9. Dacre

CHAPTER 9

DACRE

M y legs felt like lead as I trudged forward, each step a struggle.

The weight of my father's disappointment hung heavily on my shoulders. I prayed I had made it deep enough into the forest by the time they realized I was gone, but the thought of his seething fury was nothing compared to thoughts of her.

My father already didn't trust me, and now I had given him even more reason not to.

I had already chosen Verena over him, over the rebellion, when I had let her run instead of bringing her to him, but now, I was choosing her over everything .

I knew that he would be furious, but I couldn't find it in myself to regret my decision. Even if that meant that I would pay the consequences when I returned. If I returned.

The fear of being caught by them, of them stopping me from getting to her, consumed me, pushing me onward without pause.

My muscles ached and burned with a desperate need to reach her before they did—before Eiran did.

Time was slipping away, and I could feel the urgency building inside me like a ticking time bomb. I had to get to her.

The only way to do that was to push myself beyond my limits, ignoring the throbbing exhaustion in my limbs and the breathlessness in my chest.

I had already used my magic once to heal myself after I stumbled down the rocky slope, barely managing to stay on my feet as my foot caught on a jutting rock and sent me careening forward.

The jagged edges tore through the skin of my shins, leaving behind deep cuts that stung with every step I took.

My body was already drained from the lack of rest, and the use of my magic to help myself only pushed me further into exhaustion.

In this world, everything came at a price; even our magic had its own toll. I couldn't shake the fear that Verena's price would be the greatest of all.

My gaze lifted up to the bright, full moon above. The sky was painted with midnight blues and purples, and a gentle breeze carried a chill through the air. Determination fueled my steps as I pressed forward, heading toward the southernmost point I could reach.

Eiran was headed to the Southern Sea, and I was almost certain that Verena would be as well. She had told me once that she had dreamed of boarding a boat and sailing away from the life she knew, from the world that set out to destroy her.

But I hadn't realized then how real that dream would need to become.

If Verena was to survive, if she were to have any life worth living, then she had to leave this kingdom behind.

My heart raced as I allowed myself to think of this kingdom without her in it. I had known of the princess all my life, known the role I would play in taking away her crown, and yet, the moment she came into my life, she became it.

I didn't care about her crown, her rule, or the damned king and what he'd be willing to give up for her.

I cared about her, and that was dangerous.

The gentle breeze whispered through the trees, rustling their leaves and sending a shiver down my spine. I rubbed my hands up and down my arms, trying to ward off the chill in the air.

But it didn't work.

The crisp bite of the air was more than just the fall of night. It carried an eerie stillness, as if something was amiss. The hairs on the back of my neck rose, and I couldn't shake the feeling that something lurked just out of sight. A sense of unease settled in the pit of my stomach, warning me to be on guard for whatever was to come.

My senses were on high alert, my power tingling and pulsing in anticipation. My grip tightened on the handle of my dagger, knuckles turning white from the pressure, while my eyes darted back and forth, searching for any movement or threat.

The surrounding woods were still and quiet, but I couldn't stop the unsettling feeling that gnawed at me.

I crouched behind a gnarled oak tree, its twisted branches providing some cover. The rough bark scraped against my palms, but I paid it no mind as I strained my ears. Other than the gentle breeze and the rustling of leaves, there was nothing but eerie silence.

The forest itself seemed to hold its breath, as if even nature knew something was amiss.

What was it?

The minutes crept by, each one leaving a trail of chill bumps on my arms. My hands trembled as I forced myself back to my feet.

My whole body prickled with unease.

I pushed forward, heading deeper south. With each step, my eyes flicked nervously from side to side, scanning every inch of my surroundings. The brittle crunch of leaves underfoot echoed in the stillness of the dense forest.

Every muscle in my body tensed, ready to react, as I trudged on, the unforgiving terrain sapping my strength. But my gut told me not to stop.

My throat was parched, my legs were aching, and my mind felt like it was slowly unraveling. I couldn't tell if it was just figments of my exhaustion, but one thing was for sure, the gnawing feeling in my gut was becoming unbearable, and I knew I needed to find water and rest before continuing on.

I turned toward the west, heading back to the small river I had left behind. I had deliberately stayed a mile away from it, knowing that my father would most likely be near its banks. I followed the familiar path that traced the water's winding journey through our kingdom, longing for a drink.

As I trudged along, my mind raced with a plan. I needed to drink water and find some shelter for a few hours of rest. But my main objective was to reach the south as quickly as possible.

Thoughts of her consumed me.

Go south.

Find her.

And I would. The unknown stretched out before us, a future filled with uncertainties and dangers, but the one thing I knew for sure was, I wouldn't stop until I found her.

A surge of determination flooded me as the river finally came into view.

She was mine, and I would find her.

As that thought solidified in my mind, the hair on the back of my neck stood at attention.

Someone was here.

I cautiously crept closer to the water's edge, my feet softly crunching on the rocks beneath them. The moonlight glinted off the surface of the waters, casting dancing shadows on the rocky bank.

And then, out of nowhere, a voice drifted through the stillness of the night.

"Don't drink so much at once. You'll make yourself sick." The warning was laced with laughter, the sound so familiar I would never be able to forget it.

Eiran.

Silently, I maneuvered closer, my feet sinking into the rocks that crunched softly under my weight. Hiding behind a towering maple tree, I peered around its trunk trying to catch a glimpse of him.

His broad back was turned toward me, completely oblivious to my presence.

He had traveled back to the hidden city.

That was what my father had told me, and even though I already knew he lied, seeing Eiran in front of me just wedged the dagger of my father's deceit further into my chest.

Eiran was here, and he wasn't alone.

"I understand that traveling farther away from the water is smarter to keep us hidden, but gods, am I thirsty."

A chill ran through my veins as I heard her voice.

Verena.

He had her.

I crouched low, my eyes scanning past him until I finally caught sight of her. She was kneeling by the water's edge, her clothing stained with mud from days of travel. Her hair was braided tightly against her scalp, strands of warm brown escaping to frame her delicate features. She cupped water in her hands and brought it to her lips, drinking as if she hadn't had water in days.

Eiran had her, but she was alive and seemingly unharmed.

"I know, but we're gonna make camp for the night soon." Eiran stood with his arms crossed over his chest, his gaze fixed on Verena. "We'll stay nearby, and you can have your fill. I promise."

Verena scooped up another handful of the crystal-clear water and brought it to her lips, taking a long drink before letting the remaining drops fall from her fingers back into the calm current.

Her face was flushed with color and her hair spilled messily around her face, making her seem wild and untamed.

"You're taking first watch this time." She looked up at him as she rose to her feet, and I could see her wince slightly and limp as she shifted her weight onto her injured leg.

She was hurt.

"I'll do whatever it takes to get you off that ankle for a little bit." Eiran nodded, gesturing toward her lower body. "Let's find somewhere safe so you can get some rest."

Verena nodded, her head moving slowly and wearily. Eiran approached her, his steps deliberate as he moved closer. He wrapped an arm around her waist and she leaned into him, trusting him. She draped her arm over his shoulder, clutching his shirt with a white-knuckle grip.

As she shifted her weight onto him, I felt my fists clench at my sides, fighting the urge to rip her away from him.

I hadn't trusted Eiran for as long as I could remember, and I hated that I was right about who he had become. He was the embodiment of our fathers' puppet, his every move controlled by the twisted strings of power.

He used to be my closest friend, outside of Kai, but now he was nothing more than a traitor.

And he was certainly no friend to Verena.

Even if the way he was looking down at her would convince even someone who knew the truth of why he was here that he cared for her.

I hadn't been a friend to her either.

But fuck , that was different.

We were different.

Verena…she meant something to me and watching her now with him made my chest ache.

Eiran was consumed by his own desires and the relentless pursuit of this rebellion. He had no regard for anything that didn't align with what they wanted.

And Verena was not safe as long as she was with him.

Every fiber of my being screamed against it, knowing he would only bring her harm.

It didn't matter that he looked down at her so tenderly; he would not be loyal to anyone but the rebellion.

I followed closely behind as they slowly made their way back from the water's edge. Eiran had his hand resting gently on her waist, guiding and supporting her with each step. Her body instinctively leaned into his, fitting against him as she found solace in his presence.

She was comfortable with him.

He had made her comfortable with him.

And somehow that thought was more of a betrayal than anything else.

But for the moment, she was safe and relatively unharmed, and I was here.

My father hadn't been able to get his hands on her, despite his henchman who now had his arm wrapped around her, and neither had the king.

And now that I had found her, I would make sure that they wouldn't be able to.

My mind raced as I desperately searched for a plan to get her away from Eiran, away from them all.

But she didn't trust me.

If she was forced to make a choice between me and Eiran, I feared that I would not be the one she chose.

The weight of this realization suffocated me with its significance.

The sound of her laughter rang through the air, and I watched as she looked up at him, her cheeks dimpled with a smile. He smiled down at her as well, his gaze roaming over the details of her face, and it made me want to break his jaw.

She had betrayed me, and gods, I knew I had betrayed her too. I had been fucking cruel to her out of my own hurt, but none of those things made it any less true that she was still mine.

She was the heir to the kingdom, the princess to the fucking king who killed my mother, but none of that made her any less mine .

They paused and Eiran gently guided her to a nearby tree, its twisted roots snaking in and out of the ground. She sank down onto the cool earth, leaning back against the bark and stretching out her legs in front of her.

"I need to get this ankle rebraced," Eiran said, his fingers tracing the stitching on her worn leather boots, and I clenched my jaw so tightly that I feared I would crack my teeth.

If it were me, I would heal her, but Eiran did not possess that ability.

My mother used to say that only those who were innately good could heal, and as a boy, I had believed her words when she ran her fingers through my hair and taught me how to fix a scrape on Wren's knee.

But as an adult, I no longer held on to that belief.

It had been hard to see goodness in the world since she died. Impossible to see the good in myself.

I hadn't been able to heal my mother, hadn't been able to save her.

And I hadn't healed anyone else since that day in the palace.

Not until I healed her .

I was not good.

Because I would do whatever it took to get her back. Even if she didn't want to be, she was mine.