<b>CHAPTER </b><b>107 </b>


    As soon as I entered the camp I walked around looking at everyone making weapons and trying to find ces to hunt for food. There was so little of that around here that they had to travel far distances to find where the food was.


    I saw Arthur standing at the end of the vige talking to a few people and I feltpletely depleted when I saw him.


    He noticed me but I just stood there staring at him for a moment. Not moving, not talking… not doing anything.


    Loud talking soon got my attention and I looked over at two men having an argument but I just ignored them and I turned back and went to my hut where I had been staying with Elias.


    I sat on the bed, watching the sun dip lower in the sky. Hunters left camp, always eager, as if they’d return with arge kill to feed everyone. I doubted it–there wasn’t enough left in this realm to sustain the few survivors. The thought made my chest tighten. Even when they came back, I feared we’d go hungry, like we had so many times before.


    I just kept thinking about the warriors. They risked everything, they left their packs and vowed their allegiance to me only to be snatched away and possibly killed while trying to protect the


    survivors of this realm.


    It was an honorable way to die–they were protecting innocents. Otherwise, they weren’t harming anyone. They were just in the way of someone who opposed my decision to storm the castle. That was the only exnation I could grasp. The only thing that made sense to <ol><li>me. </li></ol>


    Someone was stopping them from helping me take the castle. Whether it was the Ash Queen or it was Arthur. Someone was doing something here. And I didn’t know w to stop them.


    “Lyra.” Arthur sang out from the doorway.


    “Yeah.” I said.


    He walked inside and saw me sitting on the bed, staring out the window as if the forest might hand me back all that I’d lost.


    “Is everything alright?” he asked.


    “Nope. Far from alright.”


    “Where’s Elias? He didn’te back with you.”


    +25 Points X


    “There were tracks at the site. He’s following them. Hopefully he’s going to find our warriors.” “I hope he will too. He’s a good tracker, isn’t he?”


    “One of the best.”


    “Then he’ll find them. I’m sorry about your men. I know they were good people. They risked everything toe here and help you. To help their Queen.”


    “Yeah. A lot of good that did them. Imagine how many families I’m going to have to talk to when I get home if we can’t find them.” The thought alone made my chest tighten.


    “You can’t think like that.” He pulled out a chair and sat across from me, trying to steady his tone.


    “I know. But it’s hard sometimes. I don’t know why this can’t just be easier. Why can’t life be easier?” My voice cracked at the end, half frustration, half despair.


    “I know you’ve had it rough. I mean, you’ve had it rough since you were born.”


    “Yeah.”


    “But I know that this will work out. I promise this will all work out.”


    “I don’t see how<i>.</i><i>” </i>The words were sharp, heavier than I intended, but they were the truth.


    “You’ll find your warriors, and we’ll defeat the Ash Queen. Then you’ll be able to go home to your baby.”


    “I’ve already been away from him for too long.” My throat ached, and I forced my eyes back to the window so he wouldn’t see the wetness gathering there.


    “He’s still a baby. He’s not going to really notice.”


    “He won’t. But I will. I’ll always know I left him when he needed me m.st.”


    “I’m sure he’ll understan


    “I gues


    er.”


    ollow, more like


    der than hope.


    hy etched acr


    didn’t stay lo


    ge, doing w


    only made the emptiness


    didn’t wantpany. He


    are I was watching him closely. If vige would track him and link me


    d did; even the smallest detail could


    ight, the w


    needed


    d of di


    < CHAPTER 107


    As the sun set and everyone prepared camp for nightfall, I heard Elias and Luke return.


    I walked out, and Elias looked furious. One nce told me everything.


    He punched a hole in a hut before walking toward me.


    “No sign <i>of </i>them?” I asked.


    <b>+25 </b>Points>


    “No. They went around in circles for a while. I don’t even know if we were following the right tracks. Could have been from patrols or… some s**t like that.” Elias said, his voice tight with


    frustration.


    “Alright. We’ll find them. If they’re alive, we’re not leaving without them.” I said, keeping my tone steady.


    “We can’t leave anyway. Not until we figure out what the hell is going on here,” he growled, clenching his fists.


    “I know.” I replied calmly, taking a slow breath to match his storm.


    “Anything from Arthur yet?” he asked, eyes darting with suspicion.


    “No. But I want to talk to you about it. Not here. Later.” I said, careful to hold his gaze without flinching.


    “Alright,” he muttered, though the tension didn’t leave his shoulders.


    “I know he had something to do with them going missing. It’s so we couldn’t attack the castle.<i>” </i>Elias said, his jaw tight.


    “I know. He’s already managed to get everyone to stop making weapons.” I said, letting my words sink in.


    “Really?<i>” </i>His eyes widened in disbelief. “If he had nothing to do with it, he be acting differently. Letting them keep making weapons while hoping we find the wolves…” His voice trailed off, angry.


    “I know<i>. </i>That’s exactly what I was thinking.” I said evenly.


    “I really want to kill that guy.” Elias admitted, the fury clear in his tone.


    “And


    you know what? I’m going to let you. He’s all yours when the time is right.” I said, voice steady, letting him vent while keeping control.


    “And that’s why I love you.” He said, finally softening, wrapping his arms around me.


    I knew he wasn’t doing that just for appreciation–he needed me to calm him, his wolf, and


    < CHAPTER 107


    <b>+25 </b>Points


    his thoughts. He was furious, and it wasn’t helping any of us. We had to stay sharp, even if we didn’t know the rules. That night, the vige warriors stayed vignt, reporting every movement in camp. We needed to know everything.


    As soon as morning came, Elias got up and headed out with Luke. They would keep searching for the warriors until they found them.


    I stood by the hut, watching them go, then turned to the vige, seeing people walking around like a normal day.


    But it was anything but.


    I walked through the center of the vige and I found Arthur talking to a couple of people.


    “Go away.” I said to the other people.


    They looked at Arthur and he just nodded for them to leave.


    “That was a bit rude.” Arthur said.


    “I don’t care right now. You win, alright.” I said.


    “What are you talking about?” He asked.


    “You win. Let’s go. You and me. We’ll go to the castle alone. Elias has already gone so we have to go now. Before hees back.” I said. <fn7c22> N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on find?novel</fn7c22>


    “Are you sure?” He asked.


    “Why are you questioning me? You’re the one that wants this. Let’s go. I’m sick of sitting here and doing nothing.” I said.


    So he smiled at me like he had actually won something and he turned to g5 a couple of things and I grabbed a bow and arrow and we started to leave the vige.


    “Do you know how <i>to </i>use those?” He asked.


    “Yeah. I do.” I said.


    So we walked through the vige and out towards the vast empty space that used to be filled with lush forestry and special animals and flowers.


    I was nervous, I wasn’t going to lie. But I knew that this was the only way I was ever going to get any answers. So I felt like I had no choice.