Chapter 209 - 209
Night had fallen. Their match had gone on for much longer.
The warriors dragged their feet as they marched through the forest grounds. They were miles away from the palace grounds. The air was thick and heavy with something they couldn't name; even the most seasoned warriors felt it pressing against their lungs.
No one spoke at first.
Only the sound of boots against damp earth, armor shifting, and the occasional snap of a branch filled the silence.
At the front, leading them was Thorne. He did not slow down, nor did he pause for a second. They walked for hours, and not once did they pause to take a break.
Behind him, Caelum rode beside Mason. His posture was rigid, despite the pain that lingered in his body. His arm was bound tightly to his side, the injury slowing him down.
Next to him, Mason exhaled, his gaze sweeping over the endless trees ahead. He looked up at the sky, seeing the stars scattered among the sky.
"Do we even know where we're going?" he muttered under his breath.
Caelum didn't answer. His gaze was on Thorne.
Mason glanced at him. "I'm serious. Carter's location hasn't been confirmed. No scouts have returned with anything useful. We're marching blind."
Caelum shot him a sharp glare, and he quieted down immediately. "I don't mean to speak out of turn, but the warriors are exhausted. They need to catch their breath, or when we do find Carter and his monsters, they would be too weak to fight."
At this, Caelum glanced at the warriors behind them, seeing the exhaustion in their faces. They had been walking for hours now without a break.
He quickened his pace to meet Thorne. "Your majesty," he called, but the king didn't spare him a glance. "I think it's best we settle here for tonight. The warriors are exhausted. They need water to continue the journey, and it's already quite late." He was careful with his words.
Thorne glanced back at the warriors, then at Caelum, he nodded.
Caelum gave a curt nod and turned to the warriors. "Tonight, we will settle here. We'll set up our camp and replenish our energy until morning, then we move."
The command rippled through the ranks almost instantly.
Their relief was palpable. It was subtle, barely visible in the way shoulders dropped and grips loosened, but it was there. The warriors didn't question it. They moved quickly, setting down packs, gathering wood, forming small clusters as they prepared to settle for the night.
Caelum gave Mason the go-ahead to assign positions to the warriors. He watched for a moment before turning back toward Thorne.
The king had already moved.
He stood a distance away from the forming camp, near the edge of the clearing, his gaze fixed on the darkness ahead.
He looked like a man carrying so much burden it weighed heavily on his shoulders. The beta could only watch for a second, wondering how else to uplift his spirit, even though he knew there was nothing he could do.
He stepped forward, clearing his throat. Just as he opened his mouth to speak, he was cut off.
"We're close."
Caelum blinked, taken aback. "Close?" he repeated.
Thorne's jaw tightened. "I can feel it," he replied.
Caelum's brows furrowed. What could he feel?
Before he could question it further, a sudden shout broke through the camp.
"Movement!"
Everyone was up in arms again, their weapons clashing against each other, high in alert. Warriors scrambled to their feet, forming lines as figures emerged from the treeline.
There were three suspicious figures.
"Rogues!" someone barked.
"They're heading for us! Positions!" another yelled. The circle closed in quickly, blades raised, bows drawn taut.
"Stop right there!" a warrior shouted.
The figures didn't stop. If anything, they stumbled forward faster.
"Last warning!"
Still, there was no response.
"Take them down!" The voice cut through the air sharply. One of the front guards stepped closer, squinting into the firelight as the figures finally broke into view.
Suddenly his expression changed. "…Your majesty?"
The others stiffened. "What?"
"The Queen?"
"It's the Queen?"
Adina stood there, sweaty and covered in dirt, her chest rising and falling heavily, her strength barely holding her upright. Kora supported her from one side while Thessara stood on the other, looking irritated and angry all at once.
"Don't you see it's the Queen? Get her some water and something to sit on," Thessara barked at the warrior who gawked at them like they were some fresh wonders.
Adina lifted her hand, trying to speak but also trying to catch her breath. It had taken them forever to track Thorne and the warriors, and they were about to settle in one part of the forest when they saw the fire from afar. They traced it, and now they were here.
"Where's my—" She didn't get to complete her words as the air shifted instantly, the way it did whenever Thorne was around.
The warriors fell silent instantly, all parting aside to let the king through. He stepped forward, his gaze landing on Adina and stilled.
For a second, something flickered in his eyes. Then it vanished just as quickly, replaced by something colder.
"What are you doing here?" he asked.
Adina flinched at the tone and coldness in his voice.
"Thorne…"
He shook his head, jaw tight, and for a second, she saw the Thorne from when he was denying their bond.
"Why are you here?"
Adina flinched at the tone, but she didn't look away. Not this time.
"I came for my daughter," she said firmly.
A muscle ticked in Thorne's jaw. His gaze swept over her again, taking in the dirt on her skin, the exhaustion she could barely stand through, the way her body swayed despite her efforts to remain upright
"You shouldn't be here," he said, low and controlled. "You can barely stand."
"I'm standing, aren't I, my king?" The words came out much sharper than intended, but she wasn't going to back down. She was frustrated.
Thorne's eyes darkened. "This is not a place for you right now." His gaze shifted to Thessara. "Take her back at once!" he ordered.