Chapter 34

Deon leaned forward; his eyes locked on the glowing amulet. “ So that’s it. We have a way to find her now.”

Cassandra nodded, holding the amulet in the air . “ The arrow will guide you to her, wherever she is. The closer we get, the stronger it will glow. It’s drawn to Meara’s unique energy, but this only works if she’s still…intact. If she’s harmed, weakened—”

“ She’s alive,” I interrupted, refusing to let doubt creep in. “ We’ll find her.”

Cassandra set the amulet on the table, the arrow still glowing brightly and pointing in a steady direction. Deon watched it intently, his expression a mixture of determination and fear. “ What if she’s somewhere we can’t reach? What if this doesn’t lead us straight to her but instead to more trouble?”

Cassandra met his gaze, her voice calm but edged with urgency. “ It’s not perfect, but it’s the best chance you’ve got. The arrow points the way. You follow it. You deal with whatever comes when you get there.”

I stared at the glowing crystal; the arrow unwavering as it pointed toward the east. A sense of grim resolve settled over me. We didn’t know exactly where Meara was, but this was the first real lead we’d had since she vanished. She could be anywhere—lost, trapped, or worse. But this was our path forward.

“ First light,” I said, my voice firm. “ We leave at dawn. Cassandra, make sure that amulet stays active. Deon, get some rest and be ready. We don’t know how far we’ll have to go.”

Deon nodded, though his gaze lingered on the amulet, the worry in his eyes betraying the calm he tried to project. Cassandra carefully wrapped the amulet in cloth, placing it securely in my satchel. I could feel the tension in the air, the weight of what lay ahead. There was no telling what we’d face once we started following the amulet’s lead.

As I turned to leave the shop, I caught a glimpse of my own reflection in the darkened window. I looked like hell—tired, worn down, and driven by the anger and fear of what had happened to Meara. She was strong, but she’d been taken from us, and that was a mistake by whoever was responsible and they would live to regret it deeply.

“ We’ll bring her back,” I muttered under my breath, more to myself than anyone else. “ No matter where she is.”

Cassandra’s voice broke the silence, low but filled with unspoken promises. “ You’ll find her, Kaden. And when you do, whoever took her will pay.”

I nodded, my jaw set. The glow of the amulet was still visible from across the room, a constant reminder that Meara was out there, somewhere. We would follow it to the ends of the earth if we had to. This was our only way forward, and I wouldn’t rest until Meara was back where she belonged—safe, with us.


*****


The room was dimly lit, with the soft glow of moonlight filtering through the thin curtains, casting long shadows across the walls. I leaned against the doorframe, watching Deon and Cassandra. They were curled up together on Cassandra’s small bed, their breaths slow and rhythmic as they slept. Deon’s arm was draped protectively over her, and for a moment, the constant weight of worry eased. Despite everything, they had found some comfort in each other. It was good to see Deon like this—at peace, even if only for a night.

But for me, sleep was elusive. Every time I closed my eyes, all I could see was Meara. I imagined her trapped somewhere, alone and scared. The thought of her in danger twisted my insides, making rest impossible. I ran a hand through my hair, trying to steady my racing thoughts. I needed to clear my mind, but Meara’s absence weighed on me like a constant ache that wouldn’t go away.

I slipped out of the shop, quietly shutting the door behind me. The cool night air greeted me as I stepped out into the small, darkened streets of Calenthe. The city was quiet, the occasional distant sound of wind chimes the only noise breaking the silence. I leaned against the stone railing, staring out into the night. I wished there was some way I could reach out to Meara, to tell her that I was coming for her—that she wasn’t alone.

The frustration of not knowing exactly where she was gnawed at me. But there was one comfort I still had—Luka, my spirit animal. He was always a steady presence, even when everything else felt out of control. I closed my eyes, focusing on our bond, reaching out to him through our shared connection. The familiar warmth of his energy greeted me instantly.
“ Luka?” I called out in my mind, the connection flaring to life.

“ Kaden, I’m here,” came Luka’s deep, reassuring voice, resonating through our link. His presence was a comforting anchor, grounding me in the chaos.

“ I’ve got some good news, buddy,” I said, letting a bit of the excitement I felt seep into my tone. “Deon and I are in Calenthe with Cassandra. She made us an amulet that will help us track Meara down.”

There was a pause, and I could feel Luka’s eagerness radiating back at me. “ That’s great news, Kaden,” Luka replied, his voice filled with relief. “ I knew you’d find a way. How soon can you follow it?”

“ We’re leaving at first light,” I said, determination flooding my veins. “ I want you to hold the fort a little while longer. I don’t know how long this will take, but we’re not coming back without her.”

“ I’ll handle things here,” Luka assured me, his voice strong and unwavering. “ The palace is in good paws,” He joked. “ Just focus on bringing her home.”
I nodded, though he couldn’t see me. Luka had always been loyal, a constant guardian over my kingdom—and now, he was watching over everything I was leaving behind. Still, one concern weighed heavily on my mind.

“ How are things with our little snowball?” I asked.

“ She’s much better,” Luka replied, his tone warm with affection. “ Almost back to her usual self. She keeps asking if you have found her yet.”
A wave of relief washed over me. Knowing that snowball was alright, lifted some of the burden. “ Thank you, Luka,” I said quietly, my voice thick with gratitude. “ Keep her safe and tell her I’ll be back soon with Meara.”

“ She’s tougher than you think,” Luka said, a hint of pride in his voice. “ But she’ll be glad to hear it. Just promise me you’ll come back in one piece, too.”
I chuckled softly, though there was no humor in it.

“ I will. We’ll all come back.” But as I said the words, the image of Meara flashed in my mind again. I clenched my fists, feeling the familiar surge of anger and frustration.
“ I can’t lose her, Luka. Not when I just found her.”

“ You won’t,” Luka said firmly. “ You’ve never given up on anything before, and you won’t start now. Just follow that amulet and bring her home.”
I let Luka’s words settle over me, a calming balm to the storm raging inside. “ I’m counting on you, buddy,” I said, my voice steadying. “ You’ve got the palace, and I’ve got Meara. We’ll get through this.”

“ Always, Kaden,” Luka replied, his presence lingering for a moment before fading as our link dimmed.

I stayed out on the street for a while longer, staring out at the horizon where the first hints of dawn would soon appear. The weight of responsibility hung heavy, but Luka’s reassurances gave me the strength I needed to keep going. Meara was out there, and I was going to find her. No matter how long it took, no matter what stood in my way, I’d bring her back.

With one last glance at the darkened streets, I turned and headed back inside. Tomorrow, we would start the journey that would lead us back to her. And when we did, I’d make sure that nothing—and no one—would ever take her away from me again.


*****


( Meara )


I stared at the ceiling, counting the tiny cracks that ran across the old stonework, trying to distract myself from the pain that still lingered in every part of my body. Three days. It had been three days since Kyrell had beaten me nearly to death, and I was still struggling to feel like myself. My body ached, but it was the sight of my reflection that hurt the most. Every time I looked in the mirror, it was like staring at a stranger.

The bruises on my face had started to fade from deep purple to a sickly yellow, and the swelling had gone down, but my skin was still tender to the touch. My cheekbones looked sharper than before, hollowed by the lack of food and constant stress. I’d lost so much weight that my clothes hung loosely off me, the fabric barely clinging to my frame. I hardly recognized the girl staring back at me—weak, tired, and battered.