Chapter 36: Come here

~Hazel’s POV~

Ariel had drifted off not long after we spoke. She lay curled on my bed, her chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm, she was sleeping peacefully But me? I couldn’t sleep. I couldn’t even sit still.

I paced the room, the hem of my thin cotton dress twisted between my fingers, knuckles white from how tightly I clutched it. My breath came in shallow bursts, nerves bunching in my stomach until it ached. Now and then, I’d stop and glance at the window, Will she come?

She said she’d come.

But she wasn’t here.

The longer I waited, the more it felt like she wouldn’t show. My stomach twisted with disappointment, and a low growl escaped it—half hunger, half dread. I couldn’t wait anymore. If Aurora didn’t come, I’d go alone.

She said it was a two-hour walk. I could do that. If I walked far enough, the witch would sense me. She’d find me. That’s what she said in the dream, right?

I nodded and turned to gather something—anything—to take with me. But the room was bare, stripped of belongings I could call mine. So I just gripped my dress tighter and made for the window.

I was halfway across the room when I saw her.

A blur of red passed outside, and Aurora pushed open the window and climbed in effortlessly. Her red hair fell around her face, wild and glowing like fire under the moonlight. She carried a small leather bag, which she tossed to me without a word.

Inside was a dark cloak, smelling of lavender, smoke, and something ancient.

"You came," I whispered, hope blooming in my chest.

Aurora pressed a finger gently to my lips. "Shh. We have to be quiet."

I nodded quickly. "I thought... he wouldn’t hear us."

She raised a brow but said nothing. Neither of us dared say Caspian’s name aloud. Not here. Not now.

"We’ll be back tonight," she whispered. "It won’t take long. This witch won’t waste time, and neither will we."

I slipped on the cloak and glanced back at the bed. Ariel hadn’t stirred. I blew her a kiss, praying she’d forgive me when she woke up and found me gone if I did not make it back alive.

we climbed out the

night air slapped my skin like cold water, sharp and startling. Aurora had already prepared a carriage, tucked beneath the shadows

she asked as she helped me

nodded. "Let’s figure out

as the carriage jerked into motion. The silence of the woods swallowed us whole. Our heavy breath

riding?" I asked in a

wolf. Enchanted. He’s under

"That’s actually kind of

didn’t last. A guttural growl ripped through the forest, loud and feral, shaking the carriage. My

"What the hell—?"

carriage jolted to

blue light shimmered ahead, blocking our path. Before either of us could move, the enchanted wolf driver leapt down—and was

glowing figure

to reveal a face

Caspian.

a storm bottled in skin—beautiful and terrible. His jaw was clenched, brows drawn, and his body

stepping past her

you doing here?"

carriage door and pulled me down, his hands rough and cold

were going?"

it. I

knew you two were hiding

want to

but no

stepped forward. "We’re not just wandering! We’re going

you thought sneaking out like this

get to decide everything. Why can’t we go? Because we are women? Because you think

not protecting you because you’re a woman. I’m protecting you because you’re

words stopped

took a shaky breath, stepping closer. "Don’t make this

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