Chapter 43

( Meara )


I heard voices. They were faint and distant, like echoes coming from far away. I tried to focus on what they were saying, but the words were muffled, lost in the thick fog clouding my mind. The voices felt familiar, but it couldn’t be true. There was no way I was back in Valtor. My heart ached at the thought; this couldn’t be real. I had to be dreaming, or worse, I was still trapped in Dravonia.

I felt a soft touch on my face, gentle and warm, brushing a strand of hair away. The touch was so tender, almost hesitant, as if afraid of hurting me. As soon as the fingers touched my skin, warm sparks shot through my body. It was like tiny jolts of electricity, waking up parts of me that had been numb for so long.

I gasped softly. There was only one person who could make me feel this way—Kaden. But it couldn’t be him. My mind had to be playing tricks on me. Hezron was probably trying to mess with my head, making me believe something that wasn’t true. I knew it wasn’t real, yet the warmth, the comfort of that touch, was impossible to ignore.

I squeezed my eyes shut, fighting the emotions that threatened to spill over. The last thing I remembered was the cold darkness of Dravonia, the bruises, the chains, and Hezron’s cruel gaze. I was still there, wasn’t I? I was still trapped, still suffering.

I curled up, waiting for the pain to come, waiting for the darkness to pull me under again. But instead, the warmth stayed, lingering on my skin like a gentle reminder that I wasn’t alone. I felt a thumb brush across my cheek, wiping away the tears I didn’t even realize I was crying.

“ It’s okay. You’re safe now.”

The voice was deep and rough, filled with a kind of urgency I’d never heard before. It was Kaden’s voice. Strong, but shaky, like he was barely holding himself together. I wanted to believe him. I wanted so badly for it to be true, but I couldn’t bring myself to trust it. Not yet.

My lips parted, but no words came out. My throat felt tight, my voice trapped somewhere deep inside. I wanted to reach out, to touch him and see if he was really there, but my body wouldn’t move. I was too weak, too scared. My mind kept screaming that this was all a lie, just another cruel trick.

Slowly, I forced my eyes to open, blinking against the blurry vision that greeted me. The light was soft and golden, filling the room with a warmth I hadn’t felt in so long. Everything was fuzzy, and my sight struggled to clear, but I could make out a figure leaning over me. Dark hair, strong shoulders, and eyes filled with worry.

Kaden.

It was him. I could see it now, clear as day. His face was twisted with anger and pain, his eyes fixed on me like he couldn’t believe I was really here. My heart pounded, my chest aching with a mix of relief and fear. I tried to lift my hand, to reach for him, but my arm was too heavy, my strength gone.

Kaden’s touch was gentle as he held my hand, his grip firm yet comforting. I felt his warmth seep into my skin, and for a moment, I allowed myself to believe it was real. That somehow, he’d found me, rescued me, and brought me back. But the fear was still there, whispering that it was all too good to be true.

I wanted to speak, to tell him how scared I’d been, how I’d thought I would never see him again. But all I could do was close my eyes and let his touch remind me that I wasn’t alone anymore. Maybe, just maybe, I was finally safe.

So I dared to slowly opened my eyes. The light was soft, and the room was warm. I blinked a few times, trying to clear my vision. Everything felt strange, like I was waking up from a bad dream. My body ached, and my throat was dry, but I was awake. I was really awake.

Kaden sat beside me; his face filled with relief. When he saw me looking at him, a soft smile spread across his lips. He looked tired, like he hadn’t slept in days, but there was a warmth in his eyes that made my heart feel a little lighter.

“ You’re awake, little one,” he said, his voice full of emotion. The nickname he always called me made my chest tighten. I never thought I’d be so happy to hear his voice. I squeezed his hand, feeling the warmth of his touch. He was really here.

I tried to sit up, but my body was still weak. Kaden quickly helped me, propping me up with soft pillows.

“ I’m so glad you’re okay,” he whispered, his eyes never leaving mine.

I looked around, feeling confused. This wasn’t Kaden’s sleeping chamber. The room was beautiful and elegant, unlike anything I’d seen before. Vines of pink flowers climbed the walls, and a small built-in library stood near one of the open arch windows, letting in a gentle breeze. The room was breathtaking, like something out of a dream.

“ Where am I?” I asked, still trying to piece everything together. My voice was raspy and weak, but Kaden’s presence gave me some strength.

“ This is your room,” Kaden said softly. “ I had it made just for you.”

His words took me by surprise, and I looked around again, taking in the beautiful details. It was perfect, almost like he had taken everything I’d ever wanted and put it into one place. But I still couldn’t understand how I had gotten here. My last memories were dark, painful flashes of being trapped and hurt.

“ How… how am I back in Valtor?” I asked, confusion thick in my voice. I didn’t remember escaping, and it all felt so unreal.

Kaden’s expression softened. “I found you,” he said gently, brushing a strand of hair out of my face. “ You were in Dravonia. I got you out.”

I was overwhelmed. I never thought I’d make it out of there, let alone end up back in Valtor in a room so beautiful it felt like a dream. I turned my gaze back to Kaden, and tears welled in my eyes. I didn’t know how to express what I felt. Relief, gratitude, and a flood of emotions all tangled together.

Kaden leaned in, his forehead resting against mine.

“ You’re safe now, little one. I promise.”

Hearing those words from him, feeling his presence so close, made everything feel a little less heavy.

“ I have a surprise for you,” Kaden whispered in my ear, his breath warm against my skin. I blinked up at him, confused. What surprise could he possibly have for me? I was safe, and that was all that mattered now.
Kaden stood up, a mysterious smile on his lips. “ Luka!” he called out, and the door to my room creaked open. Luka’s massive form filled the doorway, his black fur shimmering in the light. But my eyes caught something moving behind him, something white and familiar. I pushed myself up, trying to see better, my heart pounding in my chest.

And then I saw her.

Merilla. Her fur was as white as fresh snow, just as I remembered. I couldn’t believe my eyes. Flashes of that awful day at the Elemental Games filled my mind—Merilla’s lifeless body lying on the ground, her fur stained with blood. The memory was still raw, and tears welled up, blurring my vision.

“ No, it can’t be,” I whispered, my voice trembling.

“ She was dead. I saw it with my own eyes.” My words broke into sobs, my chest tightening as I tried to make sense of what I was seeing.

Kaden moved closer; his gaze soft. “ The healers managed to revive her,” he said gently. “ And Luka gave her some of his energy source.”

I looked at Luka, my heart swelling with gratitude for the magnificent creature. He had saved my spirit animal, the other half of my soul. “ Thank you,” I mouthed to Luka, my voice lost in the emotion of the moment. He nodded, his tail wagging slowly, as if he understood how much this meant to me.

Merilla leaped onto the bed, her movements graceful and light. Her presence brought a rush of warmth and comfort, something I hadn’t felt in so long. I stared at her, overwhelmed.

“ I have missed you,” Merilla’s soft voice echoed in my mind, soothing and familiar. It was all I needed to hear to finally believe that I was truly back in Valtor, safe and whole. Tears streamed down my cheeks as I reached for her, scooping her up into my arms. I held her tight, feeling her soft fur against my skin, and I let myself cry, not out of sadness but out of pure, overwhelming relief.