Chapter 33

Her resolve was unshakeable, and it gave me a sliver of strength. For the first time in what felt like forever, I didn’t feel completely alone. Claire was here, and she was willing to risk everything to help me. That meant something—something powerful.

“ But we need a plan,” she continued, releasing my hand as she stood up. “ We need to figure out how to get you out of here safely. And we need to do it soon, before anyone notices.”
I nodded, the weight of the situation pressing down on me. “ Where do we start?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

Claire glanced around the room, her eyes narrowing as if she was assessing every corner, every possible escape route. “ We start by gathering information,” she said decisively. “ We need to know more about the barrier, about how it works. And we need to figure out a way to get past it.”

“ And how do we do that?” I asked, feeling a mix of anxiety and anticipation.

Claire smiled, a hint of mischief in her expression.

“ Leave that to me,” she said. “ I have a few ideas. But first, you need to rest and regain your strength. You’ll need it for what’s to come.”

As she turned to leave, I couldn’t help but feel a surge of gratitude. “ Claire,” I called out, stopping her in her tracks.

She looked back at me, her expression softening.

“ Yes?”

“ Thank you,” I said simply, my voice full of emotion.

Claire’s smile widened, a rare sight that filled me with warmth. “ Don’t thank me yet,” she replied. “ We’re just getting started.”

With that, she slipped out of the room, leaving me alone with my thoughts. The bathwater had cooled, but I didn’t mind. My mind was racing, filled with the possibilities that Claire’s words had opened up.

Escape. The idea was terrifying, but also exhilarating. For the first time in a long time, I had a glimmer of hope. And maybe, just maybe, with Claire’s help, I could find a way out of this nightmare.


*****


( Kaden )


Deon stayed back at the potion shop to regain his strength while Cassandra and I ventured into the magical forest in search of the last ingredient for the potion. It was the only way to track Meara down. According to Cassandra, the potion needed to brew for three days before it would be ready. Once complete, she would dip an amulet into it, chant a spell, and the amulet would then guide us to Meara. The closer we got, the brighter it would glow.

The tension between Cassandra and me was thick, almost suffocating. Neither of us spoke, and I didn’t blame her. She had developed feelings for me, feelings I couldn’t reciprocate. Turning her down was hard, but not as hard as it would have been if I hadn’t. If I had led her on, only to find my true mate later, it would have been even more painful for her.

Cassandra was beautiful—her short red hair framed her face perfectly, and her green eyes had a way of piercing through you. But Meara was different. There was something about her that captivated me in a way I couldn’t explain. It wasn’t just her beauty, though she was undeniably stunning. It was the way she made me feel, the way she pulled at something deep inside me. That’s the thing about finding your true mate—it’s like being caught in a spell. You see only them, love only them. You become possessive, protective, and completely loyal.

We were headed to the dark side of the forest, where the ingredient Cassandra needed could be found. The trees there were thicker, the light dimmer, and the air heavy with an eerie silence. This was no ordinary forest; it was alive with magic, ancient and powerful. As we walked deeper, the shadows seemed to grow longer, and the feeling of being watched crept over me.

Cassandra finally broke the silence. “ You’re sure you want to do this? It’s not too late to turn back.”
Her voice was calm, but I could hear the underlying tension. She wasn’t just talking about the forest; she was talking about Meara. She was giving me an out, a chance to reconsider everything.

“ I have to find her, Cassandra,” I replied, my voice steady. “ She’s my mate.”

Cassandra nodded; her expression unreadable. “ Then let’s get this done.”

We pushed on, the darkness around us growing more oppressive with every step. I could feel the magic in the air, thick and pulsing, as if the forest itself was warning us to turn back. But I couldn’t. Not when Meara was out there, waiting for me.

The trees closed in around us, and the path became harder to follow. Cassandra led the way, her movements swift and sure despite the tension between us. She was determined to help, even if it meant facing her own pain. We needed this ingredient, and we needed it now.

Finally, we reached a clearing, the air colder here, the silence more profound. In the center of the clearing was the plant Cassandra had been searching for—a small, unassuming thing, but radiating power. It glowed faintly, a soft light that seemed to pulse with the heartbeat of the forest.

Cassandra knelt beside it, careful not to touch the leaves as she pulled out a small knife. “ This is it,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “ The final ingredient.”

As she cut the plant, I couldn’t shake the feeling that we were being watched. The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end, and I scanned the tree line, searching for any sign of movement. But there was nothing. Just the oppressive darkness and the weight of the forest’s magic.

“ We need to hurry,” I said, my voice low. “This place isn’t right.”

Cassandra nodded, quickly wrapping the plant in a cloth before tucking it into her bag. “ Let’s go.”

We turned back the way we had come, moving quickly now, the sense of urgency growing. The forest seemed to close in on us, the shadows darker, the air colder. But we made it out, the light of the potion shop a welcome sight as we broke through the trees.

The potion shop was thick with the scent of herbs and simmering magic. Shadows danced on the walls, flickering with the occasional crackle of the fire beneath the cauldron. Deon was slumped in a chair near the table, his skin still pale and clammy despite Cassandra’s antidote. The venom from the Shadowfang’s bite had done a number on him, and though the worst had passed, his shoulder looked bad—jagged and darkened, the flesh around the bite still swollen and angry.

Cassandra had done her best, her usual sharpness softened as she tended to him. Now, she stepped away, her fingers stained with the herbs and potions she’d used to treat him. Her eyes met mine briefly before she turned her attention back to the cauldron. The potion was nearly ready, its deep green hue swirling and shimmering with power.

“ You’re lucky to still be conscious,” Cassandra remarked as she rewrapped the bandages on Deon’s shoulder. “ That venom would have killed most.”

“ I’m not most,” Deon replied, wincing slightly. His voice was weak but determined. “ But enough about me. Did you get the last ingredient?”

I nodded, pulling the moonshade blossom from the satchel. Its petals were still glowing faintly, a soft blue light that seemed almost too delicate for the weight of its purpose. This was the key—the missing piece we needed to finish the locator potion and finally find Meara. Cassandra took the blossom from my hand, dropping it carefully into the cauldron. The liquid hissed and bubbled, shifting from murky green to a vivid, iridescent blue.

“ It’s ready,” Cassandra said, her voice a mix of relief and caution. She reached for a silver amulet on the workbench, a pendant with a crystal embedded at its center. Holding it by its chain, she dipped the amulet into the simmering potion. The liquid swirled around it, bubbling violently as the crystal absorbed the magic.

Blue smoke curled into the air, filling the shop with an electric charge that made my skin prickle. As Cassandra pulled the amulet out, the crystal began to glow with a magical light. Inside the crystal, an ethereal arrow materialized, slowly spinning before locking into place, pointing in a fixed direction.