Ruthless 🗡️/ Fourth Wing

Chapter~29

Despite the relative efficiency with which I showered, unpacked my dress, and styled my hair, the real test lay in the hours I spent searching for any hidden clue within the confines of the guest room. What should have been a quick, straightforward task became a relentless, maddening pursuit that stretched into two and a half hours of fruitless exploration.

I combed through every inch of the room: opening every drawer, inspecting every corner, feeling behind tapestries and under cushions. I checked beneath the bed, under the rug, in every nook, and even inside the thick, carved wooden furniture, but my efforts yielded nothing. No hidden compartments, no secret passages, no cryptic notes or concealed messages. It was as though the room itself had been carefully constructed to guard its secrets, leaving me feeling increasingly trapped. The walls seemed to whisper in their silence, daring me to find something, anything, that would shed light on the mysteries I was beginning to suspect were far deeper than I had imagined.

Frustration churned in my chest, but I didn't let it show. I wasn't about to give up. The longer I searched, the more I felt the weight of anticipation pressing down on me, the sense that I was running out of time, that whatever I needed to uncover was just beyond reach.

Finally, my attention turned to my attire. I secured the last of my daggers in their sheath on my thigh. The sleek black dress clung to my form, falling elegantly to my knees before pooling on the floor in a wave of fabric. Red heels added a touch of confidence to my posture, lifting me just enough to make me feel powerful, taller. The effect was immediate. As I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror, a surge of empowerment coursed through me. I could do this. Whatever came next, I was ready.

But before I could enjoy the small moment of triumph, a sudden knock on the door shattered my thoughts, the sound echoing in the silence of the room like a warning bell. My heart skipped a beat. The first thought that sprang to mind was, This is it. This is where I die. At least I look good doing it.

"Not going to die, Fireheart," Arrax's voice echoed in my mind, a reassuring rumble amidst the rising tension.

I exhaled, pushing my nerves aside, and made my way to the door. Each step felt heavier than the last, the anticipation of what lay beyond the threshold filling me with a mixture of dread and curiosity. The knock came again, this time more insistent, as if the visitor wasn't interested in waiting any longer.

I took a deep breath, steeling myself, before turning the handle. The door swung open to reveal a young man standing in the hallway. He was around 23, with tousled black hair that framed his face and broad shoulders that seemed to fill the space with ease. But it wasn't his stature or his casual stance that immediately caught my attention—it was his eyes. Bright blue, piercing, and intense, they locked onto mine with an unnerving familiarity.

In that instant, I knew. I was in trouble.

"Oh, hello," I said, a little surprised that the person at my door wasn't an old man with a snaggle-tooth. My voice was neutral, though my mind was already racing.

"Hi there, I'm Kai," he greeted, his voice smooth and dripping with charm as he extended a hand toward me. His grin was playful, a little too confident, and it set my teeth on edge.

I didn't hesitate, cutting off his gesture with a subtle raise of an eyebrow. Not today, thank you.

"Very well then, let's go," I replied coolly, meeting his gaze head-on, my stance firm and unwavering.

Kai's grin only widened, clearly amused by my lack of enthusiasm. "Ah, a woman who knows what she wants," he said, his words laced with playful challenge.