Chapter 249

Chapter 249
Elenna's POV

His golden eyes pinned me in place with an intensity I'd never witnessed before. I'd seen him angry, seen him passionate, but this was different—raw and exposed. Behind the fury in his eyes lurked something else, something I rarely saw there: fear.

"If you died, I couldn't bear it. Do you understand?" His voice was rough, almost broken. "Do you know what I would become?"

The question hung between us, not really needing an answer. I'd witnessed glimpses of his uncontrolled rage before—the pure destructive force that could make an entire kingdom tremble. But now I was seeing the vulnerability beneath the surface.

"Without you, I would lose myself," he continued, "Completely."

In that moment, I realized something astonishing: this being of immense power and magic had only one fatal flaw—losing me.

My heart thundered with love, bursting through the dam I'd built around my feelings for him.

"I will keep you safe," he said, his voice hardening with resolve. "Otherwise, it means the end for both of us."

I reached up, gently stroking his face, then rose on my tiptoes to give him a soothing kiss. Not as passionate as before, but tender, comforting—a promise.

When I pulled away, the anger and fear in his eyes had been replaced by determination.

He brushed my cheek with his fingertips. "As long as I draw breath, no one will harm you, Elenna."

We shared another brief kiss before he took my hand and continued guiding me through the woods. Despite the danger surrounding us, I felt an odd sense of peace.

Doria's POV

Darkness and dampness. That's all I'd known in the dungeon where they'd kept me. I had no idea how long it had been—hours, perhaps a day—when two soldiers in rebel uniforms roughly dragged me from my cell, almost bringing relief with their intrusion.

They pushed me up a flight of stairs that seemed endless, each step making my knees ache. When we finally reached the top floor, I found myself in an open interrogation room, surrounded by walls made of massive, solid stone bricks.

I was forced into a chair, with several guards holding long spears standing around me. But what truly caught my attention was the man standing in the center of the room—Solan, the Bear Clan leader, Elenna's former fiancé.

"Doria, right?" He flashed a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "So nice to see you again."

His smile seemed predatory, almost menacing. Once, I would have bowed my head in silence before such authority, but my time with Elenna had changed me.

"I don't share the sentiment," I replied, my voice steadier than I expected.

Solan's eyes narrowed slightly. "Aurelian brought Elenna to this dangerous territory. Why?" Solan asked directly.

I kept my expression neutral despite my internal nervousness. "I don't know."

A lie. I knew they had come seeking Adrian and the rebel stronghold.

Solan leaned forward, his bear-like presence becoming more pronounced. "You're lying. I know Elenna tells you many things. You'd do best not to challenge my patience."

I was determined to protect Elenna, to reveal nothing unnecessary. I was certain in my heart that Elenna had noticed my disappearance and was searching for me. This thought gave me strength.

His voice dropped to a threatening whisper: "I will make you give me satisfactory answers, or—"

Just then, a soldier burst into the room, interrupting the interrogation. Solan immediately showed impatience and anger: "What is it? I said, no interruptions!"

I recalled the Solan I'd once glimpsed at the Council of Tribes—so different from this power-driven man before me. I doubted his feelings for Elenna were love; they seemed more like twisted possession.

The soldier flinched but delivered his report: "My lord, Lady Millicent has organized a chase game. She's... she's using the King's consort as target."

Solan's expression contorted instantly. "WHAT?!" he roared, brown fur beginning to appear on his arms. "Who gave her that authority?"

The soldier stammered: "She... she acted independently. Reports say she's already leading tribal warriors in pursuit of Elenna."

"Bring her to me," Solan commanded, his voice low and dangerous. "She has no authority. I want her here immediately. Now."

His expression darkened further: "If Elenna dies, Millicent will wish she'd never been born."

After the soldier left, Solan began destroying everything in the room in his rage. He swept items off the table, shattering water flasks and scattering papers everywhere.

He grabbed objects one by one, hurling them against the stone walls where they broke into pieces, sparks flying. I stood motionless with the guards behind me, hoping not to attract Solan's attention.

"I'll kill her!" Solan shouted in his frenzy. "This is the last time she interferes with my plans!"

In my heart, I had only one prayer: that Solan would never get near Elenna again. Because I had seen the madness in his eyes—not love, but a twisted obsession with what he couldn't possess.