Chapter 159

Chapter 159: Chapter 159

The search for Varek had been going on for three days.

Soren, Corvin, Ragnar, and Roderic had split up, each taking a different region of the realm. They had interrogated witnesses, followed tracks through the forest, and searched every village and outpost within a hundred miles of the palace. But Varek had vanished like smoke, leaving no trace behind.

Soren stood at the edge of a clearing, staring at the dark treeline. His golden eyes were bloodshot from lack of sleep, his jaw tight with frustration. The wound on his chest, the one from the arrow that had nearly killed him ached with a dull, persistent throb. He ignored it.

The forest was quiet. Too quiet. The birds had stopped singing, the insects had gone silent, and even the wind seemed to hold its breath. It was as if the realm itself was waiting, watching, holding its breath for the next catastrophe.

"Anything?" Soren asked, not turning around.

Corvin emerged from the trees behind him, his face streaked with dirt and sweat. His dark hair was plastered to his forehead, and his clothes were torn from pushing through brambles. He looked as exhausted as Soren felt.

"Nothing," Corvin said, his voice flat. "The trail goes cold at the river. They must have crossed in boats and scattered on the other side. There’s no way to track them from here."

Soren’s jaw tightened. "We need to widen the search. Send word to the northern packs—"

"We already have. They’re watching the borders, but no one has seen him." Corvin paused, wiping sweat from his brow. "Soren, we need to rest. You haven’t slept in three days. You’re going to collapse."

"I’ll sleep when Varek is dead."

"And if you collapse before then? What good will you be to anyone?" Corvin stepped closer, his voice dropping. "I know you’re grieving. I know you want revenge. But killing yourself won’t bring her back."

Soren spun on him, his golden eyes blazing. "Don’t. Don’t you dare tell me what I’m feeling. You don’t know—"

"I know exactly what you’re feeling." Corvin’s voice was steady, unflinching. "I loved her too. I still love her. Every day, I wake up and I think about her, and it feels like someone is cutting my heart out all over again. But I don’t let it destroy me. I channel it. I use it to keep fighting."

Soren stared at him. The anger was still there, burning in his chest. But beneath it, there was something else. Something that felt almost like exhaustion. Almost like surrender.

"I don’t know how to do this," he admitted, his voice barely a whisper. "I don’t know how to keep going without her."

"One day at a time," Corvin said. "One step at a time. That’s all any of us can do."

They stood in silence for a long moment, the weight of their shared grief pressing down on them. Then Soren nodded slowly.

"Fine. We’ll rest. But tomorrow, we keep searching."

"Tomorrow," Corvin agreed.

They returned to the palace that evening, their search yielding nothing but frustration. The King was waiting for them in the council chamber, his expression grim. The Queen stood near the window, her face pale and drawn, her hands clasped tightly in front of her.

"You didn’t find him," the King said. It wasn’t a question.

"No." Soren’s voice was flat. "He’s gone to ground. He has allies—people who are hiding him, protecting him. We need to find those allies and cut them off."

"The investigation is ongoing. We have guards searching every village, every outpost, every hiding place we can think of. But Varek is clever. He’s been planning this for months, maybe years. He knew exactly how to disappear."

"Then we need to be smarter. We need to find the people who helped him escape and make them talk."

"We’re working on that. The guards who were bribed are in custody. They’re being questioned as we speak." The King paused, his sharp eyes studying his son. "But there’s something else. Something more immediate."

Soren tensed. "What?"

"The realm is suffering. The crops are failing. The people are growing restless. The madness is spreading. And the full moon has not come in two months."

"I know." Soren’s jaw tightened. "But we can’t stop searching for Varek. He’s the key to everything. If we can find him—"

"We will find him. But we need to address the realm’s suffering first. The people are losing faith. They’re afraid. If we don’t do something soon, we’ll have a rebellion on our hands."

"What do you suggest?"

The King was silent for a moment. Then he spoke. "The seer has been consulting with the temple priests. She believes the realm’s suffering is connected to the goddess’s displeasure. She’s searching for a way to appease her."

"And?"

"And nothing yet. But she’s working on it." The King rose from his chair. "In the meantime, we need to keep the realm stable. We need to show the people that we’re still in control. That we’re still fighting."

"We are fighting. Every day. Every moment."

"I know. But they don’t see that. They see dying crops and madmen in the streets and a moon that won’t shine. They need something to believe in." The King paused. "They need their prince."

Soren stared at him. "What are you saying?"

"I’m saying you need to make more public appearances. Show the people that you’re still here, still strong, still leading. It will give them hope."

"Hope." Soren’s voice was bitter. "What good is hope when the realm is falling apart?"

"Hope is all we have left." The King met his son’s eyes. "You are the crown prince. The Lycan heir. The people look to you. Give them something to look at."

Soren was silent for a long moment. Then he nodded slowly. "Fine. I’ll do it. But only because it helps the investigation. The more visible I am, the more information I can gather."

"That’s the spirit." The King almost smiled. "Now go. Rest. Tomorrow, we continue the hunt."

He returned to Shadowmoon Academy that night, his mind churning.

The search for Varek was going nowhere. The seer’s words echoed in his head. And the weight of everything—the grief, the guilt, the desperate need to make things right pressed down on him like a physical force.

He needed information. He needed a new angle. And he knew exactly where to get it.

Valeria’s quarters were dark, lit only by a single candle. She opened the door when he knocked, her dark hair loose, her expression wary. She was wearing a simple nightgown, her feet bare, and she looked smaller somehow. Less like the scheming lecturer he had known and more like a woman who had been broken by the events of the past months.

"Soren." Her voice was cautious. "It’s late."

"I know." He pushed past her into the room. "We need to talk."

She closed the door and turned to face him. "What’s happened?"

"Varek escaped from prison. Three days ago. We’ve been searching for him, but he’s vanished." He met her eyes. "I need you to keep working on Finn. But I also need you to do something else."

"What?"

"Elias will come to you. He’ll need help—a place to hide, information, something. When he does, don’t turn him away. Accept. Play along. And use him to get close to Varek."

Valeria’s face went pale. "You want me to be a spy."

"I want you to be a weapon. A weapon I can use to destroy the people who killed Nyra." Soren stepped closer. "I know you’re scared. But I’ll keep you safe. I’ll protect you. You just have to trust me."

Valeria stared at him for a long moment. Her hands were trembling. Her eyes were bright with fear. But beneath it all, there was something else. Something that looked almost like resolve.

"Why me?" she asked. "Why are you trusting me with this?"

"Because you’re the only one who can do it. You’re close to Elias. You’re close to Selene. You’re in a position to gather information that no one else can." He paused. "And because you owe me. You owe Nyra. You helped destroy her, and now you’re going to help save her memory."

Valeria flinched. "That’s not fair."

"Neither was what you did to her." Soren’s voice was cold. "But I’m not asking you to be fair. I’m asking you to be useful."

She nodded slowly. "Fine. I’ll do it."

"Good." He turned to leave, then paused. "And Valeria? If you betray me—"

"You’ll feed me to Kael. I know." She smiled faintly. "I won’t betray you, Soren. I’m not that stupid."

He nodded once and walked out.

The next morning, Soren called a meeting.

He gathered the others in the old watchtower Corvin, Ragnar, Roderic, Jasper, Marek, Maureen, and Finn. They stood in a loose circle, their faces grim. The morning light filtered through the cracked windows, casting long shadows across the stone floor.

"I have news," Soren said. "Varek Astrlyn escaped from prison three days ago. We’ve been searching for him, but he’s vanished. He has allies—people who are hiding him. We need to find them."

The reaction was immediate. Ragnar’s hands curled into fists. Jasper’s expression sharpened. Marek went very still. Maureen’s eyes widened.

But it was Finn’s reaction that Soren watched most closely.

The sandy-haired boy’s face registered surprise—convincing surprise. His eyes went wide, his mouth opened slightly. "Escaped? How?"

"The guards were bribed. We believe Elias Nightveil orchestrated it." Soren paused. "Elias is Varek’s son. He’s been working with his father from the beginning."

Finn’s expression flickered—just for a moment. Then he shook his head. "I can’t believe it. Elias was one of us. He fought beside us in the Mistwood."

"He was a traitor. Just like his father." Soren watched Finn’s face. "But we’ll find them. And when we do, they’ll answer for everything."

The meeting continued, but Soren barely heard any of it. His attention was fixed on Finn—on every flicker of expression, every twitch of his hands, every breath.

What are you hiding? he thought. What are you planning?