Forbidden Flames

Chapter Fifty Nine

I could barely sit still through dinner, my eyes flicking to Cassian every few moments. Each time our gazes met, the same unspoken determination passed between us. We couldn't wait any longer. August and Roland had been missing for too long, and I knew we had to do something.

Belle's tear-streaked face was more than I could bear. August's mother sat silently at the table, staring blankly at her plate, her food untouched. I'd never seen her so broken. Beside her, Cassian's father, the king, was trying to comfort her, but his words felt hollow, even to me. They were just empty promises.

"We've done everything we can," the king was saying. "Every man we have is out there searching. We will find them."

Belle didn't respond. She just nodded numbly, her fingers clutching the edge of the table so tightly that her knuckles were white. I bit my lip, glancing at Cassian again. We couldn't just sit here and wait. I knew he felt the same.

When dinner ended, Cassian and I slipped out of the dining hall as quickly as we could. Our footsteps echoed through the marble corridors, urgency pushing us forward. The castle felt stifling, the walls too close, the air too heavy. I needed to get out, to do something, anything, to find August and Roland.

As we reached the stables, I felt a flicker of hope. The sight of the horses, their sleek bodies shifting in the moonlight, gave me a sense of purpose. We would find them. I knew we would.

Cassian was already moving to saddle a horse when a voice behind us made me freeze.

"And where exactly do you think you're going?"

We both turned to see Baylor, his tall frame leaning casually against the stable door. His eyes, sharp and assessing, flicked between us. There was a hint of amusement in his expression, as if he'd caught us sneaking sweets from the kitchen instead of sneaking out of the castle.

"Baylor," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "We need to find August and Roland. We can't just sit around doing nothing."

Baylor's mouth twitched into a smirk. "And you think you're better suited for the task than the king's men?" he asked, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "I'd like to hear how you plan to succeed where they've failed."

"Because we know them," I said, standing my ground. "We know where they might go, places the soldiers wouldn't think to look. We have to try."

Cassian stepped beside me, his voice backing mine. "We can handle ourselves... uncle."

Baylor chuckled softly, a low sound that didn't quite reach his eyes. "Is that so?" he said, pushing away from the doorframe. "You do realize that if you go out there, you might be walking into the same danger that took them?"

"We know the risks," I said, matching his steady gaze. "But August is our family. I won't abandon him."

Baylor's eyes narrowed, studying me for a long moment. "You've got fire," he said finally, a hint of respect creeping into his voice. "I can see why August likes you." He crossed his arms, his posture still casual but his eyes serious. "But fire can get you burned, Lilith. You're not invincible."

"I don't have to be invincible," I replied. "I just have to be determined. And I am."

Baylor's expression shifted slightly, the corners of his mouth quirking up in a semblance of a smile. "Determined, are you?" he mused. "Well, determination can be useful." He glanced at Cassian, then back at me. "The king will have my head if I let you run off alone especially you Cassian. So, if you're going, I'm going with you. Someone has to keep an eye on you two."

Cassian and I exchanged a surprised glance. "You're coming with us?" Cassian asked, eyebrows raised.

"Don't look so shocked," Baylor said with a shrug. "I've been around a few corners, seen a few things. Besides, the men who touched my son will die at my hands." His tone turned mysterious, leaving me to wonder what exactly he meant by that.

"But let me make one thing clear," he continued, his voice hardening. "We do this my way. You listen to me, and you don't take any unnecessary risks. If we're going to find August and Roland, we need to be smart about it. Agreed?"

I nodded, a wave of relief washing over me. With Baylor's help, we had a better chance of finding them. "Agreed," I said.

Baylor turned, heading toward the horses. "Well, then," he said over his shoulder, a hint of a smile in his voice, "let's not waste any more time."

As we moved to prepare our horses, I felt a surge of hope. August and Roland were out there somewhere, and we were going to bring them home. No matter what it took.