Chapter 470:

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“She sounds like she’s about to break the door down.”

The knocking came again. “Nero!”

“Coming.”

He opened the door. Caya stood outside with her arms folded, already dressed for travel. Her eyes moved from Nero to me, then to the bed.

“Good. You’re both awake. Excellent. Then perhaps one of you can explain why I have spent the last hour preparing the horses while you two are still in bed.”

𝗕𝖾 𝘱аr𝘵 𝗈𝖿 𝘰𝘂𝘳 сo𝘮𝗺𝘶ո𝗶ty o𝗻 g𝘢𝘭n𝘰𝘃el𝘀.𝘤о𝗆

“We aren’t leaving today,” Nero said.

Caya stared at him, then at me, then back at him. “I beg your pardon?”

“Tomorrow.”

“You told me yesterday that we’d leave at first light.”

“I changed my mind.”

I bit back a laugh.

Caya pointed at Nero. “Moonstone is waiting. The Chimera is still out there.”

“I know.”

“And you think this is the perfect time to take another day off?”

Nero’s expression hardened slightly. “Exactly.”

Caya’s mouth fell open. Nero stood and reached for his shirt. “We’ve spent weeks running from one problem to another. Today, I’m keeping my promise.”

I gave Caya an apologetic smile. She sighed. “Fine. Go have your romantic little day.”

Nero glanced at her. “That’s the plan.”

Caya stared at him in disbelief, then turned and walked away. At the entrance she stopped and looked back. “I hope you’re making the right decision.”

Nero picked up his coat. “I am.”

I laughed as Caya disappeared. Nero looked at me. “What?”

“She really hates me.”

“She’ll survive.”

I shook my head. “You are impossible.”

He stepped closer and brushed a strand of hair away from my face. “And yet you married me.” He crossed the room and held out his hand. “Come with me.”

“Where?”

“You’ll see.”

We left the cabin after breakfast. Nero saddled two horses while Caya remained behind, making it very clear through her expression that she considered our decision foolish. I climbed onto my horse.

“Are you going to tell me where we’re going now?”

“No.”

“Nero.”

“You’ll find out.”

We rode for nearly thirty minutes. The familiar trees slowly disappeared behind us, replaced by thicker woodland and narrow trails I had never seen before. Nero seemed to know every turn. At one point, we left the main trail completely and rode between two enormous moss-covered rocks.

I frowned. “Are you sure this is a path?”

“Trust me.”

I sighed. “I hate when you say that.”

We continued deeper into the woods. Then the trees opened, and I stopped.

A lake stretched before us, wide and silver beneath the cloudy sky. Behind it stood an old hunting lodge, half-hidden by trees and climbing vines. The stone walls were weathered, and part of the roof had been repaired long ago, but the place was still standing. A narrow waterfall spilled down the rocks beside it, feeding the lake.

I stared. “You knew this place existed?”

Nero dismounted. “My father told me about it.”

My eyes went to him. “Your father?”

He nodded. “This was his hunting lodge.”

I looked back at the old building. “You’ve never brought me here before.”

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Message from Noa: My beloved little oneeeees, just letting you know that there’ll be some revamping on the site soon, with lots of new features that I hope you’ll love so so much. It’s taking a little while, but everything will be ready this week. Hope you like them, and remember that most of the options will only be available to the little ones who are registered and logged in. God loves you and Noa wishes you all the best. (>‿=)✌

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