Chapter 166
Amica
The deal with Freya isn’t that bad. If she wants my hairpin, she can have it. It’s just a simple trade, but then it means I would not have much left to bargain with if it turns out that she’s lying to me.
I take a deep breath and hand over the hairpin. She holds it between her fingers, turning it slowly as she admires it.
“Wow, it smells like you,” she murmurs before sliding it into her hair.
I watch her, searching for any sign of deception, but she is a bit hard to read.
“Wait here for a moment, and then we can leave!” she chirps, spinning on her heel and dashing off before I can even react.
I exhale. Well, I guess I’ve been scammed.”
Minutes pass. I sit there, convincing myself that she’ll come back.
Maybe she just needs time. Perhaps I’m just being paranoid.
But just when I’m about to give up and start searching for another way out, Freya reappears, her weird smile stretches across her face.
“All right, now let’s go!” she announces, already walking ahead.
I quickly get up andf follow closely behind her,
From the tavern, we make our way to a lone tree where a horse waits, its reins tied loosely around the trunk. Freya mounts it effortlessly, and I climb up behind her.
Without hesitation, she nudges the horse forward, and we begin our journey.
my heart pounds With every step. A part of me screams not to trust her, but what choice do I have?
If stepping into danger is the price I must pay to see Deckard again, then so be it. I would walk through fire and storm just to be reunited with my
mate.
The road gets quieter as we enter a more secluded path.
The only sounds i hear now are the clatter of hooves against the ground and the occasional neigh of our horse. But i can feel eyes watching us as we
move.
“Freya, how much farther?” I ask,
“Don’t worry, we’re almost there,” she replies,
Then she grips the reins tighter and urges the horse to go faster.
I can’t stop thinking about the Gamma warrior who came here with me but got separated at the gates of Red Valley. And Leonard–where the hell is
he?
What about the rest of the Gamma warriors? I know some of them were captured, but I can’t be the only one who made it back. I tell myself we’ll reconnect soon, but I can only hope they’re safe. Are they searching for me right now?
I know they’ll find me as soon as they find Deckard.
After what feels like another twenty minutes, we finally arrive at a small, ominous–looking house.
“This is it. Your mate is here,” Freya says without bothering to get off the horse.
“What?” I ask, surprised.
“Get off the horse,” she repeats, her tone sharper this time.
I hesitate for a moment but obey, sliding off the horse and landing on the dirt road.
“Well, I have other things to attend to. See ya!” she says playfully, then rides off, leaving me standing alone in front of the scary house.
I stood there for a moment, trying to process what had just happened.
Was Freya setting me up?
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Chapter 166
I glanced at the house again, hesitating. I had no idea what was waiting for me inside. Something didn’t feel right.
Pacing back and forth, I hope someone would come out, giving me a clue about what to expect. But the house remained silent.
The entire village was weirdly quiet. Everyone seems to mind their own business, but I can tell they are watching. The houses in this area are scattered, no gates or fences, just people staying in their own lanes.
Frustrated, I decided to do something reckless.
“Deckard!” I call out.
“Deckard!” I shouted again, hoping–praying–fora response. Instead, I attract unwanted attention.
A few villagers step out of their homes, to gazes My heart pounds at the sight of this. I know it isn’t safe.
Taking a deep breath, I murmured to Ezra, Let’s do this. Then, with one last glance around, I stepped toward the house.
I pushed the front door open and found it unlocked. Stepping inside, I was surprised by how much larger the house was on the inside compared to its modest exterior.
A heavy scent of herbs and strange incense filled the room. The dim lighting in the room forced my eyes to adjust as I moved further in. But beyond the scent of incense, I caught something else; his scent.
My heart pounded.
“Deckard!” I called out, my voice trembling, I moved cautiously toward the couch where a figure lay. As I got closer, I could finally see him.
It’s him. It’s really him!
“Oh, Deckard!” I cried out, rushing to his side. His body radiated an intense heat, his skin almost burning to touch.
His eyes fluttered open with confusion. He stared at me, his expression blank…
“Amica? Amica… Is it really you?”
“Yes! It’s me!” I sob, wrapping my arms tightly around him.
And then, as if my touch finally convinced him tht this is real, he whispered,
“My Amica.”
Deckard held me tightly, his arms locking around me as if he never wanted to let go.
“Shit… it’s really you!” he breathed, his voice thick with disbelief.
“Oh, my love! I’m so sorry. I’m so, so sorry,” he murmured, his forehead pressed against mine.
I cupped his face in my hands, my fingers tracing the edges of his jaw before pressing my lips to his..
“I thought you were dead,” I whispered between kisses, unable to stop myself. Every second lost had been torture, and now, I need to feel him–to make sure he isreal.
“I’m sorry for making you think that,” he said, his voice laced with regret.
“You don’t have to apologize for anything,” I assured him, but he kept murmuring his apologies, his grip on me tightening.
Then, a voice cut through our moment like a blade.
“And what exactly is all this noise about?”
I pulled away from Deckard and turned toward the voice.
A woman stepped out from the corridor, her figure illuminated by the dim light. She was slim, with long, red–haired, dressed in a dark, gothic style that clung to her body in an intentionally seductive way. Her pale skin contrasted sharply with her blood–red lips.
But my attention snapped to something else entirely.
Perched in her hair–bold and shameless–was my hairpin.
My stomach twisted.
What the fuck?
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Chapter 166
Her cool gray eyes swept over the room, lingering on Deckard before shifting to me.
“Who are you?” she asked, stepping forward into the light.
I stand up to her, meeting her gaze…
“I’m Amica,” I said, my voice steady. “Deckard’s fated mate.”
I narrowed my eyes
“And who the hell are you?”