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Chapter 69
_Mira’s POV_
The next morning, I woke up early. The air was cool and sunlight streamed through the windows. My thoughts were already racing about the journey ahead. After getting ready, I headed downstairs for breakfast. Killian sat at the table, sipping coffee.
“You’re up early,” he said, glancing at me with a small smile.
I nodded. “Couldn’t sleep much. Too much on my mind.”
He chuckled. “You’re not the only one. Ready to hunt for a rare flower in the middle of nowhere?”
I sat down and picked at the toast on my plate. “As ready as I’ll ever be. We don’t have much time, do we?”
Killian shook his head. “No, which is why I think we should leave as soon as we finish eating. The forest past the eastern border isn’t exactly easy to navigate.”
I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. “Let’s do it, then.”
An hour later, we were driving toward the eastern border. The forest loomed ahead, dark and thick with vegetation. Killian focused on the road, his hands gripping the wheel.
“You know,” he said, breaking the silence, “you could’ve stayed back and let me handle this.”
I turned to look at him. “And let you take all the credit? No way.”
He laughed, a sound that eased some of my tension. “Fair enough. But if things get tricky, promise me you’ll listen to what I say.”
“Fine,” I said, though I didn’t like the idea of letting him take the lead entirely.
When the road ended, we had to leave the car behind. The forest was too dense for any vehicle to pass through. The trees stood tall and unyielding, their branches intertwining to create a canopy that blocked out much of the sunlight.
“This is where the fun begins,” Killian said. He grabbed a backpack with supplies from the car.
We started walking, the crunch of leaves and twigs beneath our boots the only sound for a while. The air smelled of earth and moss, and the deeper we went, the harder it became to push through the thick undergrowth.
After an hour, my legs felt like they were made of lead. I stopped, leaning against a tree. “Killian, I need a break.”
He turned to look at me, concern flickering across his face. “Are you okay?”
“Just tired,” I admitted.
He dropped his pack and sat down on a fallen log. “We can rest for a bit. No point in pushing yourself too
hard.”
I sat down beside him, grateful for the moment of stillness. “Do you think we’ll find it?”
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<Chapter 69
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He shrugged. “The witch seemed pretty sure about the clearing. If we follow her directions, we should be fine.
I nodded, though doubt still lingered in my mind. What if we were wasting time? What if we couldn’t find the
flower?
After a few minutes, Killian stood up and offered me his hand. “Come on. The sooner we get moving, the
sooner we can get out of here.”
I took his hand, letting him pull me to my feet. We pressed on, pushing through the thick vegetation. Every step felt heavier than the last, but Killian’s determination kept me going.
Finally, we reached a clearing. It was as if the forest had suddenly decided to open up, revealing a patch of grass bathed in soft sunlight. At the far end of the clearing, I saw them–small, white buds scattered among
the grass.
Killian walked ahead, kneeling down to inspect them. “This is it,” he said, glancing back at me. “The midnight
bloom.”
I knelt beside him, staring at the delicate flowers. “They’re beautiful. It’s hard to believe they’re so rare.” He nodded. “They won’t stay this way for long. The witch said they’ll bloom at midnight and dry out before
sunrise.”
I looked at him, my heart sinking. “So, we can’t take them now?”
“No,” he said, standing up. “We’ll have to come back tonight. I’ll bring some guards with me for safety.”
“I should come too,” I said quickly.
He shook his head. “There’s no need. You’ve already done enough by coming this far. Get some rest tonight.” “Thank you, Killian,” I said softly. “You’re such a great friend.”
He smirked, his eyes glinting with mischief. “Are you trying to friend zone me, Mira?”
I blinked, caught off guard. “What? No, I didn’t mean-”
He laughed, cutting me off. “Relax, I’m just messing with you.”
I felt my face heat up and looked away, muttering, “You’re impossible.”
“That’s why you like me,” he said, still grinning.
I rolled my eyes, though a small smile tugged at my lips.
That night, I couldn’t sleep. I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, my thoughts racing. Killian had left hours ago with the guards to retrieve the flower. It was nearly two in the morning, and he still wasn’t back.
I was very worried. What if something had happened to him? The forest was dangerous, especially at night.
I sat up, debating whether to go after him, when I heard the sound of the front door opening. I rushed out of my room to see Killian standing there, holding a small bundle wrapped in cloth.
“You’re back!” I said, relief flooding through me.
He smiled tiredly. “Told you I would get it.”
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I ran to him and hugged him tightly. “Thank you, Kaw i don’t know what i would do without pr
He chuckled, pulling back slightly to look at the “Well, after all that effort, I think I deteria a reward.
1 frowned. “What kind of reward?”
He pointed to his cheek. “A kiss, of course.”
I laughed, shaking my head. “Fine” leaned in and kissed his check
But when I pulled away, he tilted his head, pointing to his lips Not there Here”
My eyes widened. “Killian!”
“What?” he said innocently. “I went into a dangerous forest in the middle of the night for you The least you
can do is-
“No,” I said firmly, cutting him off.
He sighed dramatically. “Fine. But you owe me.”
I rolled my eyes and turned to head back to my room. “Goodnight, Killian.”
“Goodnight, Mira,” he called after me, his tone teasing.
Once I was alone in my room, I sat on the edge of my bed, my emotions in turmoil. Killian had done so much for me, and I couldn’t deny the bond we shared. But did he have feelings for me? Was that why he was always so willing to help?
I sighed, running a hand through my hair. I cared about Killian, but only as a friend. After everything that had happened between us in the past, I wasn’t ready for more.
Still, his words and actions lingered in my mind as I lay down and tried to sleep.
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