Chapter 12 #2
I sighed. That was the entire point, but the task of taking another life daunted me. My hands trembled. I would fight to preserve life, not take it away. It went against my nature.
My fingers brushed over the golden bracelet. With a heavy heart, I focused and repeated, I am ready to face my destiny.
Cutting deep through the forest, heavy boulders sprang from the ground rather than trees.
The many twists and turns on our way to the mountain peak made my stomach uncomfortable.
Goose bumps rose on my arms as stillness and eerie ambiance surrounded us.
Even the low rumble of the car engine had quieted.
We were close. What would we find at Cordelia’s cottage?
Hayden swerved the car off the main highway, steering onto a narrow dirt road that led us farther into the dense woodland. The ride became rough as he drove over jagged rocks and loose gravel. We arrived at the end of the path, leaving us with no option but to trek on foot.
Our group hiked for another thirty minutes while following the GPS, and I thought either the directions were wrong, or Cordelia lived in a cottage isolated from the world.
It turned out to be the latter.
The forest, thick with twisted trees, cast long, crooked shadows that seemed to reach out, hungry. Hidden deep within the heart of the dense woods, nestled against the pointed peaks of a mountain range, lay the dark witch’s mountain cottage, secluded from the world’s prying eyes.
As we approached, the air grew heavy with a sense of anxiety, as if the mountains and the trees were waking.
The cabin appeared to be an extension of the landscape.
Weathered black stones constructed its walls, overgrown with creeping vines, twisting like sinister serpents.
The roof tiles had long decayed and cracked at the entrance. A heavy wooden door stood ajar.
“It looks abandoned,” Hayden said.
Some of the weight on my shoulders lifted. Ugh, the point was to find Cordelia.
“I doubt we will find her inside. But still, I wonder what we can learn about her,” I said and kept walking.
This place was nothing like the cozy cottages I read about in my bedtime stories. It was more like a scary, wobbly structure that made you think twice before stepping inside, as if you might never see your own home again.
One of our warriors strolled past Hayden and me. Before I could warn him, he took confident steps toward the abandoned structure, stepping over the gray stones leading to the front entrance.
The warrior marched onto the level slab of stone ahead of the front steps, and suddenly, the ground gave way. He plummeted into a hidden pit, letting out a painful scream that sent birds scattering into the sky.
We rushed to the edges of the hole in the soil. Several silver stakes with spiderwebs jutted from the bottom of the pit. The warrior’s unmoving body lay awkwardly, with a sharp blade sticking out of his bloody chest and another poking out his thigh.
My breath hitched in my throat. I clenched my hands into fists, strengthening my resolve.
“Cordelia must have set traps.” My voice came out shaky as I stared at the man we’d just lost. “Does anyone know his name?”
Even though the werewolves chose to serve the King and took on the risk that came with the position, I couldn’t shake off the guilt and the feeling that I was responsible for them.
Several of the men informed me of the fallen warrior’s name. I squeezed my eyes shut, imagining the moment I had to walk to this man’s home and meet his family, bringing the bad news of his demise.
Another part of the job I’m not excited about.
Hayden’s arm brushed over mine, making me snap my eyes open. “Sweetheart, right now, you should worry about your safety. We should probably leave. I doubt we’ll find anything.”
His voice sounded so calm, as if he’d just asked me about the weather. I glanced at him as I ground my teeth.
“He was one of our men, Hayden. Of course his life matters as much as ours,” I said in an elevated tone that made Hayden frown. I turned to the other warriors behind me. “I’d like to personally visit his family.”
I didn’t want to ask whether he had a mate and pups, fearing I would break down in front of everyone.
“Yes, Princess Breanna,” one of the men said. “Usually, the King visits the family to break the sad news, but I will take you to his house when we return, if that’s what you wish.”
With his hand over his heart, the warrior made a small bow.
I nodded and then faced Hayden. His spiky blond hair and striking blue eyes captivated me as usual. His face exuded the familiar, gentle charm, with chiseled features I’d come to like over the years.
But I couldn’t ignore the subtle shifts occurring in him. Once easy and carefree, his smiles now held a touch of mischievous and unfamiliar intensity.
A chill ran through me, but I couldn’t identify if it was because of Hayden’s proximity or because I stood at the entrance of the run-down structure. It was probably both.
Some invisible force propelled me forward—it could be my witch instincts—as if more clues awaited me inside the abandoned structure. I trusted my gut feeling, and now an energy surged through my veins like a faint hum in the air, guiding me indoors.
I motioned for the men to follow. “Let’s go inside.”