Chapter 29

But he wasn’t done. As I lay there, struggling to make sense of the world around me, Kyrell kicked me in the stomach, the impact knocking the wind out of me. I curled up, trying to protect myself, but he kicked me again, harder this time. Agony shot through my body, and I could barely breathe, the pain consuming every part of me.

I bit down on my lip, trying not to scream, but tears filled my eyes as the reality of my situation sank in. There was no escape from this monster. Kyrell towered over me, his expression cold and satisfied as he watched me struggle.

“ You’re nothing,” he sneered. “ And you’ll learn your place, even if I have to beat it into you.”

I could barely hear him over the sound of my own heartbeat pounding in my ears. My body ached, and I knew bruises would cover every inch of me by morning. But even through the pain, a spark of defiance remained.

I wouldn’t let him break me. Not now, not ever.

I lay crumpled on the cold stone floor, every inch of my body screaming in pain. The kicks to my stomach knocked the breath out of me, leaving me gasping, struggling to pull air into my lungs. My vision blurred, tears mingling with the blood dripping from the cut on my lip.

I wanted to fight back, to scream at him that I wasn’t his to break, but my strength was slipping away. My body felt like it was shutting down, refusing to endure any more of his cruelty. As he moved to hit me again, I could feel myself slipping away. The world around me faded, the pain and fear fading into darkness. I couldn’t hold on any longer. Everything just… stopped.

The last thing I felt before everything went black was the cold floor beneath me, and then, nothing at all.


*****


( Kaden )


I woke up gasping for air, my heart racing as if I’d just run a marathon. The dream—or whatever it was—still clung to me, vivid and terrifying. Meara was hurt, lying on the ground, lifeless. Her face was pale, her body beaten. It wasn’t just a nightmare. It felt too real. I could feel her pain as if it were my own, like a knife twisting in my gut.

The connection between us, forged when she’d drained herself of her powers, must have intensified. I never expected to see her this clearly or to feel her suffering so deeply. But there was no denying it now. She was in trouble, and I had to reach her.

Before I could get a grip on the fear coursing through me, Deon rushed into the room, his eyes wide with concern. “ Kaden, what’s going on? Are you alright?”
I tried to slow my breathing, but the urgency clawed at me. “ It’s Meara… I saw her. She’s hurt, Deon. I can feel it.”

Deon stared at me, trying to understand. “What do you mean? Like a vision?”

I shook my head, feeling the weight of it all bearing down on me. “ No, it’s not just a vision. It’s the connection. When I shared my energy with her, it tied us together. I can feel her pain. And right now, she’s in danger. We have to go. We can’t stay here.”

Deon didn’t hesitate. He knew this was serious.

“ Where is she? Where do we go?”

“ The witches’ kingdom, Calenthe. I don’t know what’s happening to her, but we need to leave now.” I was already getting dressed, pulling on my boots, strapping my weapons to my belt. I couldn’t afford to waste any time.

As I moved, my mind kept replaying the vision—Meara’s broken body, her lifeless eyes. The rage that followed was overwhelming. Whoever had done this to her would suffer, and I would make sure of it.

Deon returned within minutes, ready for the journey.

“ Everything’s set. We can leave immediately.”

“ Good,” I growled, barely containing the storm brewing inside me. “ We don’t stop until we find her.”

We stepped out into the cool night air, but it did nothing to quell the heat of my anger. The bond between Meara and me pulsed like a heartbeat, driving me forward. I couldn’t lose her. Not now. Not ever.

And if anyone had laid a hand on her… they would pay. In blood.


*****


Deon and I set off on horseback, determined to find Meara. As we rode, the reality of our task weighed heavily on me. The journey to Calenthe, the witches' kingdom, would be hard. We’d have to pass through the Water Kingdom first, then navigate the treacherous magical forest surrounding Calenthe. The road ahead was long, nearly three days' journey, but I couldn’t afford to think about the obstacles. Meara was in danger, and that was all that mattered.

As the horses trotted along, I couldn’t help but glance at Deon. He had been silent since we left, his usual lighthearted demeanor replaced by a somber expression. I knew part of it had to do with Cassandra. After she and I went our separate ways, Deon had grown close to her. It was something I hadn’t given much thought to until now.

“ We’ll need her help,” I finally said, breaking the silence.

Deon nodded. “ She might listen to me. Cassandra… she’s different now, but she still has a soft spot for those she cares about.”

A wave of relief washed over me. If anyone could convince Cassandra to help us, it was Deon. Despite everything, I knew Cassandra wasn’t heartless, and maybe Deon’s bond with her would be enough to sway her.

“ We have to reach her in time,” I muttered, more to myself than to Deon.

“ We will,” Deon replied firmly. “ We’ll find Meara, Kaden. I promise.”

I didn’t respond, but his words gave me a glimmer of hope. The path ahead was uncertain, but I had to believe we would succeed. For Meara’s sake.

Getting through the Water Kingdom of Valtor was the easy part. The water elementals did as I asked, parting the waters for their king so we could pass through quickly. It only took a day to journey through the kingdom’s beautiful forests and shimmering lakes. But now, standing at the edge of the Magical Forest, I could feel the tension rising.

Deon suggested we wait until morning to enter the forest, but I couldn't afford the delay. Every moment wasted was another moment Meara could be in danger. The thought of her suffering drove me forward.

" We can’t wait, Deon," I said firmly, dismounting my horse. " We go now."

Deon looked at me, concerned. " Kaden, the forest is treacherous at night. We could lose our way or worse."

" I can’t let fear stop me, Deon," I replied. " We need to get to Cassandra as soon as possible. Every second counts."

Deon sighed but nodded in agreement. " Alright. But we’ll have to leave the horses here. The forest is too dense for them."

I nodded, and we secured the horses at the edge of the forest. The air was thick with magic as we stepped into the shadows of the ancient trees. The path ahead was dark and twisted, and I could feel the forest’s enchantments tugging at my senses, trying to disorient me.

But my focus was unwavering. The bond I shared with Meara pulled me forward like a beacon, guiding me through the maze of trees. Deon followed close behind, his hand ready on his weapon in case of danger.

The forest was alive with whispers and strange noises, but we pressed on, determined to reach Calenthe before it was too late. There was a way around the forest, but that would take two more days—a delay we couldn’t afford.

As we walked, I could feel the weight of what lay ahead. Cassandra was our best hope, but after everything that happened between us, I wasn’t sure how she would react. Deon, however, had grown close to her after we separated. If anyone could convince her to help, it was him.

" We’ll make it through this, Kaden," Deon said quietly, as if sensing my doubts. " We’ll find her."

I nodded, though my heart was heavy. I could only hope we weren’t too late.

As we entered the dense, foreboding magical forest, I could feel the weight of the air around us—thick with enchantments and ancient magic. Every shadow seemed alive, every rustle of leaves a potential threat. The trees towered above, their twisted branches casting a web of darkness that blocked out the moonlight, leaving us in an almost suffocating gloom. The urgency to find Meara weighed at me, making every second in this cursed place feel like an eternity.

" We need to stay sharp," Deon murmured, my eyes darting from one shadow to the next. The forest had a way of playing tricks on the mind, making it hard to distinguish between what was real and what was an illusion.

I nodded, my hand resting on the hilt of my sword. " I know, but we have no choice. Meara’s life depends on us getting to Calenthe as fast as possible."