Chapter 371 - 105: Journey to the Start

Destiny had barely cleared her morning meal when Dane arrived with the summons: the priestess needed them.

She was already buttoning her coat, set to leave with Marcus, when Dane’s heavy expression caught her eye.

"What happened?"

"Aurora is getting worse."

Her hands froze on the buttons. "How much worse?"

"She’s fighting the warriors. The priestess can’t keep her calm anymore."

Destiny turned her eyes toward the doorway. Marcus was waiting out front with their escort, ready to depart for the eastern-road settlement. Yet leaving without seeing the situation for herself felt impossible.

"Let me check on her first."

Dane nodded, leading her across the courtyard to the temple.

Aurora’s agonizing growls reached them well before they crossed the threshold into the inner chamber. A harsh snarl echoed over the urgent shouts of the guard, punctuated by a loud crash that forced Destiny into a run.

On the stone floor by the altar, Aurora was pinned by two struggling warriors, repeatedly wrenching her arms from their grasp. Black veins spider-webbed further across her face and neck. Her fingers had curved into vicious claws, and her yellowed eyes tracked every shift in the room.

"Father!"

Vance stood mere feet away. He took a hesitant step forward, only for Aurora to snap savagely at the nearest guard, forcing the man to jump back.

"Hold her!" Vance barked.

The men locked their grip around her again as Aurora thrashed, her claws grating against the stone.

Destiny halted at the entrance. She had watched the princess deteriorate over the last two days, but this was a complete transformation. Hardly a trace of the girl remained in the way she moved or glared at her surroundings.

Standing off to the side, the priestess looked utterly spent, her hands falling idle.

"Can you do anything?" Destiny asked.

The priestess shook her head. "Not while she’s fighting this hard. I can’t hold the change back much longer."

Vance whirled on her. "Then find another way!"

"I am trying, Your Majesty."

"Try harder!"

Another growl tore from Aurora’s throat. Vance turned back to his daughter, his kingly composure slipping to reveal a father utterly helpless to reach his child. Destiny understood his desperation, even as she knew it wouldn’t render the Heart Stone any less dangerous.

Though she had come to check on Aurora, Destiny still had a journey to undertake.

"Marcus and I are leaving for the eastern-road settlement," she said. "We should be back before dark."

Dane looked from her to Vance, whose posture instantly straightened.

"I’m coming with you."

Destiny stared at him. "What?"

"You heard me. I’m coming."

"Your daughter is in danger. You should be here with her."

Vance’s eyes flicked to Aurora’s violent struggles. His jaw tightened, but his resolve didn’t flicker when he faced Destiny again.

"You are the one thing that may be able to cure my daughter."

"I’m not a cure," Destiny said flatly. "The stone reacted to my blood. We still don’t know why, or whether it can save her."

"Then we’ll find out."

"By leaving her here?"

"The priestess and the warriors will remain with her. I cannot stand beside Aurora and do nothing while the only possible answer to her condition walks away."

Destiny looked to Dane for support, but he remained silent. It was Vance’s call, and she wasn’t about to pretend she could make it for him.

Vance turned to Ramon.

"You’ll remain here. Make certain Aurora is guarded, and do not attempt anything with the stone until we return."

Ramon’s dark look deepened. "You shouldn’t be leaving while she’s like this."

"I know what I should be doing," Vance said, his voice dropping. "But if Destiny finds something that helps us understand the stone, I need to know."

Ramon eyed the thrashing princess, then the king. He clearly hated the choice, but he stood down.

"Go, then. I’ll stay with her."

With a curt nod, Vance commanded two guards at the door to prepare his horse.

The idea of traveling with the Lycan King sat uneasy with Destiny, especially since she had no intention of letting him command her search. Yet his familiarity with Silvercrest was a resource she couldn’t dismiss.

She turned to Dane. "We’ll need to tell Marcus."

"I’ll inform him," Dane replied. "And I’ll send word to Henrik so the southern patrols stay alert while we’re away."

Vance cut in. "What southern patrols?"

"Two patrols reported movement near the tree line this morning. We don’t know whether it was your enemy’s pack, but we won’t ignore it."

Vance’s eyes narrowed instantly. "Then keep the estate guarded. If the cursed Alpha is moving again, he may be looking for the stone."

"He won’t find it unguarded," Ramon assured him.

A sudden snarl ripped across the floor as Aurora lunged again, forcing one of the guards to call out for help. Vance faltered, caught in the agonized weight of the moment. Destiny watched him fight himself, knowing how agonizing it had to be to turn his back on his child in such a state.

Yet he turned toward the exit anyway.

"Let’s go."

Outside, Marcus stood waiting by the horses. His gaze bounced between Destiny and the king following close behind her.

"Is something wrong?"

"Alpha Vance is coming with us," Destiny said.

Marcus raised an eyebrow, though he held his tongue.

While Vance gave instructions to the warriors tending his mount, Dane pulled Destiny aside.

"I don’t like the idea of you travelling with him," he muttered low.

"Neither do I. Especially when he seems to think I’m carrying a cure in my veins."

"Then make sure he understands that he doesn’t get to make decisions for you."

"I will."

Dane searched her face before taking her hand.

"Come back safely."

"I intend to."

He leaned down to press a swift kiss to her forehead, a brief gesture heavy with unspoken worry.

Destiny mounted up. Marcus was already in his saddle, and Vance swung onto a dark gelding brought from the stables. Accompanied by two armed escorts at their rear, they rode through the estate gates.

Leaving BloodMoon behind, Destiny stole one last look over her shoulder. Somewhere deep within the temple walls, Aurora was still battling the curse under Ramon’s watch.

Ahead lay the stretch of the eastern road, toward a settlement where someone might remember the wagon, and toward the questions that had haunted Destiny ever since Marcus and Kalessie found her. Now, the Lycan King rode beside them, convinced her hidden past held the key to his daughter’s life.

Destiny could only hope the road yielded actual answers rather than fresh mysteries.