Chapter Two
The figure lowered his hood, revealing a scar running from his temple to his jawline. His eyes burned with an intensity that sent a shiver down Willa’s spine. “There’s more to Ian’s death than you’ve been told. If you want answers, you’ll have to come with me. Now.”
Willa’s breath caught in her throat. She looked to her friends, searching for reassurance, but found only worry mirrored in their expressions. The pull of the moons thrummed within her, urging her forward, even as her mind screamed to stay where it was safe.
“I can’t,” she whispered, though the words felt hollow. Could she really face the truth, whatever it was? Karen touched her arm gently. “You don’t have to decide alone, Willa. We’re with you, no matter what.”
The figure turned to leave, his voice lingering in the air like a challenge. “Time is running out, Willa. Make your choice.” Liam’s voice cut through the tense silence like a blade. “Hold on. If you want us to trust you, you’ll need to step closer and give us your name.”
The figure hesitated, his sharp gaze flicking over the group. He exhaled, then took a deliberate step forward, the firelight illuminating his scarred face. His aura of mystery seemed to pulse as his cloak shifted with the movement. “My name,” he said slowly, as though weighing the implications, “is Aldric.”
Karen’s brow furrowed, recognition sparking in her eyes. “Aldric…” she murmured, trailing off as though the name carried weight she couldn’t quite place. Willa felt a shiver run through her. Aldric’s presence was commanding, almost magnetic, yet she couldn’t bring herself to trust him—at least, not yet.
Liam crossed his arms, his protective stance unwavering. “If you think Willa’s going anywhere with you, think again. She’s not leaving unless we go too.” Aldric raised an eyebrow, his expression neutral but his tone sharp. “This isn’t a group outing. It’s dangerous—more than any of you realize.”
Karen stepped forward, her voice steady. “If it’s dangerous, then she needs us even more. You might know something about what happened to Ian, but Willa isn’t facing this alone. Not now, not ever.”
Willa glanced around at her friends—Karen’s fierce loyalty, Liam’s protective resolve, Beans and Mango’s reassuring smiles, Emma’s gentle support, Ethan’s unyielding enthusiasm, and Tiffani’s calming laughter. Her heart swelled with a bittersweet warmth. They were her family, her anchors in a sea of grief.
She straightened her shoulders, the weight of uncertainty momentarily lifting. “They’re right. I’ll come with you, Aldric, but only if my friends accompany me. That’s non-negotiable.”
Aldric sighed, a flicker of irritation crossing his face, but he nodded reluctantly. “Fine. But don’t say I didn’t warn you. The path ahead isn’t for the faint of heart.”
As the group exchanged glances, Willa felt the faint hum of magic deepen, pulling at the edges of her senses. Whatever lay ahead, it was clear the moons had chosen this moment for a reason. She didn’t know what truths she would uncover, but she was no longer facing the journey alone.
The air was thick with anticipation as the group began gathering their essentials—cloaks, weapons, and charms imbued with lunar energy. Karen stood near the door, absentmindedly chewing on her lip, her gaze fixed on Aldric as he secured his cloak. There was something about him—his stance, the way he spoke, the intensity in his eyes—that tugged at the edges of her memory.
“Karen,” Willa’s voice startled her from her thoughts. “Are you okay?” Karen blinked, nodding quickly. “Yeah. I’m fine.” But she wasn’t. The familiarity was gnawing at her, and as Aldric tightened the straps on a pack slung across his shoulder, the pieces began to fall into place.
Lost child.
Karen’s breath hitched as the memory slammed into her—fragments of hushed conversations she’d overheard years ago, rumors of a young heir from the rival kingdom who had vanished without a trace. A child stolen in the dead of night, never seen again. Could it be him? Her stomach churned as she studied the scar that carved across his face, a permanent reminder of what he might have endured.
Her thoughts spiraled as the implications sank in. Aldric wasn’t just another pawn in this conspiracy—he was proof of its cruelty, a living testament to the lengths the rival kingdom would go to seize power. And now he was standing here, leading Willa into the unknown.
Karen’s fists clenched, the protective instincts she felt for Willa bubbling to the surface. Whatever Aldric had endured, whatever his motives were, she wasn’t about to let her guard down—not when her closest friend’s fate hung in the balance.
She cleared her throat, her voice steadier than she felt. “We’re ready.” Her eyes narrowed as she looked directly at Aldric. “But let’s be clear—if anything happens to Willa, you’ll answer to us.”
Aldric smirked faintly, the first hint of emotion breaking through his guarded demeanor. “Fair enough. But if you’re smart, you’ll focus on what’s ahead—and not on the ghosts of the past.”
The group exchanged uneasy glances, but Willa stepped forward, resolve flickering in her eyes. “Let’s go.”
As they stepped into the moonlit night, Karen fell into stride beside Willa, her mind racing. She didn’t know how much Aldric remembered of his past—or if he even knew who he truly was—but one thing was certain: the road ahead would test them all in ways they couldn’t yet imagine.
The forest stretched wide and silent before them, bathed in the soft luminescence of the twin moons. Willa shivered, drawing her cloak tighter as she glanced back at the castle—the only home she had ever known—now shrinking into the distance. The farther they ventured, the more she could feel the pull of magic thrumming in her veins, a sensation both comforting and unnerving.
Aldric led the way with a quiet determination, his steps purposeful as though he already knew the path. Karen lingered near the rear of the group, her eyes never straying far from him, suspicion etched into every line of her face. Liam walked close to Willa’s side, his protective presence a steady anchor amidst the swirling uncertainties.