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What did Thorne care about my ‘operation’? He’d brushed me off once already. So why this sudden interest?

I pushed the thought aside for now. I'd be with Elias soon, and that was the only thing that truly mattered. I’d deal with the rest when the time came.

The schoolhouse was just ahead, nestled between two large oaks whose branches formed an archway over the path. My steps slowed as I scanned the small crowd of children, expecting to see Elias’ familiar figure bounding toward me.

But… nothing.

My eyes narrowed as I scoped the area again. No Elias running toward me.

I felt a prickle of unease and hurried over to Mrs. Quill, the school’s teacher, who stood with other parents as they collected their children.

“Excuse me,” I said. “I don’t see Elias. Have you—?”

“Oh, he left some time ago,” she said. “I assumed Mrs. Crumble had come to fetch him, as usual.”

My heart sank, disappointment washing over me. “Oh, I see. Thank you, Mrs. Quill.”

I turned away, mentally kicking myself for getting delayed by that insufferable Tom. I'd missed my chance to surprise Elias. Still, the thought of his face lighting up when I walked through the door at home brought a smile to my face. I quickened my pace, eager to see my boy.

But as I approached our home, I noticed the windows were dark and closed. Strange. Mrs. Crumble usually flung open the shutters to get air circulating when they were here.

I pushed open the door, calling out, “Elias? Mrs. Crumble?”

Silence greeted me.

“Elias?” I called again, my voice echoing through the empty rooms. The house felt unnaturally still, devoid of the usual bustling energy my son brought with him.

A tendril of worry started to curl in my stomach. Where could they be? Perhaps Mrs. Crumble had taken him to the market for a treat? But she always left a note...

I searched the kitchen, finding nothing but clean dishes and unlit candles. The worry in my gut grew, transforming into a cold, heavy weight. Rushing back outside, I scanned the street, hoping to catch sight of Mrs. Crumble's diminutive form or hear Elias' laughter. But the road was empty save for a few passersby, none of them my son or his caretaker.

“Elias!” I called out, my voice carrying a note of desperation. “Elias, where are you?”

I started down the street, my pace quickening with each step. Had he wandered off? Or… had someone taken him? My blood ran cold, and in a flash, I saw Dregor’s mocking grin, heard Tom’s cryptic threats echoing through my mind. Their words twisted and coiled, tightening around me like a noose.

I broke into a run.

Chapter 13

My footsteps pounded over the rough path as fear clawed at my chest. Elias’s name rose to my lips, but I bit it back, terrified of what calling out might confirm. I searched every familiar spot as I raced past—the clearing where he liked to play, the old fence he’d often climb—scanning for any glimpse of him. The quiet edges of town blurred around me, my mind spinning through every awful possibility, each one worse than the last.

Just as the panic rose to a breaking point, a flicker of movement caught my eye. I skidded to a halt, heart hammering, only to feel a swirl of leaves and the scent of wildflowers surround me. Mrs. Crumble materialized at my side, her large eyes brimming with concern.

“Soraya,” she said, her voice calm, like a balm against the storm raging inside me. She placed a small hand on my arm, steadying me, but the silence stretched unbearably, the terror in my chest refusing to settle.

Finally, she spoke, her gaze softening. “Master Vorgath has sent word. Elias is with him, safe at his home.”

The relief hit me like a wave, so overwhelming that I had to brace myself against a wall to keep from collapsing. “He's... he's at the cabin? With Vorgath?”

Mrs. Crumble nodded. “Yes, dear. The boy is perfectly fine.”

As the panic ebbed away, confusion took its place. “But... why? How?”

Mrs. Crumble patted my arm. “I'm sure there's a good reason. Why don't you go see for yourself?”

I nodded, still reeling from the emotional whiplash. After a quick word of thanks, I set off toward Vorgath’s forge, my heart still racing, though now for different reasons. Elias was safe. But what had happened?

The familiar route to the forge stretched before me, but each step felt heavy, my legs still shaky from the panic. By the time the silhouette of the cabin appeared through the trees, the rhythmic clanging of metal on metal reached my ears. What once seemed intimidating now felt like a beacon, pulling me closer.