Chapter 45

Chapter 45
Things were going from bad to worse. Quanah hadn’t returned, and unfortunately, Nikolai was right. I’d hoped so much that he was wrong, especially after a day with no news. I tried to stay positive, hopeful that he was on his way back with answers.
But reality hit me after two days. Peta was already organizing a search party, and I had to insist he not lead it. My fear was that no one would return, because if they’d managed to make Quanah disappear, they wouldn’t hesitate to do the same to others.
Peta agreed to stay and let Denah lead the first group, but after they returned without answers, I couldn’t hold him back anymore. Peta led one group while Denah guided another.
If they’d let me, I’d definitely be out there helping with the search, but I was forbidden from setting foot outside the house. I was actually obeying, not wanting to risk putting another person in my father’s hands.
Today marked a week since Quanah disappeared. Nikolai had visited me every day. I wasn’t complaining since he was genuinely trying to help, and with everyone else gone, I only had Alice and Flora for company. He was a welcome addition to that list.
I missed Quanah terribly. I hadn’t realized how attached I was to him. We were both hot-blooded and constantly at odds, but my heart had been heavy since he ran off that day. My sadness was so intense that my power had darkened. Every time I tried to use it, my desires got jumbled, and I always ended up thinking about my father dead, even though I didn’t even know him.
“You should ask your friend for help,” Alice said, pulling me back to reality. “If Nikolai knew what your father was planning, he must know where he is and what he did with Quanah.”
“Quanah hates that man. Do you really think he’d want his help?” Flora countered.
I stepped away from the window and approached them. They were trying their best to distract me today, but my mood was becoming obvious—it was the same every day.
“I don’t think Quanah’s in a position to choose who helps him,” I said, taking a deep breath, knowing this might be our best chance to save him.
“Good luck convincing the devil,” Flora growled, baring her teeth in a clear threat.
“Let’s get out of here and let her call him already,” Alice said, grabbing Flora’s arm and pulling her toward the door. “Every hour that passes, Quanah’s in the hands of who-knows-who, and the others are at risk, leaving her unprotected.”
She was right. Every minute that passed, Quanah could be suffering, if I didn’t think of the worst. I threw myself onto his bed and breathed deeply, catching the last traces of his scent. If it used to be filled with Quanah’s cologne, now it was barely there.
“Nikolai, I know you’re there.”
“Why do you always call me saying you know I’m here? Do you think I have nothing better to do?” His voice came before his specter appeared.
“I know you’re always spying on me, listening in and showing up when I feel most alone.”
“Well, I had a complaint on the tip of my tongue, but I’ll save it for another time after those last words.” I smiled and turned on the bed to face him. “What you need now, I can’t give you. I don’t know where they’re keeping him captive. By now, the other wolves should’ve found him. Louis’s territory isn’t that big.”
“I don’t know what to do anymore, Nik.” He sat beside me and pulled my body against his in a tender embrace. “All I can think about is how guilty I feel. My father wanted me, not him. He’s clearly trying to lure me, using Quanah as bait…”
“Look at it this way: if Quanah’s the bait, he won’t kill him. It’s better to be used as leverage than to be murdered.”
It was true. I had to admit that if my father wanted to use him to force my surrender, he wouldn’t kill him, but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t hurt him.
“Still, I can’t surrender, at least not until our son is born.” I sighed and let my body slump against his.
“Are you really willing to surrender for him?” He pushed my body away and looked into my eyes.
“Do you know what it’s like to be told you’re powerful, but all you feel is useless? If I could at least find out where he is, if I could help in some way.” I pulled away from him, standing and walking to the window, which had become my favorite spot, staring at the trees and imagining Quanah emerging safe and sound. “I feel powerless locked up here. I’m not a helpless princess who has to stay trapped in a tower waiting for a charming prince. That’s not me!”
“You’re a powerful witch—I’d say more, the most powerful witch of all—and yet you’d surrender for a werewolf? A being so inferior, so small compared to you.”
“I don’t think like you. We’ve been over this. You immortal creatures think everything should be measured by what someone can do, by their power or wealth. A person’s life shouldn’t be judged by that.”
“He’s a mortal, Bridget!”
“That makes him even more special. Every minute, every second I have with him is too precious.” I turned to the man standing there. “Can’t you see that a shorter life doesn’t mean less, Nik? It means it’s easier to lose, more fragile, yes, but it should be lived with more intensity.”
Nikolai and I had become friends these past few days. We’d spent too much time talking, and I could see what centuries of loneliness had done to him. We didn’t see life the same way.
“You really love him, don’t you?”
“I don’t think it’s love. We’ve known each other so little, and…”
“That’s love!” he insisted, stepping closer. “You may not see it, child, but only love can do something like this. You’d be out there taking risks for him if you weren’t pregnant, which shows how much you love that baby too.” I placed my hands protectively around my belly. “And you’re even considering surrendering to your father in five months when you give birth.”
“I…”
“You’re the one who doesn’t want to see it now. In my opinion, love is for fools, an illusion humans created, but I’m surprised to see such a strong display of it up close, especially since you’re an immortal witch and he’s a mortal shapeshifter.”
I sighed, thinking about everything he’d said. Did I love Quanah? How was that possible? We fought most of the time. Sure, we had a sexual connection, but love?
Only then did I realize that all the sadness that had taken over me and all the hatred now dwelling in my power were my feelings of fear of losing him.
“I need to do something!” I said, heading toward the door, but before I reached the handle, Nikolai grabbed me.
“I think there’s a way to help him.” My eyes widened with anticipation. “Tell the werewolves at the reserve entrance to let me and the witch with me in.”
“You…” The question died on my lips.
“Yes, I’m here, child.”
A shiver ran up my spine. I was finally going to meet him, see him in person, in the flesh. I didn’t wait any longer and ran off, alerting Flora.
Of course, she didn’t like the news. Neither she nor anyone else there did. Even the witches opposed it, but there was no choice—he was coming into the reserve, or I’d go out to him. That was the only way they let him in.
“You don’t know what that being is capable of, Bridget, especially bringing an outside witch,” Grandma Blanca was the first to speak.
But I didn’t listen. He had a way to help Quanah, and that’s what I was focused on.
“Look at you.” The voice I’d heard so much was finally there in front of me. “It’s good to finally meet my stolen bride.”
I smiled, unbothered by his words, and approached. He was still wearing the black cloak, which I’d learned these past few days wasn’t always the same, but they were all black or a shade of blue too dark.
The woman beside him was young, as young as Agnes, but her clothes were as short and tight as Alice’s. Her hair was completely white, and she wore dark sunglasses, even though the day wasn’t sunny, which I found odd.
“It’s good to finally see you for real, Nik.” I smiled at him, and his brown eyes glimmered slightly, but he didn’t smile back like he did when we were alone.
“She gave you a nickname, Koschei. Are you sure she’s in love with the wolf?”
“Shut up, Kalina!” I heard his words come out in a harsh tone, one I wasn’t used to. “This is Kalina, an old acquaintance.”
I almost extended my hand, but Grandma Blanca grabbed me firmly, stopping me from greeting her.
“We’ve heard of you. You dabble in dark magic, and that’s why you were banished from the order! We don’t want you here—neither of you, in fact!” I’d never seen her so upset like that.
“What are you afraid of, Blanca, you decrepit old woman? That I’ll tell your protégé the things I know about you? Or that she’ll finally reach her full potential and won’t need you anymore?” Kalina shot back, shocking everyone around us.
“Kalina, control yourself. I didn’t bring you here for a fight.” He gave her a sidelong glance that seemed to work, and she turned to me with a smile. “Kalina was the one who linked Quanah to you, and she can do the same for you, so you’ll feel where he is. It’s the fastest way to find him.”