Chapte 26

The voice came from the shadows, smooth and laced with amusement.

Rhaine's breath caught as she stood abruptly, her gaze darting around. "Who's there?"

Silence.

Only the whisper of leaves swaying in the wind answered her.

"Show yourself, coward!" she demanded, her voice fierce.

A low chuckle echoed from all directions, disorienting her.

"Coward? That's rather bold," the voice teased.

Behind her, a presence stirred. She whirled around, her hand instinctively moving behind her back, ready to defend herself. A figure emerged from the gloom—a man with an air of unsettling ease, his features unreadable. His eyes flickered with something strange as he took in her face, his expression briefly shifting to confusion before settling into a mask of boredom.

"You look so much like her," he said, circling her like a predator sizing up prey.

Her heart raced, though she kept her composure. "Who are you?"

The man's gaze never wavered from her face. "It's uncanny," he murmured, almost to himself.

Before she could press him further, a distant voice called her name, echoing through the trees. Her head snapped toward the sound, but when she turned back, the man was gone—vanished as if he had never been there.

Who was he?

Her thoughts churned as she tried to make sense of the encounter. Footsteps pounded through the forest, and moments later, Kaelion appeared with several palace guards in tow. His expression was grim, his eyes scanning the area before locking onto her.

"This is not a place for you to be without protection," he said sharply, his voice tinged with frustration.

He stepped closer, his gaze darkening as he noticed the blood on her arm. "Who did this?" he demanded, his tone icy.

"I fell and hurt my arm. It's nothing," she said softly, brushing off his concern.

Kaelion's jaw clenched. "Where is Thalric? Why did he not save you from this?"

"I sent him on a mission," she replied nonchalantly. "No need to worry."

His expression hardened. "I am worried about you."

The boldness of his words caught her off guard, especially with the guards nearby. Heat crept up her neck, but she masked her surprise with indifference.

"Anyway," he continued, "it's not safe here. Let's go."

As they prepared to leave, Rhaine cast one last glance around the forest.

"Is something wrong?" Kaelion asked, his voice gentler.

"No," she sighed, though a flicker of unease lingered. She bent down and plucked the Olderon from its root, cradling it in her hand. The way she gazed at the flower, as though it held the fragments of a precious memory, sent an inexplicable pang through Kaelion's chest.

Back at the palace, Kaelion followed her toward her quarters, his eyes never leaving her.

"I'll help with your wound," he offered, his voice softer now.

But Rhaine stopped him cold with her next words. "Please keep your distance. Selara will tend to me. You don't need to worry."

The chill in her tone cut through him like a blade, but he hid his pain behind a mask of indifference. "Take good care of yourself," he muttered before turning on his heel and walking away.

Rhaine watched him go, her heart conflicted.

As she ascended the stairs to her room, the Olderon clutched tightly in her hand, one thought lingered in her mind:

Who was the man in the forest, and why did he say she looked like her? Who is her?

Earlier that night, under the pale light of the crescent moon, the man from the forest stood at the edge of the treeline, shrouded in shadows. His gaze was unwavering, locked onto the distant castle that loomed against the starlit sky. His focus lingered on a particular balcony where golden light flickered through sheer curtains, casting a soft glow onto the stone balustrade.

Rhaine's balcony.

He took a slow, deliberate breath, as though savoring the air charged with something unseen. His eyes, sharp, gleamed with a hint of anticipation.

Suddenly, the balcony doors creaked open, revealing her slender form. Draped in a pale gown that shimmered faintly in the moonlight, Rhaine stepped onto the balcony, her presence commanding even in solitude. Her curlyr hair caught the light, shimmering like threads of moonbeam.

A faint breeze swept through, carrying the scent of wildflowers and forest earth. Rhaine's gaze swept across the grounds, her expression serene yet restless. She tilted her head slightly, as if sensing something—or someone—watching her.

The man tensed, his fingers curling against the bark of the tree he leaned against. His heartbeat remained steady, coldly disciplined, but his mind echoed with thoughts both calculated and primal.

Rhaine's gaze faltered in the direction of the forest. Her brow furrowed as an inexplicable pull gripped her, urging her toward the dense woods. There was something there—something that called to her spirit..

The man remained unmoving, his lips curving into a faint, enigmatic smile.

Soon, the word echoed in his mind, thick with purpose.

Without another glance, he melted back into the forest, his presence fading like a shadow swallowed by the night.

On the balcony, Rhaine's hand gripped the stone railing, her heart inexplicably heavy. The pull toward the forest gnawed at her senses, but she dismissed it with a shake of her head, retreating back inside.