The frozen heart

Chapter 42: Endings and Beginnings

The air in the castle felt heavy, as if the walls themselves were holding their breath. Kaiden stood by the window, his gaze fixed on the darkening horizon. The deep blue of the evening sky seemed to press in on him, but his mind wasn't on the fading light. It was on the growing sense of danger that had been gnawing at him.

No matter how many charms and wards he had placed around the castle, no matter how meticulously he had hidden their location, the exorcist seemed to be closing in. Every day, Kaiden felt it—like a tightening noose, the presence of the one person who could ruin everything creeping ever closer. It made no sense. He had made sure the castle was untraceable, cloaked in layers of magic designed to shield them from prying eyes. Yet, somehow, the exorcist knew.

His fingers twitched with irritation as he clenched his fists. Something wasn't right, and he knew he had to figure it out before it was too late.

He stopped abruptly, his back to her, shoulders tense. "I don't know how he's doing it," Kaiden muttered, his voice low and edged with frustration. "The exorcist. He's getting closer. Somehow, he knows we're here."

Anne's stomach dropped at the mention of him. She had been so consumed by their time together—by Kaiden's wounds, their shared moments of quiet, and the undercurrent of danger ever-present in their lives—that she had almost entirely forgotten about the exorcist.

The hero of the story.

And, in this world, her fiancé.

Anne's breath caught in her throat as shame welled up inside her. How could she have let it slip from her mind? He was a vital part of the narrative, someone who had pledged to stand against Kaiden, to bring justice and peace back to this chaotic world. Yet, she had focused only on Kaiden and herself—on their fragile haven, fleeting as it might be.

Her hands stilled against the table as she recalled the letter. The ring.

Kaiden turned to face her, his expression dark, unreadable. "He's not like the others who've come after me. This one... he's relentless." His icy eyes, sharp and assessing, met hers, and for a moment, something vulnerable flickered in their depths. "Anne, if he finds us—"

"He won't," she interrupted, forcing strength into her voice despite the turmoil inside her. "We'll handle it. Together."

Kaiden stared at her, his jaw tightening, but he didn't respond immediately. Instead, he moved to the edge of the room, leaning against the wall as if the weight of the situation was pressing down on him.

The ring. She thought again.

Anne's breath caught as the memory came rushing back. She had forgotten about it entirely—the silver band the exorcist had given her months ago. Back when Kaiden was just a shadowy name whispered in fear, and she had believed the exorcist's promises of protection. The ring was supposed to shield her, to guard her from the so-called darkness Kaiden carried.

But Kaiden's words from moments ago churned in her mind, bringing an unsettling thought.

Could it be...?

Anne pushed herself off the chair, her pulse quickening. Without explaining, she turned and left the room, heading for the quiet, unused chamber Kaiden had first brought her to when they arrived at the castle. The place was dusty now, forgotten in favor of the more lived-in spaces they occupied.

As she entered, the faint scent of old wood and damp stone enveloped her. Her eyes scanned the dimly lit room, settling on the small table near the corner. That was where she had left it—tossed carelessly aside, a trinket she no longer wanted to carry.