Chapter 438: Path Behind
Killian's POV
The night air was thick with tension as we stood outside the war tent, the flickering lanterns casting long shadows over the gathered warriors. We had our plan.
It wasn't enough.
Not for me.
Not for the rage clawing at my chest, the desperation gripping my every thought.
Astrid was out there. Alone. Surrounded. And every second we waited was another second she was at that bastard's mercy.
I paced the length of the clearing, my hands clenched into fists, my wolf snarling just beneath the surface. Patience was never my strength. And right now, I had none.
"Killian."
Ryder's voice was firm, grounding.
I stopped, exhaling sharply, forcing my breathing to even out.
"We're ready," Ryder continued, stepping beside me. "The scouts confirmed Astrid's trail-it leads straight into the rogue king's stronghold. But we still don't know exactly where they're keeping her and Elara."
I turned to him, my golden eyes burning. "Then we force them to tell us."
Ryder nodded, but his gaze flickered with hesitation. "I know you want to tear through that place and burn it to the ground, but if we go in blind, we risk everything. Including them."
His words were rational. Calculated.
I hated it.
Because he was right.
I exhaled sharply, forcing my body to still. "What's the plan?"
Damien stepped forward then, the Crimsonbane Alpha's dark eyes sharp, his expression unreadable. "We hit them fast and hard. We use the element of surprise. But we keep the primary objective clear-get Astrid and Elara out. No unnecessary risks."
Nova crossed her arms beside him, her keen gaze watching me closely. "You need to stay focused, Killian," she warned. "I know what Astrid means to you, but if you lose control, you put her in more danger."
A muscle in my jaw ticked, but I forced myself to nod. "I'm in control."
A lie.
But one I had to tell.
Damien wasn't convinced, but he didn't press the issue. Instead, he turned to Ryder. "Your scouts-any word on the numbers inside?"noveldrama
Ryder sighed. "More than we'd like. Ardan's been gathering rogues for years, and Astrid's capture probably lured even more to his side. This won't be easy."
"Then we make them regret ever siding with him," I growled.
Silence stretched between us for a moment. Then, finally, Damien nodded.
"Let's move."
Astrid's POV
The rogue king's stronghold was exactly what I expected-cold, damp, and reeking of death.
Chains bound my wrists, though they were more for show than necessity. Ardan was no fool. He knew I wouldn't waste my strength fighting this.
Not yet.
He sat across from me in what could almost be called a throne, his dark eyes filled with amusement as he studied me.
"You're taking this rather well," he mused, swirling a glass of wine in his hand. "Most would be begging by now."
I said nothing.
He sighed dramatically. "You're not much fun, are you?"
I kept my gaze steady. "Where is Elara?"
His lips twitched. "Safe."
"You and I have very different definitions of the word," I muttered.
Ardan chuckled, setting his glass aside. "You don't seem to understand your position, Astrid. You are my prisoner. I hold all the power here."
I leaned forward slightly, letting my voice drop into a deadly whisper "You don't seem to understand, Ardan. The moment you took my daughter, you signed your own death sentence." en
His smirk faltered. Just for a second.
Then, he laughed. "Brave words from a woman in chains."
I tilted my head, feigning curiosity.
"Tell me, Ardan. Do you think you're the
my to try and break me? To use
my family against me? To make me kneel?"
His expression darkened.
I smiled. Good.
"I have been betrayed. Hunted. Broken. But am still here," I continued, my voice soft but filled with steel. "And you? You are just another name on a long list of men who have underestimated me."
A muscle twitched in his jaw. "We'll see how long that arrogance lasts."
I exhaled slowly, keeping my heartbeat even, my power simmering beneath my
skin.
He thought I was powerless here.
He thought I had no way out.
He was wrong.
Because Killian was coming.
And I had left him a path straight to me.
Killian's POV
The forest was silent as we moved. Too silent.
The rogue king's stronghold loomed in the distance, barely visible through the
thick canopy of trees.
My body vibrated with the need to run, to kill, to destroy.
But I stayed still. For now.
"Positions?" Ryder murmured beside me.
"Nova and Damien's forces are circling the perimeter," one of the scouts
whispered. "Waiting for your command."
I inhaled deeply, centering myself.
We only had one chance.
One moment.
And when we took it—
Ardan would never see it coming.
I glanced at Ryder. "Tell them to move."
And just like that-
The battle began
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