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Chapter 427
~Zara’s POV~
"Kaid!"
My voice echoed through the darkness as I rushed to the cliff’s edge, my heart hamring against my ribs. I frantically scanned the shadows below, my vision blurred with panic.
The Kraken and the Serpent Crane were locked in a vicious battle, their monstrous roars shaking the very ground beneath . Their enormous bodies clashed, sending waves rippling through the dark marsh below.
But none of that mattered. I needed to find him. I needed to know if he was locked between the battles of elephants.
"Kaid!" I scread again, my breath coming in sharp gasps.
No, no, no. Please, I cannot lose another person dear to .
Tears stung my eyes as I desperately searched the jagged cliffside. My heart clenched painfully, my mind flashing back to Snow, to the mont he had fallen before , and now—now Kaid had... A hand.
A hand shot up from the ledge, gripping the dirt. Then another.
My breath caught. "Kaid!" I gasped, rushing forward.
With a strained grunt, Kaid hoisted himself up, his body trembling from exertion. His clothes were torn, his hands scraped and bloody, but he was alive.
Relief crashed into like a tidal wave as I reached down and helped him the rest of the way. The second he was on solid ground, I grabbed his arm and pulled him into a fierce embrace., drawing him from the edge of the cliff.
I couldn’t afford another mistake like that from happening.
"You stupid, reckless, self-sacrificing idiot!" I snapped, my voice thick with emotion as I slapped his arm.
Kaid only let out a breathless chuckle. "Ouch."
I pulled back and, without thinking, smacked his chest.
"Seriously, Kaid? What the hell were you thinking, pulling a stunt like that?"
Kaid’s smile faded slightly. His eyes held sothing softer now—sothing more serious. "I did what I had to do," he said simply. "I couldn’t risk you getting hurt, and I won’t lose you, either, Zara. Not now. Not ever."
I swallowed hard, my chest tightening.
His fingers brushed my cheek, wiping away the tears I hadn’t even realised were there from all the worrying I had done.
"I’m sorry for making you worry," he murmured. "But it was either that... or watching you get hurt. Or worse."
I exhaled shakily, nodding. "I understand. But next ti, don’t be a damn hero, alright?"
His lips twitched. "No promises."
Before I could respond, a deafening screech tore through the air, followed by another monstrous roar from the marsh below.
We both turned sharply toward the battle raging beneath us. The Kraken’s limbs flailed wildly, crashing against the Serpent Crane, sending dark waves splashing onto the jagged rocks. The two creatures thrashed, locked in a deadly struggle, their bodies twisting violently.
I didn’t want to stick around to see who won.
"Run," Kaid ordered.
I was already ahead of him.
We sprinted away from the cliffside, weaving through the rocky terrain, the sound of battle echoing behind us. My lungs burned, my muscles ached, but we didn’t stop.
We couldn’t. For what felt like forever, we ran. Finally, after what must have been miles, we reached a narrow path that curved into a small clearing.
Kaid exhaled heavily, placing his hands on his knees. "Fuck," he muttered. "That was close."
I braced myself against a tree, trying to catch my breath. My legs trembled from exhaustion, but I forced myself to stay upright.
Kaid straightened, glancing at the dense mist ahead. "We’re still a long way from the Forbidden Fog, Zara. Maybe we should rest and sleep."
I imdiately shook my head. "No."
Kaid sighed, rubbing a hand down his face. "Zara..."
"I can’t waste ti," I said firmly. "Every second that passes, I lose the chance of bringing Snow back."
Kaid’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t argue right away. Instead, he stepped closer, his eyes scanning my face. "I get it," he said after a pause. "But you’re hurt."
I scoffed. "And I’ll heal."
"Eventually," Kaid corrected, crossing his arms. "But exhaustion? That won’t heal as easily, Zara. You haven’t slept all night. And like Siona said, the Forbidden Fog isn’t just any place. If you go in without rest, it won’t just be dangerous—it’ll be suicidal."
I bit my lip, knowing he was right but hating it all the sa.
My body was aching. My head was pounding. Every inch of scread for rest. But stopping? Stopping ant wasting ti. Stopping ant losing Snow.
I clenched my fists.
Kaid sighed again. "Look," he said, his voice softer now. "I’m not saying we stop for the whole night. Just... thirty minutes to one hour to rest. That’s all I’m asking. We need to be at our strongest if we’re going to get through that fog. Trust , you’ll thank for it later."
I hesitated. Thirty minutes. That wasn’t too much ti, right?
Finally, I exhaled. "Fine. forty-five minutes. No more."
Kaid’s lips twitched. "I’ll take what I can get."
I sat down on a flat rock, my muscles instantly sighing in relief. Kaid sat across from , stretching his legs out.
I wanted to close my eyes, just for a mont. But as I gazed into the thick mist ahead, my stomach twisted. This wasn’t over.
The worst was yet to co and I couldn’t prepare my mind enough for what was to co in that Fog.
Still, I knew when the ti was up, we would head there.
I picked up my water can and drank from it while pushing the rock to sit on the ground and rest my back on it.
It did not take long for sleep to claim , and when it did, I saw myself transported to a place filled with mist.
My first thought was how I had been brought to this place as I glanced around.
"Hello? Kaid? Anybody there?" I called out, unsure of myself.
And then suddenly I heard the faintest sound, but still it seed loud as a scream was coming from my head. "Zara."
I turned around, whipping my head from side to side. Tf
"Hello?"
"Zara..." the softness ca out loud and then suddenly it turned loud as sothing like a condensed mist moved swiftly, darting in my direction.
"Zara!"
I dodged, but as soon as I did, I rose from the ground only to see Kaid hovering over with a worried look on his face.
"Zara, wake up. Wake up, it’s not real."
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