Chapter 105 Goodbye wrapped in danger
DARIAN
The knock is sharp enough to snap me out of the dark thoughts that have been gnawing at me all day. Adrian doesn’t wait for an invitation. He pushes the door open, boots heavy against the floorboards, that usual confident swagger replaced by something tight and cautious.
I barely look up from where I sat by the fireplace, Iris curling her fingers nervously around her scarf near the window.
“We need to talk,” Adrian says, voice low and rough like he is trying to swallow something bitter.
“Talk.”
He paces the small cabin like a restless wolf, eyes darting between me and Iris. Then he stops, meeting my gaze squarely.
“Father’s called you back.”
“Wait, What?” I bob my head to the side, genuinely confused as to what it is that changed his mind all of a sudden.
Adrian nods. “Official orders. The Haven needs you.”
Iris’s quiet breath catches in her throat, and I catch the sharp glance she throws in my direction. Fear mixed with something I can't quite name. Uncertainty maybe?
“Of course he wants me back,” I mutter, bitterness curling around the words. “After everything he’s done in the past month, he thinks he can just snap his fingers and I’ll be at his beck and call again?”
“Well, I guess Zeus is doing a terrible job at taking your place so he has no choice than to ask you to come back.” Adrian says and I shake my head.
“If it sounded more like a plea than an order, I would have considered it.”
Adrian holds up a finger. “There’s a catch. You can’t bring Iris.”
The room dropped cold. I turn to Iris, watching her body tense like a coiled spring.
She doesn’t say anything at first, but then her voice comes low but steady. “I’m not staying behind, Darian. You can’t leave me behind.”
I want to shake my head, tell her it isn’t safe, but she stares back at me, fierce as ever.
“You can’t come,” I say, swallowing the lump in my throat. “It’s too dangerous.”
Her eyes flashes. “So I’m just supposed to hide and wait to be sacrificed? No.”
Adrian shifts uncomfortably. “Look, Iris, your grandparents’ place…”
I cut him off. “Adira found her there before. It’s not safe.”
Iris shakes her head. “Uhm… actually, I don’t mind staying there at all. They will protect me. They’ve always been ready for this.”
“You don’t understand,” I say, voice rough. “If they find you again...”
“I know the risks,” she says, interrupting me. “But I guess it is safer than taking me along or leaving me alone in this cabin?”
She’s right.
Adrian clears his throat. “Maybe this is the best we’ve got. You go there. Stay out of sight. Darian comes back, keeps watch from the Haven, learns of their plans and we can stop them before they even strike.”
I rub my forehead. “Fine. But I’ll still come over to check on you regularly. I can’t leave you alone for too long.”
Iris stands up, the tension in her shoulders sharp. “Then let’s get moving.”
\~~~~
The drive is silent except for the crunch of tires on gravel and the occasional rustle of branches brushing the windows. Adrian focuses on the road, but I can feel the weight pressing on all of us.
I glance at Iris, her hands are clenched tightly in her lap, eyes distant.
“Are you sure about this?” I ask.
She meets my gaze. “I have to be. If I’m going to survive this, I need people who’ll protect me without question.”
Adrian sighs. “Your grandparents are... different. They don’t care about politics. They care about survival.”
“That’s what scares me the most,” I say. “They’ll protect her, but at what cost? And I still don’t trust your grandfather.”
Iris smiles, faint but real. “I understand where you’re coming from, Darian. But, he’s my grandfather. He won’t hurt his own flesh and blood, so I’m safe with them. He’s been teaching me to fight too, remember?”
“I really hope you’re right.” I lean back in my seat, my mind racing. The longer I stay away, the more dangerous it gets for both of us.
We get to the house soon enough and nana is already pulling us into her arms and trying to get Adrian and me to stay for dinner, but there’s no time to waste.
“I’m going back to the Haven immediately. Things are escalating. Please, take care of Iris, I’ll be back soon.”
Her grandfather’s eyes harden. “We’ll keep her safe. No matter what.”
Iris’s voice is steady. “Thank you. I trust you both.”
Nana gives a small nod. “We’ll watch over you, child. This family knows how to survive.”
I look at Iris, the fire burning in her gaze, and I feel that mix of hope and dread tighten in my chest.
“I’ll be back soon,” I promise her. “And I won’t let them hurt you.”
Later that night, I sit by the fire again, the room dim and heavily quiet. Adrian is packing up some gear for the trip back to the Haven.
“Are you ready?” he asks.
I hesitate. “I don’t like leaving her.”
Adrian looks at me sharply. “You don’t have a choice. But keep your eyes open. Father’s playing a dangerous game.”
I stare into the flames, imagining the battles waiting for me. This isn’t just about a throne anymore. It was about saving the woman I’d marked, accidentally or not, and protecting what little peace we have left.
I whisper to the fire, to the night, to whatever gods might be listening, “I’ll come back for you, Iris. No matter what.”