Chapter Forty Seven

Chapter Forty Seven
Forty Seven: POV Anne:

The forest spirits didn't just clear a path for us; they provided an escort.

When the brush parted, it wasn't a horse or a carriage waiting for us. Standing in the dappled sunlight was a creature of absolute myth—a unicorn, its coat gleaming like spun starlight, its silver horn humming with a pure, ancient resonance. It inclined its head toward Lilly, who let out a joyful sob and rushed forward, burying her face in its silken mane.

"Well," I murmured, glancing sideways at Silas, who was still slightly tender from the healing but standing tall. "I guess we're riding in style."

Silas offered a rare, genuine smile, hoisting Lilly up onto the creature's back before mounting behind her and pulling me up into the space between them. The moment the unicorn leaped forward, the world blurred. The trees became streaks of green and gold, and the wind howled in our ears, carrying the distinct, dizzying sensation of traveling not just through space, but through time.

When the unicorn finally slowed to a gentle trot, the dense, oppressive woods were gone.

I gasped, gripping Silas’s arm a little tighter. Nestled in a valley of perpetual twilight lay a secret city, hidden away from the ravages of Draco’s wars. I expected towering crystal spires or hollowed-out ancient trees, but instead, the city looked remarkably... human. Cobblestone streets wound past charming brick townhouses, gas-lit lanterns cast a warm glow over bustling market squares, and a gentle river snaked through the heart of the valley. Here, Fae with iridescent wings walked shoulder-to-shoulder with humans and other races, laughing, trading, and living in absolute peace. It was a beautiful anomaly.

The unicorn brought us straight to a modest but beautiful home near the market. The front door flew open, and a Fae man and woman rushed out, their faces pale with agony until they saw the little girl on the back of the beast.

"Lilly!" the woman cried.

In a flash of tears, embraces, and breathless explanations, Lilly was reunited with her parents, Shane and Serena. Once the initial shock passed, they turned to Silas and me, their expressions shining with a profound, overwhelming gratitude.

"You brought our daughter back to us," Serena said, her voice trembling as she clasced my hands in hers. "The hunters... we thought we had lost her to those monsters."

"We owe you everything," Shane added, stepping forward to shake Silas's hand. But the moment Shane’s eyes locked onto Silas’s face, the man froze. The color drained from his cheeks. His eyes darted to the dark steel of Silas's blade, and then back to his face. Shane was a Fae commoner, an exile from the old world, but it was clear he knew exactly who was standing in his living room.

Shane opened his mouth, a breathless syllable escaping his lips. "Prin—"

Silas caught him by the shoulder, his grip tightening just enough to be a warning, though his expression remained perfectly calm. "Just Silas," he interrupted smoothly, his voice dropping into a low baritone. He gave Shane a look that cut like glass. "I'm just a soldier helping a friend."

I frowned, looking between the two of them. There was a sudden, heavy tension in the air, but Serena quickly broke it by ushering Lilly inside to get washed up and fed.

While Serena was occupied, Silas stepped out onto the porch with Shane under the pretense of discussing the city's perimeter defenses. Curious, and still riding the wave of my new, hyper-awareness of Silas, I lingered by the open window, keeping my breathing shallow as I listened.

"I won't say a word to her, my Lord," Shane whispered frantically outside. "But... the Dark Prince? Here? Whispers of your rebellion reached even this valley before we sealed the gates. We thought Draco had executed you."

"Draco wants me dead, yes," Silas replied, his voice tight and humorless. "But I am no one's prince anymore, Shane. Anne doesn't know about my lineage. Keep it that way. She has enough weight on her shoulders without worrying about royal politics."

"Of course," Shane breathed. "But Draco’s hunters are growing bolder. His war on the half-breeds is escalating. He wants them wiped from existence. If he finds out you're traveling with a powerful witch..." Shane paused, his tone shifting to something heavier, more somber. "Does she know about Amelia?"

Inside, my heart skipped a beat. Amelia?

Silas was silent for a long moment. "No."

"Amelia hated the half-born children just as much as her brother did," Shane muttered softly. "When you were married to her, we all thought the throne would solidify that hatred. To see you now, fighting to save a half-breed child... it's a miracle, Silas."

"My marriage to Draco's sister was a political prison," Silas said, cold anger dripping from every word. "Amelia is the past. Draco is the present threat. Right now, my only priority is helping Anne gather her sisters and protecting the innocent."

I stepped back from the window, my mind spinning. A prince. A married man—or an ex-husband to a monster. The revelation should have made me angry, should have made me push him away again. But as I thought about it, looking through the glass at the rigid, burdened set of his shoulders, I didn't feel betrayed. I felt a profound, aching empathy. He had escaped a literal nightmare, a golden cage built by Draco himself, and chosen to become a shield for the defenseless.

He wasn't a villain playing a game. He was a man trying to atone for a world he never asked to be born into. My resolve to give things a shot with him didn't waver—it only deepened.

Shane and Serena wouldn't hear of us staying at an inn. As a grand thank you, Shane walked us down a quiet, weeping-willow-lined path to a small, private cottage sitting right on the edge of the rushing river.

"Rest here," Shane told us, handing Silas a heavy brass key. "Relax for a few days. You’ve earned it. The Witches of the Woods are a long journey from here, and you will need your strength before you go to face whatever is plaguing them."

With a final bow, Shane left us.

I stood on the porch of the cottage, watching the twilight reflect off the rippling water. The air was cool, smelling of fresh pine and clean river rocks. Silas stepped up beside me, leaning his hands on the wooden railing, staring out at the river. He looked exhausted, the weight of his secrets resting heavy on his brow.

"You're quiet," he noted, cutting his eyes toward me with a soft, cautious smirk. "Did the unicorn ride break your spirit?"

I let out a soft laugh, turning my body to face him fully. I didn't mention what I had overheard. That conversation was for another day, when he was ready to trust me with it. Instead, I focused on the way the dim lantern light caught the amber in his eyes, and the sudden, intense pull I felt toward him.

"No," I said softly, stepping into his personal space, close enough to feel the warmth radiating from him. "Just thinking about how much I'm looking forward to resting. With you."

Silas blinked, caught off guard by the sudden drop in my usual prickly defense. His smirk softened into something entirely different—something warm, questioning, and undeniably heavy with mutual attraction.

"Is that so?" he murmured, his voice dropping an octave.

"Yeah," I whispered, offering him a small, knowing smile as I reached out and gently tapped his chest, right ove
r his heart. "Don't get used to it, soldier. But for the next few days, you've got my full attention."