Chapter 91: Chapter 91

DARAN

It was just before dawn when a soft knock came at my door. Owen’s voice whispered, letting me know that another body had been found, the third one this week, with the same disturbing pattern as before. I couldn’t ignore it anymore. The whole town was tense; even the guards seemed like they hadn’t slept in days.

Quickly, I gave the order to gather a few of my men in the back storage room, a hidden place away from prying eyes. They trickled in, one by one—my “shadow hunters,” lycans with powerful magic who could move unseen. They didn’t have faces; they were more like black shadows moving silently in the dim light.

I looked them over, my voice steady, though my mind was racing. “The situation’s getting serious,” I said. “A third body’s been found, the same pattern. We can’t let this go on. We need to find out who’s responsible before anyone else dies.”

They all nodded, some of them darkening as if sensing the urgency. I laid out my instructions: who they needed to talk to, where they had to investigate, and how to move without leaving a trace.

“Do this quietly—no one in town should suspect a thing. Move fast,” I warned, giving each of them a serious look. “And report back if anything seems suspicious.”

After giving my orders, I left the storage room and made my way back to the main house. The sun hadn’t fully risen, and the early morning chill bit through the air. As I was walking down the hall toward my room, I ran into Jonea, who had just woken up. She was still in her sleepwear, looking a little drowsy.

“Oh, are you coming in from the garden this early?” she asked, surprised.

For a moment, I didn’t answer, just looking at her as she yawned, her usual innocence showing through. A sudden wave of anxiety washed over me. I wanted so badly to tell her everything that was on my mind, but she didn’t need to know what was happening. No, she didn’t need to know.

“Yeah, just... getting some fresh air,” I replied with a small smile, trying to hide the storm of feelings inside. But in my heart, I knew that wasn’t the real reason I was up. There was a weight on my chest that grew heavier every day.

Jonea frowned a little, as if she sensed there was more I wasn’t saying, but she didn’t press me. Instead, she smiled, her usual gentle smile, a smile that always warmed me but, somehow, only added to my unease today. I knew this was it. Today was the day. I had to let her go.

I looked at Jonea for a long moment, memorizing every detail of her face as if I were saying goodbye without the courage to actually say it out loud.

“Jonea, are you free tonight?” I asked, almost whispering, worried she’d pick up on the unease in my voice.

She tilted her head, a little confused. “What? For what?”

I paused, thinking up a simple excuse. “I thought… maybe we could get coffee at that nice café. There are a few things I’d like to talk about.”

Her face lit up with a sweet smile I knew I’d remember forever. “Oh, sure! That sounds great,” she replied, excited. “We haven’t been to a café together in a while.”

I nodded, watching her smile, so unaware of the chaos in my mind. She didn’t need to know what was going on inside my head. She didn’t need to know how uneasy I was, how unsure I felt about the decision I needed to make.

We talked for a few more minutes, but as time slipped by, I realized I had things to take care of. I couldn’t stay here too long. With a heavy heart, I turned and headed toward the front door.

Jonea looked a little puzzled by how quickly I was leaving. “Daran, where are you off to again? Didn’t you just come back?”

I held my breath for a moment, giving her a soft look. “There’s something urgent I need to take care of. I won’t be long.” Without giving her a chance to ask more questions, I walked out, leaving her standing there in the hallway.

Outside, I headed to the location where the body had been found. The streets were still quiet, with only a few guards patrolling here and there. After a few minutes, I arrived, one of my men already there waiting for me.

“See anything strange?” I asked.

He shook his head. “No witnesses, just like the others. But it looks like the killer’s style is exactly the same, and this victim… it’s another member of a minor noble family in the city.”

I nodded, absorbing the information as my mind raced with possible explanations. But no matter how hard I thought about it, it still felt like we were missing something.

“We have to move faster. I don’t want there to be another victim,” I said firmly, aware that time was slipping away.

He nodded, and we discussed our next steps before I decided to head back to the main house before sunrise. I didn’t want Jonea to suspect anything.

On the way back, my mind wandered. I thought about our meeting later tonight, a meeting that might be our last. There was a feeling in my heart that told me all of this was out of my control. Maybe there was no other choice but to accept this reality, to accept that I had to let Jonea go.

When I finally arrived at the house, the golden glow of early morning bathed the place in soft light. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. Jonea was still in her room, and I was grateful for that. At least, I had a moment to compose myself before facing her again.

The day dragged on, tense and filled with restless energy. I spent it in my study, trying to control the anxiety and pressure that weighed on me.

Afternoon turned to evening, and soon enough, night had fallen. I dressed up, choosing the best outfit I could find, feeling as if I wanted this night to be something memorable. I waited for Jonea in the living room, my heartbeat racing.

When she appeared, with her usual bright smile and sparkling eyes, I knew this was the moment I’d feared—the moment when I’d have to let her go.

Just as I was about to speak, Owen approached, looking tense and telling me there was an urgent situation I needed to handle right away. His expression was serious, like this was something critical.

I turned to Jonea, smiling one last time. “Sorry, Jonea, but it seems something important came up. I’ll be back soon.”

Before she could ask more, I walked out, leaving her standing there with a confused look. There was something pressing I had to handle—something that couldn’t wait, no matter how much this night meant to us both.

“Owen will watch over you until I’m back!” I called out.