Chapter 136: Hope
The scratching at the window pulls me from my turbulent thoughts, my heart racing as I rush to open it. A messenger hawk flutters in, its wings beating against the air like a frantic drum. I can feel the urgency in its presence, and hope ignites in my chest.
After years of fruitless searching, could this be the sign I’ve been waiting for? I quickly dress, shoving the letters and Noelle’s journal into the inner pocket of my jacket, feeling the worn pages crumple against my chest. They’re all I have left of him, and I can’t risk losing them.
Once I’m ready, I dash outside, the chill of the night air hitting me like a splash of cold water. I mount my horse, spurring it forward without a second thought. The urgency of Leona’s message reverberates in my mind—she found a clue. Just the thought sends adrenaline coursing through my veins.
I race toward the port, heart pounding in rhythm with the horse’s hooves against the cobblestones. Memories of the past few years flash through my mind—every dead end, every futile search. Noelle’s disappearance weighs heavily on me, a burden I can’t seem to shake. I remember the moment we heard he had escaped with Ben and Mona, seeking refuge in the Church of Elaris on the outskirts of the capital. The Church had always been a sanctuary for omegas and women in need.
But when we arrived, all we found were ashes. The charred remains of the once-sacred place lay before us, smoldering in the night. The priestesses, the kind-hearted women who would have offered sanctuary, were gone, their lives extinguished in a senseless act of violence. My heart twisted at the thought, anger and sorrow melding into a potent cocktail of grief.
The prince had insisted he had nothing to do with it. After all the torture we’ve put him through, I believe him. So who was responsible? I had searched for the Robbens, convinced they had orchestrated this nightmare, but they were not responsible either and in a fit of anger I killed Sevian, I also uprooted every single person I thought might be responsible. It was as if Noelle had vanished into thin air, not a clue.
As I ride faster, determination surges through me. I won’t rest until I uncover the truth. Noelle is out there, and I can feel it in my bones. I will find him, no matter what it takes.
**
I arrive at the port, every muscle in my body screaming in exhaustion, yet a surge of anxious energy keeps me moving. The air is thick with salt and the faint sounds of waves crashing against the docks, but it does little to calm the storm within me. Soon, a figure emerges from the shadows, his demeanor shifty as he leads me to a small, weather-beaten house tucked away from prying eyes.
Inside, the atmosphere is tense. A man huddles in the corner, trembling, his hands shaking uncontrollably. I notice he’s missing a few fingers—Leona’s handiwork, no doubt. She stands tall beside me, a formidable presence.