46. Fading into Silence

46. Fading into Silence
~Esmarie Seraphine Vale~

The sound of wood crackling under the heat of fire echoed through the empty clearing we had chosen to rest for the night. The orange hue of the makeshift bonfire cast gnarled shapes and twisting shadows on the trees and plants that surrounded us.

I was beside Fenrick, our shoulders brushing against each other as we sat huddled together on the trunk of a fallen tree, the warmth of the flames barely easing the chill in my bones.

He was roasting a rabbit he’d caught earlier. The aroma of burning fat and roasted flesh mingled with the damp smell of wet soil and pine from the forest.

My knees were pulled up to my chest, my hands still trembling from the adrenaline of escaping the palace.

The yerterium had worked—Ciro had collapsed, and Fenrick had been waiting just outside my chambers. He had already packed a small bag. Still in the grass-green dress from the dinner, I followed after him as he grabbed my hand and ran through the hallways. I don’t know how he had done it, but the guards let us through. It was like they weren't even seeing us as we walked past.

I could tell they were bewitched or something. Was too distracted to ask.

Fenrick leaned back against the tree before fishing for something from his side bag. I thought it would be along the lines of salt or spices for the meat, but he handed me a small jar of ointment.

I stared at him for a few seconds, wondering what it was before collecting it. Instantly, a sharp, herbal smell danced right into my nose.

“Rub this on your wrists and neck,” he said, his voice low, his expression half hidden by the shadows cast by the fire. “It’ll mask your scent.”

I frowned, eyeing the jar as I twisted it around in my grip. “My scent?” My heart skipped, fear blooming within me. “Is Ciro… is he already looking for me?”

Fenrick’s eyes met mine, steady but serious. “He’s a shifter, Esmarie. An Alpha King, for that matter. His senses are sharper than anyone else’s on the Eastern Continent. He could track you by scent alone. But this?” He nodded at the ointment. “It’ll throw him off. He won’t find us.”

My fingers trembled as I twisted the lid of the jar before rubbing the cold cream on my wrists and neck as he said. The thought of Ciro hunting me, those dark eyes of his blazing with that mix of anger and possessiveness, sent a shiver down my spine. “Does this help against the Guardians?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Fenrick turned the rabbit on the spit he had carved out from a tree branch himself, slowly watching as the fire licked at the skin.

He was too calm. Too steady.

“One problem at a time, Esmarie. The ointment helps with them too, but the Guardians are… trickier. They can sense your soul. We’ll deal with it when we get to the Seers of Edion. For now, let's focus on staying hidden from Ciro.”

I nodded, but my stomach twisted.

Hiding... running... The danger from both sides. Especially from two forces that were so powerful that I didn't even know which one would kill us first. I sighed, rubbing my hands all over my face as if trying to force myself to calm down.

“Hey!” He called out, his hand reaching out to touch my shoulder. “Esmarie. You’re okay. I’ve got you. Take a deep breath.”

I obliged, feeling the air fill up my lungs instantly before letting it go, breathing steadily through my nose.

"I'm going to teach you something,” he stated, his voice echoing through the entire clearing, rising above the incessant chirping of crickets.

I turned my head towards him.

“A mind block technique,” he said, his voice steady but firm. “The mate bond—it’s like a thread connecting you to Ciro. He can feel you through it, maybe even sense where you are. This’ll put it on hold.” He leaned forward, his eyes intense. “Imagine the bond as a small dove in a cage. Picture yourself locking that cage, trapping the dove inside. Keep thinking about it, over and over, until it feels solid.”

I repeated his words, totally surprised. “A dove in a cage?” It sounded so simple, almost silly, but the weight in his voice told me it was serious. I closed my eyes, trying to picture it—a fluttering white bird, its wings brushing against iron bars. I imagined turning a key, locking it tight.

To my surprise, I felt it. The bond, that warm, tugging sensation in my chest, seemed to quiet, like a song fading to silence. “Why does this work?” I asked, opening my eyes.

Fenrick shrugged, turning around to poke at the fire. “It’s an old trick, used to dampen bonds temporarily. Keeps him out of your head for now. It's the bond that keeps twisting your emotions into fear because it can sense the distance between you two.”

We sat in complete silence after that, waiting for the rabbit to fully soften. My eyes flickered to the moon hanging in the night sky, decorated by a massive number of stars.

How had my life come to this?

I was alone in a forest I didn’t know, running from creatures who wanted to kill me and a king who would do anything—even overturn the entire world—to find me.

And here I was, hiding from him with his younger brother. Fenrick had been kind—saved my life, told me the truth about the bond when no one else would. But why? What did he want? Ciro’s warnings echoed in my head.

"Stay away from Fenrick".

Was it just jealousy, or was there something more? Something dangerous?

I shifted, the log digging into my back. Fenrick had risked everything to help me escape, taken a beating from Ciro for telling me the truth. But what if there was a cost I didn’t see? What if he wasn’t the ally I needed, but something else entirely? The forest felt too vast, too dark, the shadows beyond the fire’s glow hiding threats I couldn’t name. I trusted Fenrick—didn’t I? He’d been nothing but honest, but doubt clung to me like a second skin. It was too late to turn back now, but the feeling that something was horribly wrong wouldn’t leave.

Fenrick glanced at me, his eyes softening. “You’re thinking too hard, Esmarie.” He broke off a piece of the roasted rabbit, handing it to me on a makeshift skewer. “Eat. You’ll need your strength for tomorrow. The Seers of Edion… they’ll show you the truth about your past. It’s not gonna be easy to stomach.”

I took the meat, the warmth of it grounding me for a moment. I nodded, pushing the doubt away, telling myself I was overthinking. Fenrick was my only way out, my only chance at answers.

By tomorrow, I would know the truth about my origins, and I would be back on Earth, putting all this behind me.

Just a matter of time, Esmarie.