Page 80 of Destiny Redeemed
Lennox’s jaw tightened.
I sighed, setting down my spoon. “I didn’t lie when I said I could cook.”
Without waiting for a response, I took a deliberate spoonful, savoring the familiar flavors as I pointedly ignored both men.
“Well,” Anderic said after his first taste, “at least one of us had a useful skill to contribute today.”
Lennox nodded in reluctant agreement, and for the first time since we’d left the capital, a tentative peace settled over our unlikely trio.
Chapter 20
After dinner, I insisted on cleaning up despite Anderic’s half-hearted protests. The familiar rhythm of washing dishes grounded me in a strange way. It was something I’d mastered during those harsh years in exile—a mundane task that now brought unexpected comfort.
I’m on the way to that same place.
The familiar piercing screech cut through the night air without warning. I nearly dropped the bowl I was drying, my hands freezing mid-motion as my eyes shot to the window. Outside, a massive eagle circled overhead, its wingspan impressive against the darkening sky.
Anderic rushed outside, arm extended upward. The majestic bird descended in a controlled dive, talons grasping Anderic’s leather-clad forearm with practiced precision. A small leather cylinder was attached to its leg.
I approached cautiously as Anderic extracted a thin roll of parchment. Lennox appeared at his side, face grim as he read over the prince’s shoulder.
“Bloody hell!” Lennox’s curse exploded in the quiet evening. “Treacherous snake. I knew he couldn’t be trusted.”
Anderic’s expression darkened to something dangerous—a look that once would have terrified me. The muscle in his jaw twitched as he clenched his teeth, his eyes cold and calculating. But now, I felt no fear. Instead, standing beside him, I felt… protected.
“What happened?” I asked, stepping closer.
Anderic looked up, his golden curls catching the last rays of sunlight. “Prince Callum’s missing.”
“Missing?” I frowned, but the tightness in my chest was already beginning to coil. “Weren’t you having him followed until he crossed Aetheria’s border? He should have been gone days ago. Why are you only getting this message now?” My voice rose despite myself, the edges of panic sharpening each word. It was happening again, just like it did in my previous life.
Anderic’s jaw tightened. “It seems Prince Callum was aware he was being watched. He created a diversion—sent a double in his carriage toward the eastern border while he slipped away.” His fist clenched around the parchment. “You were right to be suspicious of him all along.”
Lennox had stopped cursing long enough to join the conversation. “We need to decide what to do. Continue north as planned or return to find this treacherous bastard?”
“The mines can’t wait,” Anderic muttered, pacing now. “But if Callum’s still in the capital…”
“He could be meeting with the very people we’re investigating,” Lennox finished, running a hand through his hair. “Dammit, we can’t be in two places at once.”
“I could go back alone,” Lennox suggested. “You continue to the mines with Lady Ilyana.”
“Too dangerous to split up. If they realize we’re onto them—”
I stepped forward before I could doubt myself. “I might be able to help.”
Both men turned to me, surprise evident on their faces.
“I think I know where Callum might be hiding,” I said, choosing my words carefully.
Anderic gestured for me to continue, his expression unreadable.
I licked my dry lips. “There’s an old temple in the eastern quarter of the capital—the abandoned temple of an ancient empire. Beneath it runs a network of underground chambers once used for secretive religious ceremonies. The entrance is hidden behind the third altar, beneath a loose stone carved with a crescent moon.” I paused. “Few people know it exists.”
In my previous life, Callum had shown me this place—where I met him in those moments of hopeless desperation—still clinging to the fantasy of being with Noah. The memory made my stomach turn with shame.
To my surprise, neither man questioned how I knew this information. Instead, Anderic turned to Lennox. “Go. Now. Take the fastest horse. If he’s there, send word immediately, but don’t engage. We need to know who he’s meeting with.”
Lennox nodded, already moving toward the door. “And if he’s not?”
