Chapter Fourteen__Part:2

"Astrid!" Kaden's voice was thick with emotion as he reached me, his hands gripping my arms, his eyes searching my face as if he couldn't believe I was really there. "Where... where did you go? What happened? I was told you vanished. Just gone!"

I could feel the wild energy pulsing through him, the weight of his concern crashing over me like a tidal wave. His grip tightened, and I knew he was fighting to keep his composure. Behind him, Joran and several guards hovered, their expressions equally grim, but they kept their distance, allowing Kaden to have this moment.

"I..." My breath caught as I tried to find the words. "I don't know. The amulet... it pulled me. Took me somewhere. Some temple. There was a man... two of them, actually. One attacked me, and the other..." My voice faltered as the monk, still trembling, leaned heavily on me. "He helped me escape."

Kaden's eyes darkened as they flicked to the monk, then back to me. "Are you hurt? Did they—?"

"No," I said quickly, shaking my head. "I'm fine. Just... shaken. But we need to get him help."

Kaden turned, signaling for one of the guards. "Take him to the healers," he ordered sharply. "Make sure he gets whatever care he needs."

The monk gave me a grateful nod before being led away, and Kaden's full attention returned to me. His hands came up to cup my face, his thumbs brushing over my cheeks as if reassuring himself I was real and safe.

"I thought I'd lost you," he murmured, his voice rough with the raw edges of fear that hadn't yet faded. "When they told me you'd disappeared... I"

"You didn't lose me," I interrupted softly, reaching up to cover his hands with mine. "I'm right here."

For a moment, there was only silence between us, the world fading away as we stood there, both of us trying to steady ourselves. I could see the flicker of relief in Kaden's eyes, but beneath it was something darker, an anger I did not recognize. It was aimed at the unknown threat, the man who had attacked me, the forces at play that neither of us fully understood.

"The amulet," he finally said, glancing down at the faintly glowing stone still buzzing in my hand. "It's getting stronger, isn't it?"

I nodded, my grip tightening around it. "It's like it has a will of its own. It... it saved me. But I don't know how much longer I can control it."

Kaden's gaze softened, though the intensity never left his eyes. "We'll figure it out together. But right now, I need to know everything. Who was the other man? Did he say anything to you?"

"I don't know," I admitted, the weight of the encounter still pressing on me. "One was a monk... he said he guarded the temple. The other... he transformed into a wolf. He wanted the amulet. He knew my name, about the amulet, that it chose me. Then he said that nothing was going to stand of taking what is his."

Kaden's expression darkened further, his protective instincts flaring. I could feel the shift in his energy and anger. His hands slowly lowered from my face, balling into fists at his sides. He took a step back, his jaw clenched as if trying to control the rage threatening to break free.

"Kaden, what is it?" I asked softly, unsure of what had caused this sudden change in him. His gaze flickered away from me for a moment as if he was trying to gather his thoughts.

"It might be him," Kaden said quietly, his voice laced with barely contained fury. "It has to be. Only someone like him would know this much. And if he's after you and the amulet..."

"Him? Who are you talking about?" I asked, confusion washing over me. "What did he do?"

Kaden's eyes locked onto mine, and for a second, I saw a storm of emotions swirling in their depths: rage, guilt, and a deep-seated hatred. "Sven," he spat the name like a curse. "My uncle. He's been meddling for years, experimenting with magic, testing his theories on anyone he can. He's ruthless, Astrid. This... this is exactly the kind of thing he would do. He even wrote me a letter with incriminating content."

I blinked, the name foreign to me. "Sven... your uncle?" I repeated, trying to make sense of it. "What experiments? What does he want with the amulet?"

Kaden ran a hand through his hair, his frustration evident. "He's been obsessed with power, with control over everything, including the amulet. He's always believed that whoever holds it will control the fate of Rathguard. When you showed up, when the amulet chose you, he must've seen it as a threat to his plans."

I felt a chill run down my spine as the weight of Kaden's words sank in. "So, he's the one sending these rogues? The one who attacked me?"

Kaden nodded grimly. "It makes sense. Sven has always been willing to go to any lengths to get what he wants. If he thinks the amulet is his by right, he won't stop until he has it."

I looked down at the amulet, still glowing faintly in my hand, the buzz of its power resonating through me. The weight of what I had been thrust into the prophecy and the dangers surrounding it felt heavier than ever. "What do we do?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper.

Kaden's expression softened, and he reached out to gently take my hand in his. "We prepare," he said firmly. "I won't let Sven get near you. Not while I'm alive. But we need to be ready. He's dangerous, and if he's making his move, it means he's getting desperate."

I nodded, gripping Kaden's hand tightly, taking comfort in his strength. "I'm not going to run from this. Not anymore."

He smiled faintly, pride and admiration in his eyes. "Good," he murmured. "Because we'll face him together. And when Sven comes for you or the amulet, we'll make sure he regrets it."

As we stood there, the world around us felt like it was closing in. The threat of Sven, the unknown power of the amulet, and the prophecy that tied me to Rathguard all swirled together in an ominous storm. But with Kaden by my side, I knew I wasn't facing it alone.

"Let's go inside," Kaden said softly, his hand never leaving mine. "We need to gather the council. They need to know what we're dealing with. And we need to prepare for Sven's next move."

I nodded, squeezing his hand as we started walking toward the palace. My mind was racing, the image of the wolf who had attacked me still fresh in my memory, and now, the looming shadow of Sven, a man I had never met but who was already threatening to tear apart the world I had only just begun to understand.

As we neared the entrance, Joran approached, his face grim. "Your Majesty," he said, inclining his head toward Kaden. "We've secured the monk, but he's in a bad way. The healers are working on him, but they say he'll need time."

Kaden nodded. "Keep him safe, Joran. He might know more than he's told us."

Joran's gaze flicked to me, concern etched in his expression. "And you, Miss Valenwood? Are you alright?"

I forced a small smile, still shaken but grateful for his concern. "I'm fine, Joran. Thank you."

Joran's eyes softened, but there was a hardness behind them. "Sven's making his move, isn't he?"

Kaden's expression darkened. "Yes. He's coming after the amulet. After Astrid."

Joran's jaw tightened. "Then we'll be ready for him. He's not getting anywhere near the queen."

I froze at the word queen, the weight of it settling on me in a way I hadn't expected. But I didn't correct him. Instead, I met Kaden's gaze, and in that moment, I knew.

My chances of going home are becoming slimmer, and I don't know what I need to do next.