Inevitable reckoning

Milo's POV

The wind roared in my ears as Pyrrhos's hooves thundered against the dirt path. The twins' voices were barely audible behind me, drowned out by the pounding in my chest. Each passing moment felt heavier, more suffocating, as the dark cloud of unease clawed at the edges of my mind.

As we veered into a cluster of trees, the flicker of movement ahead caught my attention. My grip tightened on the reins, and I leaned forward, narrowing my eyes. Another rider.

Mark.

Relief mingled with urgency as we closed the distance, our horses matching stride. His face was grim, his voice rushed.

"Rudolph's party might be in serious danger," he said, his words clipped as though they couldn't come fast enough.

The estate wasn't far now, and the gnawing pit in my stomach twisted tighter. I tried contacting Rudolph again, but it was like screaming into a void—no answer.