Chapter 16. Searching for Answers

Leon’s POV

It felt as though an eternity had passed since Marcus, accompanied by my bravest warriors, disappeared into that ominous, shadow-draped forest. Not a single message or whisper of their progress had reached me. My concern was not only for Marcus himself but, more urgently, for the fate of the men who had followed him. These soldiers were the very cream of my forces—seasoned, resolute, and unyielding. If they had vanished without a trace or met some terrible end, I would be left in a perilous position indeed.

Gradually, my focus shifted away from the desperate search for Celeste and toward the equally desperate hunt for Marcus. With each dawn, I found myself consumed by fearful imaginings of what might have gone awry. Could those female warriors have proven so formidable that they overpowered Marcus? The very notion seemed absurd—after all, my men were renowned for their strength and discipline. Yet still, no clue emerged. What calamity had claimed them?