Chapter 75 The Face in the Fog

Chapter 75 The Face in the Fog
Lara

The symbols refused to leave my mind.

Even hours later, I could still picture them clearly carved into the trees near the eastern woods. Strange, curved markings twisted together, as if they meant something only certain people could understand.

And somehow, my body reacted to them before my mind did.

That was the part that was frightening me now.

I sat cross-legged near the fireplace upstairs with a blanket wrapped around my shoulders while snow fell steadily outside the windows. The house had gone quieter over the past hour. Ron and Axel were still downstairs discussing patrol rotations with Elijah.

At least… they were supposed to be discussing patrols.

The occasional laughter drifting upstairs suggested Ron was probably distracting everyone instead.

I smiled faintly before my thoughts drifted back toward the woods again.

A sigh escaped me softly.

“Hey, you.”

I looked up immediately.

Elijah stood near the doorway with his coat half removed, dark hair slightly damp from melted snow. His eyes settled on me instantly before lowering toward the untouched tea beside me.

“You’ve been staring at the fire for ten minutes.”

“Maybe I like fire.”

“You’re thinking.”

I narrowed my eyes slightly. “You make that sound criminal.”

“It usually is with you.”

He finally stepped fully into the room before tossing his coat carelessly onto the chair nearby. My eyes betrayed me immediately.

Moon Goddess.

The man looked unfairly good doing absolutely nothing. Elijah noticed my staring too because one corner of his mouth lifted slightly.

“You’re doing it now too.”

Heat rushed to my face instantly.

“I hate you.”

“That’s not what your face says.”

I looked away quickly before he could see how badly my heartbeat just reacted to that stupid smirk. Unfortunately, Elijah only seemed more amused by my suffering these days.

Traitorous man.

He moved toward the bed slowly while pulling the dark long-sleeved shirt over his head casually.

My thoughts completely abandoned me for a solid three seconds.

Maybe longer.

The worst part was that Elijah caught me staring immediately.

Again.

His brows lifted slightly while he folded the shirt lazily.

“You’re being very obvious tonight.”

I scoffed while forcing my eyes elsewhere. “You’re arrogant.”

“And you’re distracted.”

I opened my mouth to argue before realizing I had absolutely nothing smart to say.

Because he was right.

The tension between us lately felt heavier somehow.

Not awkward.

Definitely not awkward.

Just… intense And being alone with Elijah recently had become genuinely dangerous for my ability to think properly.

“You’ve barely spoken since afternoon,” he said quieter this time.

“I can’t stop thinking about them,” I admitted finally.

Elijah’s amusement faded immediately. He walked closer until he stood directly in front of where I sat near the fireplace.

“You think the dream and the woods are connected.”

It wasn’t a question.

I nodded slowly.

“I know it sounds ridiculous.”

“No,” Elijah said calmly. “It sounds like something that’s bothering you.”

That simple answer warmed my chest embarrassingly fast.

I looked up at him properly then.

The firelight flickered softly across his face while shadows danced along the sharp line of his jaw.

Too handsome.

Actually offensive.

“I don’t like not understanding things,” I admitted quietly. “I don’t want to be in the dark.” A reluctant smile tugged at my lips. Elijah’s gaze dropped briefly toward my mouth.

My breath caught instantly. The atmosphere shifted so naturally that I barely noticed it happening.

One second we were talking.

The next… he was close enough for me to feel his warmth. My heartbeat became uneven.

“Elijah,” I whispered softly though I wasn’t entirely sure why.

His hand slid slowly against my waist beneath the blanket before pulling me gently toward him.

“You think too much,” he murmured.

“And you don’t think enough.”

“That’s why we work.”

I almost laughed.

Instead, Elijah kissed me before I could respond.

Slow at first.

Warm.

Distracting.

Every coherent thought disappeared embarrassingly fast the moment his hand tightened slightly against my waist. I kissed him back immediately, my fingers curling lightly against his shoulders while Elijah pulled me fully into his lap without breaking the kiss.

The blanket slipped somewhere onto the floor unnoticed. Nothing felt important except the way Elijah’s hand moved slowly along my back while kissing me like he already knew exactly how to ruin my ability to breathe properly.

“You’re distracting me on purpose,” I whispered against his mouth.

A quiet laugh escaped him.

“Finally figured it out?”

I narrowed my eyes slightly before kissing him again myself this time. Elijah made a low sound against my lips that sent warmth rushing through my entire body instantly.

Very dangerous.

His forehead rested briefly against mine afterward while both of us tried catching our breath properly again.

The room suddenly felt much warmer than before.

“Better?” he asked quietly.

I should have said no.

Instead, I nodded once.

Because somehow, Elijah always managed to make the rest of the world disappear for a little while. Everything faded whenever he touched me like that.

Elijah brushed his thumb lightly against my cheek before standing carefully with me still in his arms.

I blinked. “Seriously?”

“You’re tired.”

“You literally started this.”

“And now I’m ending it.”

I stared at him in disbelief while he carried me toward the bed anyway.

“You’re annoying.”

“You like me either way.”

Unfortunately… that was becoming a serious problem.

By the time we finally settled beneath the blankets, exhaustion dragged heavily at my body again. Elijah remained close beside me, one arm wrapped loosely around my waist while the fire crackled softly nearby.

Safe.

That was the last clear thought I had before sleep finally pulled me under.

At first, darkness came peacefully.

Then the fog returned.

Cold white fog stretched endlessly beneath a black sky while whispers echoed faintly around me. My body tensed immediately as panic crawled through my chest.

Not again.

One figure stepped forward while the others remained behind him silently. Something about him felt wrong. I tried stepping backward but my body refused to move.

The figure tilted his head slightly before speaking.

“There you are.”

Ice flooded through my veins instantly. He knew me. The whispers around me grew louder while the figure moved closer through the fog.

Silver eyes glowed faintly beneath the shadows of his hood.

Recognition slammed into me violently but not from my memory.

Instinct.

Fear rooted itself deep inside my chest. The man smiled.

“I finally found you.”

My lips parted before I could stop myself.

“Korvus…”

The name escaped me instinctively like I knew him already And suddenly the dream shattered.



Ma Prudy

Wrong.

Something was wrong.

The candles flickered violently before stabilizing again.

Then she heard it.

“Korvus…”

The spoon slipped from Ma Prudy’s hand instantly and her heart stopped.

Lara.

Fear unlike anything she felt in years crawled violently through her chest.

Maria looked up immediately from near the fireplace. “Prudy?”

Ma Prudy barely heard her.

Her breathing became uneven as memories she buried long ago forced their way back into her mind.

“No,” she whispered shakily.

Max straightened from near the doorway immediately. “What happened?”

Ma Prudy turned toward them slowly, genuine fear visible across her face now.

“She said his name.”

Silence filled the room instantly.

Maria frowned deeply. “Whose name?”

Ma Prudy swallowed hard.

“Korvus.”