Chapter 142: The Silver Bridge

Adeline’s POV~

Why would he ask me that? Why like that?

I had expected him to argue that it was dangerous outside, or that he wanted to protect me, or even to tell me not to be ridiculous. But he didn’t say any of that. He asked me why, as if he was searching my face for a confession. As if he already knew something was deeply wrong.

I swallowed hard, forcing myself to look straight at the top button of his collared shirt, avoiding his piercing eyes at all costs.

"I just need to clear my head," I said, trying my absolute best to keep my voice light and nonchalant. "That’s all. I need some quiet time to think about everything. And I won’t be alone anyway. I’m meeting up with Sierra."

I kept my gaze fixed strictly on his throat. I didn’t dare look up into his eyes, terrified that he would read the raw, overwhelming terror bleeding out of my soul.

But I couldn’t look down at the floor either, because that would prove I was lying. So I stared at his shirt and prayed to the Moon Goddess that my breathing sounded normal.

Keiran said nothing.

The Dowager Luna’s voice broke the silence, smooth, calm, and crystal clear.

"Let her go."

"She is only going out to see her best friend," Gwen said gently, though her eyes remained steady on Keiran. "Let her have this time. She desperately needs it."

His massive hand, hanging rigidly at his side, slowly curled into a tight, white-knuckled fist. A visible muscle twitched violently in his jaw. He stared down at the Dowager Luna for a long, heavy moment, and I watched an unspoken, terrifying exchange pass silently between them.

The Dowager Luna turned back to me, her face instantly morphing back into that warm, radiant smile, as if the explosive tension had never happened at all.

"Go on, sweetie. Be safe out there. And don’t forget to call me if you need a single thing."

"I will... thank you," I managed to force out.

I turned around instantly and walked down the long hallway. My legs felt completely hollow, like water. I didn’t dare look back over my shoulder, but I could physically feel Keiran’s dark, suffocating gaze locked onto my back with every single step I took.

Don’t turn around. Don’t start running. Just walk like everything is completely fine.

I passed the grand floor-to-ceiling windows. I passed the ancient royal portraits hanging on the walls, the glowing golden lamps, and the silent, stone-faced servants who bowed their heads as I moved past them.

I made it to the top of the grand marble staircase and descended step by step, my hand sliding along the freezing cold stone railing for support.

When I reached the massive double front doors, two tall, heavily armed royal guards stood guard on either side.

One of the guards turned his head and looked down at me. His sharp eyes flicked down to my plain jeans and oversized T-shirt, then back up to my pale, sweating face.

I forced myself to keep moving forward without slowing down.

Without a word, the guard stepped aside.

The second guard moved instantly as well. Together, they grabbed the massive iron handles, pulling the grand doors open.

A sudden rush of freezing night air slammed directly into my face, blowing my hair wildly across my cheeks.

The Dowager Luna’s direct orders. They already knew I was allowed to leave.

I stepped out into the dark night.

I gripped my phone so tightly that the edges dug painfully into the palm of my hand.

I passed the grand stone fountain. I passed the dark rose gardens, where the heavy red flowers had closed up tight for the night. I passed another pair of elite guards standing near the perimeter, both staring straight ahead like lifeless statues. I walked straight through the massive open iron gates and stepped onto the outer paved road.

I kept walking and walking until the colossal, terrifying estate had shrunk into a dark, distant silhouette behind me, until the only sound left in the air was the cold wind rustling softly through the dark trees.

Then, finally, I stopped.

I turned around slowly and looked back at the mansion. Its tall, arched windows glowed with warm golden light in the pitch-black night.

I let out a long, ragged, shuddering breath.

My knees instantly gave out. I bent over, slamming my hands flat against my thighs, gasping greedily for air as if I had just run a frantic marathon for my life.

I did it.

But... why did that feel so disturbingly easy?

I slowly straightened my back and stared back at the massive iron gates in the distance.

Why did Gwen let me leave without a single fight? Why did Keiran try so desperately to stop me from stepping out alone? Why did he ask me "why"? Was it just a coincidence? I’m just overthinking it.

I turned my back on the estate and looked down the long, pitch-black road stretching out ahead of me into the dark forest.

Somewhere down that road, past the rose gardens and near the river bridge, Sierra was waiting for me.

And somewhere in the dark... Adrian was waiting, too.

I walked. The road was long and empty, and the farther I went from the estate, the darker it got. Tall trees leaned over the path from both sides, and their branches tangled together overhead like fingers, blocking out most of the sky.

After what felt like an eternity of walking through the quiet dark, I finally heard the sound of water.

It was a soft, steady rushing sound, coming from somewhere just ahead. The thick trees began to thin out, and the narrow dirt path curved gently downhill. Then, through the small gap in the branches, I saw it.

The old stone bridge.

It arched over a narrow, silver river, grey and cracked and covered in green moss. A single wooden bench sat at one end, half hidden by tall grass. There were no lamps and no people. There was only the sound of rushing water, the ancient bridge, and the pale, cold light of a half-hidden moon hanging in the dark sky.

I stopped right at the edge of the tall grass and looked around.

I checked the time on my phone. It had been about twenty-five minutes since our call. She had said thirty. She was probably just a little late, because she is always the one who arrives soon... like ten minutes earlier.

But my stomach twisted anyway.

I walked up to the bench and sat down on the very edge of it, my back straight, my knees pressed together. The wood was cold and damp. I pulled my sleeves down over my hands and looked around again.

I looked down at my phone. His number was still at the top of my call list. I stared at it for a long moment. Then I pressed it.

It rang once.