Page 39 of A Hal for my Heart

“Want to go home?” Hal asked, placing his hand against my forehead.

“Yes.” I needed to escape the dining room as quickly as possible.

We walked to our rooms in silence. Hal was still fuming with anger. A plan had started forming in my head since we left the dining hall. I just hoped Hal wouldn’t be too mad at me for what I was about to do.

Inside our rooms, I excused myself and went into the bathroom. Hal looked concerned, but settled on our couch while I locked the bathroom door behind me. I doubted the lock would be enough to deter him if he really wanted in here, but I needed all the time I could get.

There was a tiny window in stained glass that opened all the way. I carefully pried it open, then eased my way out of it, making sure to keep my footing on the brick banister outside. I’d climbed a lot as a child, so I hoped my body would remember it since I’d be facing certain death if I fell from this height. Determined not to look down, I made my way along the outside wall until I found one of the empty offices. The balcony proved a safe place for me to rest my feet before I hurried inside. I was pleased to find all the guards elsewhere as I quickly descended the stairs and made my way to the stables, hidden by the darkness.

All the horses were still in the stables, which meant the guards had yet to ride out. I had to hurry, though, before they all came storming in here. Luckily, there was no sign of Adrian and Corin either.

There was no time for saddling up, so I simply added a bridle to the nearest horse and led him outside, then placed him next to the fence so I could climb on.

My butt was already hurting as I rode the horse outside the palace walls, the guards ignoring me completely as I passed them by the gate. Sadly, I couldn’t quite remember where the farm was placed, but I knew which town it was close to, so I headed in that direction, praying I could find my way. It would take around an hour’s ride, and the darkness of night was already descending upon me, making the roads gloomy and unpredictable. I prayed the sparse moonlight would guide me there safely. As much as I was afraid of being out on my own at night, the idea of Sin being in danger kept me going. I loved my brother, and the thought of any harm coming to him was unbearable.

The farther away I got from my alpha, the more guilt took over as I imagined how devastated Hal would be to find me gone. We hadn’t been away from each other for a long period since my heat, and my body already longed for his comforting touch. Shaking the thoughts away, I kept going, guiding my horse further toward my destination, while begging the higher powers that Sin would be okay. I still had no idea why he’d been sent away all those years ago, but he was still my brother. There had to be some reason why he was taken, and why I needed to show up alone.

The question of who had sent the letter kept nagging at me. Who would do such an awful thing? I’d finally found peace and companionship. Love even. Was it really too much to ask to just live a life in peace with the man I loved? My chest tightened. I already missed Hal terribly, but I had no choice but to forge ahead.

Thirty minutes later, I arrived in the small town. Torches lit the entrance to the town center, but I ignored it and ventured to the right, following the smell of manure and hayfields.

“I hate the dark,” I muttered to myself, seeing moving shadows everywhere. I knew my horse was faring better in the dark than I was, but still, my anxiety rose as we neared the farm.

Soon, the road diverged into two. The one on the right had a sign I couldn’t read with only the sparse moonlight, but I figured I might as well follow that, since it could very well be the sign directing me to the farm. After a little while, a whistling came from somewhere in the darkness, followed by a shout. “Hey!”

I stopped my horse, my heart galloping away instead. “Hello?” I enquired, my voice shaking. I suddenly realized I hadn’t thought this through at all. I was definitely not safe out here in the middle of nowhere at night, and I feared it would end up being a big mistake. I hadn’t even brought a weapon for protection.

“Briar?” a voice asked, sounding close. My horse started whinnying, likely sensing my rising fear.

“Um, yes?” I was seconds away from panicking, nausea churning in my stomach.

“I’ve come to escort you to your brother.” His voice was gruff, cold, and I couldn’t see the man looming in the shadows.

“Alright,” I said, determined, as I pushed through the bile rising in my throat. “Show me the way.”

The man laughed, although I had no idea what was funny about this.

I jolted as a hand settled on my thigh. No alpha except Hal had ever touched me, and here I was, being touched as I waited for the inevitable.

“Get a move on!” the alpha barked, making me flinch. Quickly, I dismounted and let the alpha grab me by the arm, as he dragged me wherever he wanted me. The poor horse was left to himself, and I hoped he’d find his way home without me. My instincts told me I was probably in danger, but I was too busy worrying about Sin to pay it much mind.

A rustling of leaves followed us as we approached a small cottage, lit up from within. It wasn’t until I saw the flickering flames inside that I realized just how cold I was. I’d been in such a hurry that I’d forgotten to dress warmly, and now I felt cold to the bone.

“In here,” the alpha grunted, pushing me inside the warm cottage. No wonder I hadn’t seen it from the road, with it being hidden away between thick trees and dense bushes.

It was a tiny thing, but blissfully warm. I eyed the interior, but it was sparsely furnished, just a simple farmhand cottage.

“Down there,” the alpha barked, pointing to a wooden latch on the floor. Oh gods, I hated cellars.

“Sin’s down there?” I asked, my stomach dropping. My brother had always been wary of the dark, and he usually slept with the light on when we were children and shared a bedroom.

The alpha simply chuckled before grabbing my arm and dragging me to the latch. With a firm hold on my wrist, he bent and opened it. Pitch-black darkness welcomed us, and not even a ladder could be seen from the opening.

“Well, get on with it!” he snapped, pushing me to the opening in the floor.

I shouldn’t have come here alone, I thought to myself, as I carefully made my way down into the unknown. I shouldn’t have gone without Hal. I needed my alpha now more than ever. I was so stupid. I squeezed my eyes tight, imagining Hal was here with me. You can do this, Briar. You are strong and brave, sweetness.

There was no ladder, but there was no need. The cellar was only just high enough for me to sit, but not to stand.