A Dangerous Obsession
Chapter 117 - 116

Chapter 117: Chapter 116

The morning of my escape arrived cloaked in silence. No grand signs, no dramatic thunderclaps—just the soft chirping of birds outside my window and the distant rustling of leaves in the garden below. If I hadn’t known any better, I would have thought it was just another ordinary day.

But it wasn’t.

I sat up slowly, heart pounding in my chest. Today was the day.

The pendant.

My fingers instinctively reached for the small wooden box I had tucked away in the drawer beside my bed. The moment I lifted the lid, my breath caught.

It was still there.

I unlatched the chain and carefully fastened it around my neck, the cool metal pressing against my collarbone.

I took a deep breath and stood, my legs feeling unsteady beneath me.

No time for hesitation.

I grabbed a satchel from the bedside, stuffing a few essentials inside—some food, a change of clothes, and whatever else I could carry. I wasn’t sure what I would need once I was out, but I would rather be overprepared than helpless.

Then came the most important part—my cats.

Xylara, Namarie, and Thalion were curled up together at the foot of my bed, blissfully unaware of the chaos about to unfold. I crouched down and ran a hand through their soft fur.

"Wake up, little monsters," I murmured.

Namarie stretched first, letting out a tiny, squeaky yawn before nuzzling into my palm. Thalion cracked one eye open, flicking his tail lazily, while Xylara simply rolled onto her back, completely unbothered.

I couldn’t help but smile.

"You guys ready to see the world?"

Xylara meowed as if to say finally,

while the other two just stared at me like I was disturbing their sacred nap time.

I scooped them up, placing them into the cloth carrier I had prepared. Namarie complained for a moment, but a few scratches behind her ears soothed her instantly. They were used to the tower, but I had a feeling they would adjust quickly to the outside—maybe even faster than I would.

With one last glance around my room, I exhaled.

It was time.

I moved quickly, slipping out of my chambers and down the spiraling stone staircase. My bare feet barely made a sound against the cold floor. Every corner I turned, every hallway I passed, I expected someone to stop me. A guard. A servant. The Lycan King himself.

But there was nothing.

The castle was eerily quiet.

The wind hit my face the moment I stepped outside, the scent of fresh earth and blooming flowers overwhelming my senses.

My eyes darted around until they landed on Thane.

He was waiting by the garden entrance, leaning against the stone archway, arms crossed. His piercing gaze met mine, and for a moment, he looked... relieved?

"You’re late," he said, but there was no annoyance in his voice—just quiet amusement.

I rolled my eyes, shifting the strap of my satchel over my shoulder. "I had to get my things."

His eyes flickered to the bundle in my arms. "Including the cats, apparently."

"Obviously."

He sighed, shaking his head. "I should have known."

I smirked.

Then, without another word, he held out his hand.

I hesitated.

Not because I didn’t trust him—I had already made my choice. But because this was it. The moment I crossed through that barrier, there was no turning back.

I looked down at the pendant resting against my chest and exhaled deeply.

I took his hand.

"Let’s go."

The moment my fingers clasped around Thane’s, a shiver ran down my spine. Not from fear—no, I was far past that—but from the sheer anticipation thrumming beneath my skin. This was happening. Really happening.

We moved quickly, stepping out of the garden’s cover and into the open courtyard. My breath hitched as my eyes darted around, expecting armored figures to emerge from the shadows, swords gleaming under the moonlight. But the grounds were eerily quiet.

Too quiet.

I frowned. "Where are the guards?"

Thane didn’t pause as he led me toward the stone path. "Scattered. Patrolling the outer gates."

"That’s unusual." I had spent months trapped in this tower, memorizing the routine of the guards, the shifts that changed like clockwork. There should have been more of them here.

I tightened my grip on the cloth carrier strapped to my shoulder. My cats were nestled inside, barely making a sound.

We reached the first archway, where a torch flickered beside the entrance. The stone corridor stretched before us, dimly illuminated, leading toward the secondary exit. This was the path least patrolled, the one that would take us away from the Lycan King’s watchful eye.

Thane peered around the corner. Then, with a swift motion, he pressed a hand against my shoulder. "Stay close."

I swallowed and nodded.

We moved in sync, our steps barely making a sound against the cold stone floor. The air smelled of damp earth and wax from the torches, a scent I had grown accustomed to.

Then—voices.

I froze.

Thane’s hand shot out, grabbing my wrist as he pulled me into the shadows against the wall. My back pressed against the cold stone as two guards strolled past, deep in conversation.

"...haven’t seen him in weeks."

"He’s planning something. You can feel it, can’t you?"

"I would rather not think about it. His Majesty been more on edge lately."

Their voices faded as they continued down the corridor. My heart slammed against my ribcage, but neither of them had noticed us.

That was too close.

I turned to Thane, exhaling softly. "I thought you said they were scattered."

He gave me a knowing smirk. "I didn’t say all of them."

I rolled my eyes but didn’t argue. We had already avoided two. There were bound to be more.

We continued forward, each step more cautious than the last. The exit was near—I could feel it. The heavy wooden doors at the end of the hall stood between me and the world beyond these walls.

Then—another figure.

I barely had time to react before Thane pulled me against his chest, spinning us behind a large pillar. My breath hitched as my face pressed against his tunic, his scent of pine and steel enveloping me.

The guard was closer this time, his boots scuffing against the stone as he muttered something under his breath.

Thane tensed. If the guard turned even slightly in our direction, he would see us.

Think.

A sudden idea struck me.

I reached for my cloth carrier and gave it a slight shake.

Xylara let out an irritated mrowr, the sound echoing through the hall.

The guard stopped. "Damn cats," he muttered before turning away and continuing down the corridor.

I nearly sagged in relief.

Thane gave me a pointed look, but there was a glimmer of amusement in his eyes. "You planned that?"

I grinned. "Improvised."

He shook his head. "Come on. We’re almost there."

The heavy wooden doors loomed before us, just a few feet away. Beyond them, the night stretched endless and free, untouched by the cursed walls that had caged me for so long.

My fingers tightened around the pendant at my neck.

Almost there.