Chapter#25

Selene’s POV

My eyes darted through the shadows as we crouched near the building where Caden had found Mara. “We need a plan, now,” I whispered, as I turned to Rowan and Caden.

Rowan’s eyes narrowed, “That chain on her ankle, it’s iron, heavy. I’ve got a lockpick, but it’ll take time to break it quietly. Caden, scout for guards, see if there’s a clear path out. Selene, you’re with me to move her once she’s free.”

Caden nodded, “There’s a back exit…narrow, reeks of piss and rot, but it leads to the western ridge. If we can get her there, we can use the crevice to escape. I’ll check for patrols.”

“Good,” I managed to say, “We break the chain, carry her if she has to be dragged. We don’t stop until we’re back at the academy. If we’re caught, we fight.”

Rowan’s eyes met mine, “If we’re caught, we prioritize Mara.”

“Agreed,” Caden growled.

I followed Rowan to the iron door. My pulse drumed as he knelt, working the lockpick with trembling hands. The door groaned open with a guttural moan that made my stomach lurch which revealed Mara inside; naked, pale, her skin mottled with purple and black bruises, her silver hair matted with dried blood.

The iron chain around her ankle was rusted. The metal bit deep into her flesh. Fresh blood oozed from where it had rubbed her raw. Her body was curled into a fetal position on the filth-streaked floor.

“Mara,” I whispered as I dropped to my knees beside her. My hands hovered, afraid to touch her broken form. “We’re getting you out.”

“Selene?” she rasped. Her cracked lips trembled as she tried to speak. “They… they sold me… I can’t…”

“We’ll stop them,” Rowan growled as he worked the lockpick into the chain’s mechanism, “Hold on, Mara.”

Caden returned, “Three guards patrolling the back…two drunk, one sober. They’re circling, maybe five minutes before they’re back. We need to move faster.”

“Shit,” Rowan hissed as his lockpick slipped. The chain clanked softly against the stone floor, “Almost there…hold on.”

My hands shook as I gripped Mara’s shoulders, “I’ve got you.”

The lock clicked making the chain fall away with a dull thud. Fresh blood trickled from Mara’s ankle as the iron released its grip. Rowan lifted her in his arms. Her head lolled against his shoulder. Her sobs muffled as Rowan held her tighter to comfort her.

The narrow passage stank of urine and decay. The walls were slick with grime. I could taste the rot on my tongue. We moved as fast as we could. We were halfway to the western ridge when a shout shattered the night.

“Intruders! Stop them!”

I turned. My eyes locked on a knight in black armor. His sword was already drawn. His helm obscured his face, “You’re dead, filth! No one steals from Ironfang!”

“Run!” I screamed as I spun to face the knight, “Get her to the ridge!”

Rowan didn’t hesitate. His footsteps echoed as he fled with Mara. Caden stayed with me to fight them off. The knight lunged, his sword slashing down. The blade whistled past my ear as I ducked.

“You’ll bleed for this, whelp!” he roared. His next swing aimed for my throat.

I rolled to the side as my hand found the dagger at my belt. “Not today,” I growled. He swung again, the blade catching my arm. A searing pain erupted as blood welled.

“You’re nothing!” he spat, his helm tilting as he sneered, “I’ll gut you like a pig!”

I dodged, my body moving on instinct, and drove my dagger upward with all my strength. The blade sank into the gap beneath his helm, piercing his throat with a sickening crunch. Blood sprayed that splattered across my face, my hands, my chest.

I staggered back and my breath became ragged. My eyes opened wide with the horror of what I’d done. My hands shook. The blood dropped from my fingers, pooling on the stone. The metallic tang filled my nostrils as I wiped my face.

“Selene!” Rowan’s shout snapped me out of it, “Move, now!”

I nodded. My legs trembled as I ran to them. “Go!” I urged.

More shouts rang out behind us, the clatter of boots and the howl of a horn signaling more guards. “Find them! Kill the thieves!” The words spurred us faster as we forced our way through.

“We’re almost there,” Caden panted, “Keep going!”

Caden’s POV

“Caden, you okay?” Rowan asked as an arrow whizzed past, grazing my shoulder with a sting.

“I’m fine…” I panted.

“There’s a cave,” Selene exclaimed, “Over there…let’s get her inside.”

We stumbled into the cave, laying Mara on the rocky floor. I dropped my pack. My hands shook as I pulled out flint to light a fire. “Hold on, Mara,” I whispered, striking the flint.

“Caden…” Mara rasped, “You… you came for me.”

“Of course I did,” I muttered, pulling out a loaf of bread from my pack. “Here, eat this…it’s hard, but it’ll help.” I tore off a piece, pressing it into her trembling hands, then dug out a waterskin, a rough wool blanket, and a vial of salve. “Water, a blanket…cover yourself. And this salve, for your wounds. It’ll ease the pain.”

She took the bread and whispered, “Thank you… I thought I’d die there.”

“I won’t let you die,” I smiled at her, “Listen, Mara…there’s a pack, the Dawnridge Pack. They’re known across Lunareth for taking in the lost. Go to them. They’ll help you, give you a home.”

“Dawnridge Pack…” she echoed, “Will they… will they really?”

“Yes,” I steadied my voice, leaning closer. “But don’t tell anyone you’re one of Leandro’s traded slaves. That secret stays with you…your safety depends on it.”

She nodded, “I won’t… I promise. Caden, I…”

I cut her off, my heart aching, my hands cupping her face, wiping away her tears. “You’ll make it, Mara. I know you will.”

Before I could stop myself, I kissed her, my lips pressing softly against hers. Her lips were warm, tasting of salt from her tears. Her hands clutched my tunic, and her fingers trembled as they gripped the rough fabric, pulling me closer.My eyes closed as I savored the moment. The fire’s crackle was a soft backdrop to our shared breath. Her body shivered beneath the blanket I’d given her, but her lips were steady, returning the kiss with a fragile strength that broke my heart all over again.

“Mara,” I whispered against her lips. My hands cupped her face as my thumbs brushed over her tear-streaked cheeks. “I thought I’d never see you again.”

“Caden,” she murmured as she leaned into my touch, her hands tightening on my tunic. “You saved me… I didn’t think anyone would come.”

“I’d never leave you,” I whispered, “Not then, not now. I’ll always come for you.”

She smiled, “I’ll never forget this… never forget you.”

“We should go…” Rowan interrupted. His eyes continuously scanned the cave’s entrance.

I pulled back, my lips lingering on hers for a moment longer.

“I’ll find them,” Mara whispered, her amber eyes locking on mine, “The Dawnridge Pack… I’ll go to them. I’ll be okay.”

I nodded. I didn’t want to leave her yet.

“Be safe, Caden,” she added, her hands falling from my tunic, her fingers brushing mine one last time.

“You too,” I said, managing a smile despite the lump in my throat, “We’ll see each other again soon, Mara. I promise.”

Selene’s voice broke the moment, “Caden, we need to go. It’s almost dawn. We can’t risk being caught now.”

Rowan nodded, “She’ll be okay here until dawn. The fire will keep her warm, and the cave’s hidden. Let’s move before the guards start searching outside the city.”

I stood, my legs aching. My eyes lingered on Mara one last time. “We’ll be back for you.” My heart was heavy as I turned to follow Selene and Rowan.

We trudged back to the academy. The sky lit with the first hints of dawn. The camp was silent, the recruits still asleep in their barracks. The only sound was the crunch of our boots on the gravel.

“Let’s clean up,” Rowan suggested, “We can’t let anyone see us like this…blood and grime will raise questions.”

“Good idea,” Selene’s hands were still stained with the knight’s blood, “I feel like I’ll never get this off me.”

The cold water hit me like a shock, a sharp jolt against my bruised skin, washing off the blood and grime in rivulets that swirled pink at my feet. “This water’s freezing,” I muttered.

“Better than being caught,” Rowan whispered.

Selene spoke from the other shower, “We did what we had to… for Mara.”

I opened my mouth to reply when a sudden crash echoed from the barracks. It was the sound of splintering wood and shouts shattering the dawn’s quiet. “Intruders!”