Crowned in Crimson Cinders

Chapter 23: Darian POV

The moment I left Aleah, a knot of unease tightened in my gut. Every step away felt like a mistake. I tried to dismiss it, to assure myself she was safe, that nothing ill could befall her in the heart of her own castle. Yet, the conviction rang hollow.

The halls themselves were a disconcerting void. No scurrying maids, no bustling servants. Not even a single guard. The silence pressed in, amplifying the disquiet that settled deep in my bones. I walked, a restless phantom in the endless corridors, my mind constantly flicking to the time, willing the minutes to accelerate. Each time, a fresh wave of frustration washed over me. Time had decided to crawl.

I kept thinking of her apology. I hadn't expected it, not truly. It was raw, and it only intensified the yearning to pull her close, to silence the world with a kiss. How had this happened? This wasn't the plan. I wasn't supposed to actually fall for her. This was meant to be a strategic alliance, a cold, calculated arrangement.

I had come here with the sole intention of finding my brother, and now I've gotten myself tangled up in confusing feelings for Aleah. I wanted to see my brother alive and well more than anything, but I also couldn't ignore the constant tug that I felt to be with her. Could I really betray her at the end and choose that mysterious, hooded woman over her just to get my brother back?

There wasn't a single minute, not a solitary breath, where her absence didn't ache. I found myself craving her company, her sharp wit, the unexpected turns of her mind. Yet, beneath the surging tide of affection, a persistent current of suspicion remained. No matter how many times I told myself otherwise, the undeniable feeling persisted. Aleah was keeping something from me. Something significant.

I tried not to focus on it and instead tried to familiarize myself with the castle corridors. I tried to find any way that someone could sneak in or out. Brock was right. Most of the windows were extremely high up off the ground, making it nearly impossible for someone to climb their way up. They must have found another way.

I planned to look for my brother when we infiltrated the dungeons. Hopefully, my brother would be there, or at least close by. Of course, I wouldn't be able to free him even if he were there. All I needed was confirmation that the hooded woman wasn't lying to me. Maybe my brother, Flynn, wasn't even there. I tried to brush the thought away.

Aleah had told me forty minutes. So, after twenty minutes of walking in one direction, I turned. I began retracing my steps, a desperate hope blooming in my chest that she would be there, waiting for me, just as I was for her.