Chapter 284 The Lock breaks

Chapter 284: Chapter 284 The Lock breaks

Talia’s POV

I looked at the silver door, and I felt the weight of everything pressing down on me.

The lock was cold and heavy, made entirely of silver. The handle was silver, and the frame was silver. Everything about this door was designed to keep someone in, or to keep someone out.

Kaelen stood beside me, and his voice was tight with frustration. "Talia, how do we open it?"

I stared at the lock, and I felt the fear rise in my chest. "I do not know, Kaelen. But we have to find a way."

He moved closer, with his eyes studying the door. "What about the guard? I mean the one we fought. He must have had a key on him."

I looked at him, and I felt the hope flicker in my chest. "You think so?"

Kaelen nodded. "It makes sense. Why else would he be patrolling this part of the dungeon alone? He must be guarding something."

I looked back at the door, then at the cell where we had locked the guard. "Then we need to go back and check him."

Kaelen squeezed my hand. "I will go with you."

We walked back through the corridor, past the empty cells and the flickering torches. The silence was heavy, pressing in on us from all sides, but I did not stop. I could not stop.

As we walked, I felt something stir in my chest. It was faint at first, like a whisper in the wind, then it grew stronger.

"Talia." The voice was soft and familiar. It was my wolf, Lyra.

I stopped walking, Instantly freezing on my feet, and I felt the tears prick at my eyes. "Lyra? Is that you?"

"Yes, Talia. It is me." Her voice was weak, but it was there. "I have been silent for too long. The silver has been suppressing me. But I can feel her now. I can feel your mother, and she is so close."

I pressed my hand to my chest, and I felt the warmth spread through my heart. "You can feel her?"

"Yes," Lyra said. "Her magic is calling to us, which means that we are on the right path. Keep going, Talia. Do not stop."

I felt the tears spill down my cheeks. "I have missed you, Lyra."

"I have missed you too," she said. "But we will have time to talk later. Right now, you need to save your mother."

I nodded, and I felt the determination settle in my chest. "I will."

Kaelen looked at me, with his eyes filled with concern. "Talia? What is it?"

I looked at him, and I smiled through my tears. "Lyra, my wolf. She spoke to me."

Kaelen’s eyes widened. "She did?"

I nodded. "She said my mother is close. She can feel her magic."

Kaelen squeezed my hand. "That is good news, Talia."

I nodded. "It is."

Kaelen was quiet for a moment, and I saw the shadow pass over his face. He looked down at his hands, at the burns that covered his skin, and I heard the sadness in his voice.

"Talia," he said. "Actually, I cannot feel my wolf."

I stopped walking and looked at him. "What do you mean?"

He shook his head. "I have not felt him since we entered the Ashen Lands. It is like he is... gone. Or maybe, buried beneath all this silver."

I felt my heart ache for him. "Kaelen..."

He looked at me. "I know it is the silver. It is suppressing him, just like it did to you. But I cannot help feeling... empty."

I reached for his hand, and I squeezed it gently. "You are not empty, Kaelen. He is still there. He is just waiting."

He looked at me. "How do you know?"

I touched my chest. "Because I know what it feels like to lose your wolf. And I know what it feels like to find her again. Yours will come back too, Kaelen. I believe that."

He looked at me, and I saw the gratitude in his eyes. "Thank you, Talia."

I smiled. "We are mates, Kaelen. We carry each other."

Kaelen kissed my forehead, stepped back a little, and nodded at me.

I nodded back, but I could not shake the worry from my mind. Kaelen’s wolf had gone silent, just like mine had in the Ashen Lands. And I knew how terrifying that silence could be.

"Kaelen," I said. "I am worried about you."

He looked at me. "I am fine, Talia."

"You are not fine," I said. "Your wolf is silent, even if I am sure that this land has everything to do with it. But your skin is burning, and the silver is taking everything from you."

He squeezed my hand. "But I am still standing, Talia. That is what matters."

I looked at him, and I felt the tears prick at my eyes. "I cannot lose you, Kaelen."

He pulled me close. "You will not lose me, Talia. I promise."

I nodded against his chest, and cleaned the tears in my eyes.

We continued walking, and I felt the hope rising in my chest. My wolf was back, my mother was close, we were on the right path, and I knew in my heart, that Kaelen’s wolf would be okay too.

"Kaelen," I said. "I have been thinking about the others."

He looked at me. "Piper, Jax, Silas, and Cain?"

I nodded. "They created the distraction for us, and they risked their lives so we could get in. I hope they are okay."

Kaelen was quiet for a moment. "They are strong, Talia. They knew the risks when they volunteered."

"I know," I said. "But I cannot help worrying."

He squeezed my hand. "That is because you care about them. That is who you are."