The Hideout I

Atticus's bad day had rapidly gotten worse when the search party returned frantically without Jonah. Apparently, his best friend had been trapped in a tunnel cave in and none of the men wanted to risk digging him out with their swords in case it caused a complete collapse of the tunnels. 

How did everything get so complicated? Atticus cursed bitterly under his breath as he heard their brief report. 

According to them, Alistair's entire estate was deserted save for several dead bodies of blonde women. There wasn't even a servant in sight. That very thought made Atticus gnash his teeth in anger and disbelief― maybe that snake was hiding all this while to ambush him?

He couldn't leave Jonah to die in the tunnels, but he also didn't want to leave Daphne. In the end, it was Sirona who chased him away.

"You can't do anything for Daphne now. Even that fool Prince Nathaniel would be more useful than you in a healing room," she said firmly.