Chapter 68

Robert, along with several trackers, had been searching tirelessly through every abandoned home, neglected building, and even the old cabins hidden deep within the woods—places that hadn’t seen a visitor in years. The relentless downpour made the search even more difficult, washing away any trace of Kathy’s scent and heightening their anxiety for her and the babies’ wellbeing. Suddenly, one of the trackers approached Robert with urgency, explaining that he thought he heard a baby crying nearby. He wasn’t sure, though; with the rain hammering down, he wondered if his mind was playing tricks on him.

“Show me, where,” said Robert, urgency sharpening his voice as he tried to peer through the curtain of rain. The tracker nodded and gestured ahead, leading Robert and the others toward the direction where the faint sound had come from, their hopes rising despite the storm.

The trackers led the way, pushing forward as the rain came down even harder, threatening to obscure their vision. They quickened their pace, knowing they had to reach the source of the sound before the storm made it impossible to see anything. Each step felt urgent, the hope of finding Kathy and the babies driving them through the relentless downpour.

Kathy P.O.V

Kathy stood in the driving rain, her hair plastered to her face as she watched her sons huddle beneath the wide branches of an ancient tree, safely tucked away from the storm. The water swirled around her feet, responding to her call. Her eyes glowed a fierce, oceanic blue as she raised her arms and sealed the house's doors and windows with invisible, shimmering barriers.

Inside, panic erupted. The men beat at the sealed exits, their shouts muffled by the growing roar of water. Kathy summoned the rain, drawing it inside the house, and it surged in waves, rising quickly from floor to ceiling. She gazed through the window, unblinking, as Noah caught sight of her. Horror dawned on his face—he realized she had escaped. He fumbled desperately with the lock, but it was too late. The water kept rising, and Kathy did not look away.

Noah clawed desperately at the window, only to find it sealed shut, trapping him inside like a caged animal. His followers’ screams filled the air, panic mounting as the water continued to rise. Suddenly, one of the men froze, his eyes wide with fear as he pointed toward the far side of the room—Noah was standing there, silent and unmoving, watching the chaos unfold.

“You say we are safe, and she is a weak woman,” said Rogue, his voice trembling with both accusation and disbelief as he glared at Noah through the rising water. The others exchanged uneasy glances, the reality of their situation finally sinking in as the storm raged outside and the water continued its relentless climb.

“Yes, she is—I don’t know how she got out,” said Noah, his voice cracking as he pressed his back against the wall, fear evident in his eyes. The others stared at him, suspicion and dread mixing as the water continued to rise around their feet, sealing their fate inside the house.

"You lied to us, and now we're all going to die," Rogue said.

The villain seized Noah by the neck and arms, dragging him out of the room. The water had risen to the second floor, and the villain drowned Noah by holding his head under until he was dead. Just to make sure, the rogue cut his throat with his claw. The water kept rising, and the two rogues knew they were doomed. When the house was filled with water, the rogues couldn’t any longer hold their breath and their bodies floated along with Noah's body.

Kathy felt weak, her energy spent by the fury of her own magic. Unsure if she had truly finished what she intended, she hesitated, her breath coming in shallow bursts. Then, the faint sound of her boys crying cut through the rain. She hurried to them, gathering both trembling children into her arms and wrapping a thick blanket over their small bodies, tucking them close to share her remaining warmth. As she settled onto the soaked ground, exhaustion swept over her and, almost unconsciously, her legs shimmered and shifted, merging into her mermaid tail beneath the blanket. Huddled together, she held her sons tightly and whispered soothing words, wishing with all her heart that someone would come and find them soon.

In the hospital, Anthony felt his body relax as Dr. Quin came into the room to check on him. Blinking against the harsh overhead light, Anthony opened his eyes and tried to look around the door, but a wave of disorientation washed over him. He shifted, attempting to sit up, only to realize with growing confusion that he was strapped down on the bed, the restraints tight across his wrists.

“Prince Anthony, you are awake. Let the nurse unstrap you. We will explain everything to you,” said Dr. Quin, his tone gentle but firm as he motioned for the nurse to loosen the restraints. Anthony blinked in confusion, his heart pounding with uncertainty as the nurse carefully freed his wrists. He looked from Dr. Quin to the nurse, searching their faces for answers and reassurance. The room felt strangely quiet, the tension lingering in the air as everyone waited for Anthony’s reaction.

Anthony’s voice trembled as he looked around the room, searching for a familiar face. “Where is my mate?” he asked, his tone urgent and anxious. Dr. Quin exchanged a glance with the nurse, then stepped closer, gently placing a reassuring hand on Anthony’s shoulder. King Frances came into the room to see his son sitting up in the bed.

King Frances sat beside Anthony's bed, his expression grave yet reassuring. “Son, Kathy, Lady Grace, and your mother were in a car accident, but Kathy is missing. Don’t worry—Robert and the trackers are out there, looking for her,” he said, his tone steady as he tried to comfort Anthony, whose eyes widened with alarm at the news.

“No, I have to go out there and search for her for myself,” Anthony insisted, his voice strained with desperation as he tried to swing his legs over the side of the bed. King Frances quickly placed a steadying hand on his shoulder, concern etched across his face.

King Frances tightened his grip, his tone firm yet caring. “You are not going anywhere—you are still weak; the doctor had to get that bullet out of your body before the poison stops your heart. Now stay in this bed to rest,” said King Frances, his eyes filled with worry as he tried to keep Anthony from getting up. Anthony hesitated, frustration and concern warring within him, but the exhaustion in his limbs reminded him of his fragile state.

Unable to bear the agony he felt from his mate's pain, Anthony gazed at the moon, clutching the windowsill, his heart aching as he silently beseeched the moon goddess to protect Kathy.