Eden's senses were on high alert, every nerve in his body straining to absorb his new surroundings. The forest around him was thick with the smell of damp earth and crushed leaves, the air cool against his skin as the wind whispered through the trees. His heart was still racing from the escape, but there was an odd sense of calm in the steadiness of the servant girl's hand against his arm, guiding him through the dense underbrush.
"Are you sure this is the right way?" Eden asked, his voice soft but tense. He could hear the rustle of branches brushing together and the crunch of leaves beneath their feet, but there was no clear sign of direction, nothing that made the path obvious. The uncertainty made him uneasy, the feeling of being in a place where even his heightened senses couldn't give him the answers he needed.
The servant girl's voice was steady. "I've been through this forest many times. We're almost there. It's just a little longer."
Eden nodded, trying to believe her words. He was trusting her, placing his life—his very freedom—in her hands. But the more he thought about it, the more the weight of the decision pressed down on him. He couldn't see the path, couldn't gauge the distance, and every snap of a twig, every shift in the breeze felt like a warning.
But there was nothing else he could do. He had already taken the first step by leaving the Prince's palace. Staying there would have meant losing himself forever.
A sudden chill ran through his body, not from the coolness of the air, but from the knowledge that Darian could be searching for him. The Prince was relentless. Eden had learned that much from the rumours he'd heard over the years. Once someone became the Prince's possession, there was no escaping. Darian didn't let go, not ever.
His grip on the servant girl's arm tightened, but he didn't speak, not wanting to burden her with his growing anxiety.
"You're doing great," the servant girl murmured, sensing his unease. She was close enough now that Eden could feel her breath on his skin, the warmth of her presence grounding him in a strange way.
"How much farther?" he asked, trying to steady his own voice.
The girl was silent for a moment, and he could feel her hesitate. "Not far. Just follow me."
Eden could tell from her voice that she was trying to keep her fear in check, but it seeped through anyway. His breath caught in his throat. What aren't you telling me? He wanted to ask, but he couldn't. He was too afraid of the answer.
They walked on in silence for what felt like hours, though the minutes stretched endlessly as they wound through the forest. The trees were thick here, the undergrowth a maze of tangled roots and sharp thorns that scraped against Eden's exposed skin. His legs ached from the uneven terrain, and his feet, bare on the cold ground, were covered in dirt and leaves.
Suddenly, the forest opened up into a clearing, and Eden could hear running water. The soft gurgle of a stream, the splash of water against rocks—he turned his head instinctively toward the sound, a slight pull in his chest.
"We're here," the servant girl said, sounding relieved. She led him toward the water's edge, and Eden's feet met something soft—grass, he realized, cool and damp beneath his feet.
His breath came easier now. For a moment, he allowed himself to relax, to feel the peacefulness of the stream, the crisp scent of nature filling his senses. But the fear of being hunted by Darian loomed large in his mind.
"Where exactly is this place?" Eden asked again, still uncertain about what came next. "Where are we going?"
The servant girl didn't answer right away. She crouched beside the water, her hands moving to untie a bundle wrapped in cloth. Eden could hear the soft rustling of fabric, and his curiosity piqued. When she spoke again, her voice was lower, quieter.
"Just a little further," she said. "There's a cabin hidden nearby. It belongs to an old friend of mine."
Eden couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. The girl had been so sure about the path, so calm, and yet she hadn't said anything about this friend of hers. How could she be so confident that they would be safe here? And why did she seem so... evasive?
His suspicion grew, but he held his tongue. He couldn't afford to turn on her now—not when he had no other options. He had to trust her, even if only for a little longer.
"Let me help," Eden offered, his voice steady, though his mind was anything but. He reached down toward the bundle, intending to take some of the weight off her shoulders. But before he could touch it, the girl snapped to attention, her body going rigid.
"No," she said quickly, almost too quickly. "You stay here. I'll do it."
Eden frowned, his brow furrowing in confusion. "What's in there?" he asked, now more curious than ever.
But the girl was already moving, walking a few steps away from him to a patch of trees that marked the edge of the clearing. She set the bundle down and began to unravel it with swift, practised movements. Eden could hear the clink of metal—keys, perhaps—mixed with the rustle of fabric.
He stood still, listening carefully, trying to piece together what was happening, but it was difficult without being able to see her actions.
The girl returned shortly after, and Eden could tell from the softness of her steps that she was trying to hide her emotions. "We need to go," she said. "Now."
Eden nodded, though his heart raced with unease. "Where?"
"To the cabin," she replied. But this time, her voice lacked the reassurance it had held before.
He could hear her footsteps quicken, as though she was walking a little faster than usual. And Eden, too, felt the urgency building inside him. He couldn't explain why, but something was wrong. The knot in his stomach tightened.
As they moved toward the cabin, Eden could hear it before he could smell it—the faint, unfamiliar sound of horses in the distance. The low whinny of animals, the sound of hooves striking the earth. It was too late for him to turn back. Darian's men, he thought. They were coming for him.
His body tensed, and the panic he'd been trying to hold at bay surged to the surface. His breathing quickened, his heart hammering in his chest.
"Are we safe here?" Eden demanded, his voice sharp with panic. "Are you sure? Are you sure this is the right place?"
The servant girl didn't respond immediately. Instead, she grabbed his hand and pulled him faster, her grip tight, almost frantic. "I didn't want to tell you," she finally said, her voice a low whisper, "but... Darian's men are looking for you. And they're close."
Eden's world spun as his fear escalated. Darian was relentless, and now the Prince's reach stretched far beyond the walls of the palace. They had to get away. They had to disappear—fast.
"Stay close," the girl urged, dragging him toward the cabin's hidden entrance. "Just a little further. I'll keep you safe."
Eden nodded, trying to calm his racing heart, trying to trust that the girl would keep her promise.
But deep inside, a new, horrifying realization dawned on him.
The Prince wasn't going to stop.
And neither would the men sent to bring him back.