happens to her because he failed—"

"Or else what?"

The tension between them snapped like a drawn wire. Ragnar straightened, his scarred face hardening. He was exhausted, wounded, running on nothing but adrenaline and the desperate need to get Valdis to safety, but he was not about to let Corvin threaten his best friend.

"I said," Ragnar repeated, stepping closer, "or else what?"

"Or else I’ll kill him with my own hands."

"You won’t touch him."

"Try me."

Hands grabbed them from both sides Finn pulling Ragnar back, one of the healers stepping between them, Lucien appearing from nowhere to put a restraining hand on Corvin’s chest.

"Enough!" the healer snapped. "This is a medical wing, not a fighting pit. If you want to kill each other, do it somewhere else."

Ragnar let himself be pulled back. His team needed treatment. Finn needed treatment. Valdis was dying. He didn’t have time for this.

"Keep him away from me," he muttered, and allowed himself to be led inside.

Corvin stood alone in the courtyard, his chest heaving, his hands clenched into fists at his sides. He raised one hand and dragged it through his dark hair in frustration.

"Where are you, Nyra?" he whispered to the empty courtyard. "Where the hell are you?"