Married To Darkness-Chapter 426: Jealous Of The Others

A chill ran down her spine. "Charming."

He nodded toward the shadowy horizon. "We’ll have to enter from the main gate. The other three sides are crawling with beasts. Wyfmoor is surrounded by the Darkwood."

She shuddered and clung tighter to him without meaning to. "I’d really like to not be beast food today, thanks."

"I don’t know, you might taste sweet to them too," Sebastian teased.

She pinched his side, making him flinch and laugh.

They reached the main entrance, where weary guards eyed them sharply but gave them a pass after a quick check. The insignia on Sebastian’s hunter crest seemed to ease the tension.

Once through the gates, the mood of the village hit them like a mist—quiet, eerie, and shadow-draped. Lanterns flickered like fireflies as they passed narrow cobbled paths and hunched houses with moss-covered roofs.

They arrived at a crooked but cozy-looking inn tucked just near the forest’s edge—The Wyfshade Inn. The sign above the door swayed gently in the breeze, creaking like it hadn’t been oiled in years.

Sebastian swung off the horse and turned to help Thalia down. His hands lingered a moment longer than necessary on her waist.

"Careful," he said, his voice warm. "Don’t want you twisting that dainty ankle."

"I’m not dainty," she scoffed as she landed beside him.

"Oh, I know," he murmured, eyes lingering on her with that frustrating, unreadable look again. "But I like pretending."

Thalia blinked, feeling heat rise up her neck.

Inside, the innkeeper—a small woman with owl-wide eyes—gave them a curt nod and a brass key. "One room, second floor, east wing." then she spat "...Comes with a mirror." making Thalia press her lips together, Sebastian must’ve said something to piss her off about the mirror.

"Perfect," Sebastian replied with a wolfish grin, tossing a coin that made the woman’s brows lift.

They climbed the creaky stairs, the air inside the inn heavy with pinewood, pipe smoke, and something faintly spicy. The corridor was dimly lit, and when they reached the room, Thalia stepped in first and turned in a slow circle.

The space was small but cozy, with a single four-poster bed, a hearth, and—most importantly—a large, slightly warped mirror framed in carved blackwood on the wall.

"One room?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

Sebastian leaned in the doorway, smirking. "Well, you did say you weren’t dainty. Thought you could handle sharing a room."

She gave him a look, placing her hands on her hips. "And what if I snore?"

He stepped in, closing the door behind him with a soft click. "Then I’ll count it as a lullaby."

She rolled her eyes but smiled.

Sebastian threw his satchel on a nearby bench and walked toward the mirror, tilting his head. "This should work."

Thalia removed her cloak, revealing a simple tunic beneath, and began rummaging through her bag.

He watched her with amused eyes. "So... thief or not, are you ready to show me that mysterious gift?"

"Touch me again and you’ll find it in your teeth," she shot back sweetly, then held up a delicate hair ribbon—deep violet with silver threads. "It was hers. The princess gave it to me when we were in town. Said it didn’t suit her anymore."

Sebastian took it gently, his fingers brushing hers. "This... might work."

Their hands lingered a moment. Her breath caught.

Then he said, "Unless you’d rather we wait until tomorrow. I mean, one room, a long ride... you might need a massage instead of magic."

"Try it and lose a hand," she deadpanned, cheeks pink.

He winked. "Feisty."

She turned away quickly, tossing her bag aside and plopping onto the bed with a dramatic huff. "Let’s do the magic before you get too full of yourself, hunter."

"Too late for that," he murmured as he turned to the mirror, ribbon in hand, preparing once more to chase shadows and reflections—this time, with her watching his every move.

Sebastian held the violet ribbon above the mirror, his lips moving in a low chant that made the air feel thicker. The candlelight flickered wildly, casting restless shadows across the walls. Thalia watched in silence, standing close, her arms folded to still her nerves.

He snapped his fingers—and the ribbon burst into a soft, bluish flame.

The moment it caught fire, the mirror began to shift.

What had once been a reflection of the room clouded over, rippling like disturbed water. A shimmer of light arced across the glass, and then—

Figures began to form.

Thalia gasped and stepped forward.

The flame burned low, leaving only ash drifting in the basin below, but the vision in the mirror remained.

There they were.

Princess Salviana sat on a plush bed, adorned in an elegant dress of deep rose and gold. Her long curls were pinned in place, and she smiled with a grace that could light a ballroom. Around her were three girls—Emma, Sarah, and Miss Jean—laughing and chatting with bright eyes and full cheeks. The couch behind them was velvet, the furniture ornate. Gilded wallpaper, crystal lamps, and a tall arched window hinted at luxury.

Thalia’s throat tightened.

"They’re okay," she breathed, her fingers brushing the edge of the mirror as she leaned in to see them better.

Sebastian moved to her side. "They look... comfortable."

Thalia nodded, her gaze lingering on the group of girls. "Yeah. They do."

But a flicker of something stirred in her chest. Were they so content they hadn’t missed her at all?

Emma was laughing at something Jean said. Sarah passed Salviana a cup. No one looked worried. No one looked like they had noticed Thalia was gone.

She forced a smile. "Where is that?"

Sebastian studied the image, his eyes narrowing. "Judging by the stone pattern on the windows, the high-quality furnishings... It’s here."

"Here?" Thalia turned to him. freёweɓnovel.com

"In Wyfmoor," he said. "Somewhere nearby. This village."

Her eyes widened. "We’re close?"

"Closer than we’ve ever been." He tilted his head. "That’s a mansion. Look at that mirror behind them—bigger than this one, probably imported. And those silk curtains? That’s not some rundown cottage. That’s old noble money."

Thalia leaned closer to the mirror again, her voice soft. "I don’t...know this place."

Sebastian nodded slowly, his eyes scanning every detail in the vision. "Neither do I. But this village—Wyfmoor—it isn’t big. A house like that? People will know."

Thalia chewed her bottom lip, conflicted. "They look happy. Like... they’ve moved on."

"They probably think you’re safe somewhere," Sebastian said quietly. "People comfort themselves with lies when they’re scared. You know that."

She gave a tiny nod, though the ache in her chest remained. "Yeah. Maybe."

There was a pause between them. Only the soft crackle of the candle flame remained, and the whisper of the dying magic in the mirror.

Sebastian broke the silence. "We’ll ask around tomorrow. Someone at the inn might recognize the crest on the sleeves."

Thalia glanced back at the mirror. "I hope so. I just... want to know why they’re here. Why no one has sent word."

"We’ll get answers," he said, his voice firm. "We didn’t come all this way for nothing."

She looked up at him. His expression was focused, protective. He hadn’t looked away from the mirror even once, but now—he turned to her. Their faces were close. Too close.

Thalia swallowed. "Thank you... for this."

His voice dropped an octave. "Don’t thank me yet."

A beat.

Then she shifted, brushing past him to the bed. "We should sleep. Early start."

He stayed there a second longer before turning away and blowing out the candle.

In the quiet darkness, Thalia lay on her side, staring at the faint outline of the mirror across the room. A mansion. Here. So close. She closed her eyes.

Tomorrow, they would knock on every door if they had to.

But tonight... she’d let herself feel just a little bit forgotten. And just a little bit jealous.