Chapter Six The Window That Shouldn't Open

Sera’s POV ;

I did not breathe properly, this wasn't because I could not breathe, it was because for the fact that breathing right now simply felt like a permission that would allow something outside of me to notice me.

The window was slightly covered by thick black curtains, it was night time and I could feel the cool breeze, the air was crisp and fresh.

I also noticed that outside, the night time in Duskborne Palace was way too quiet, it was even more quiet than a graveyard, as if there was no single person inhabiting it

I took a deep breath and exhaled deeply, and that was when I saw it.

A tall dark shadow, it wasn’t passing, it wasn’t moving or anything, it was just standing there a little further off my window.

For a moment, I didn’t read meaning to it, I didn’t see it as something to be alarmed or worried about.

Werewolves didn’t climb palace walls like robbers at night, and security guards could never stand outside royal Luna vicinity like ghosts.

But yet there was this shadow, as I looked more closely at it, it was definitely the shadow of a man.

The way he stood against the stone, with so much calm and composure and he blended like a camouflage as if he had been there for like a lifetime.

I stood at my window, slowly observing the figure and my fingers began to sweat as they clenched the blade under my pillow.

A few moments later, I noticed the figure move, he moved with so much carefulness and precision, and he wasn’t moving towards the window.

Infact, he was moving away from it.

My brain soon realized what that meant, and I instantly froze on the spot. If he was moving away from the window, then that means he was an obvious threat and there was imminent danger because it meant he was trying to get in.

Come to think of it, he had probably been there for hours, calmly and patiently watching, observing and waiting for the right moment.

My mind began to think a lot of things at the same time, fear gripped my heart and it started beating and pounding with speed and intensity. What did he want? Who was he ? What did he come here for ?

Was this an assassination attempt? Or was it internal palace security surveillance? Or perhaps it was Lira’s network already testing me.

What if it was even something worse? Something I probably had no idea about.

I payed more attention to it and noticed it had shifted its head and tilted it slightly.

It was as if he knew I was awake and observing him.

He took a turn and then jumped off the ledge, my stomach rumbled and I could feel my heart skip.

As a defense mechanism, I quickly rushed to the window without even thinking twice, and I yanked the curtain off the rails hoping to catch him or see him move.

But nothing, it was just empty space, empty air. I looked at the stone ledge, it was bare and dry. No traces or signs of anyone there except.

My eyes caught a faint mark, almost invisible. It was three scratches in the stone, someone had inserted them there on purpose, he wanted it to be seen, or he wanted me to see it.

I inhaled and then exhaled deeply, and my pulse and heart beat slowed down instead of increasing and even multiplying rapidly.

I knew that mark, I had definitely come across it before, I knew I had seen it somewhere because it seemed familiar.

But not here, I had definitely not seen it in this life, I took a faint breath and touched the scratches with my fingers.

What I felt was completely impossible.

I began to slowly move back from it, my heart pounding but in a controlled and very dangerous manner.

The type of way I felt just before an ambush. “No this can’t be, it’s just not possible,” I whispered silently to myself.

I remembered the symbol, it belonged to the Borderland scouts, they were human beings.

But last I could recall, they were all dead or weren’t they supposed to be ? Yes they were.

Soon, there was a gentle knock on my door and I sprung to my feet, alert and vigilant as ever.

There was a brief silence and pause, and then two knocks followed.

The knocks weren’t aggressive, but they seemed very urgent and deliberate.

For a moment, I paused and kept quiet, I did not answer or say a word in response. “Commander Vale,” I heard a voice from outside, it was definitely the voice of the person knocking.

It was a calm and familiar voice, one that made my heart shudder and my adrenaline rush.

It was Cael, I heaved a sigh of relief and lowered my blade slightly, but then I didn’t move.

“What the hell is your problem? It’s late, I said, feeling a little annoyed now.

“Yeah, I know it’s late,” he replied and then paused for a moment.

“You know what ? Can I come in?” He asked, as if demanding that I allow him in.

I sighed again and took a glance at the door, there wasn’t any lock and then I breathed in and exhaled sharply again.

“Why do you want to come in Cael?” I asked, this rkm

Cael.

Of course it was him.

I lowered the blade slightly but didn’t move.

“It’s late,” I said.

“I know,” he replied.

A pause.

Then: “May I come in?”

I stared at the door.

There was no lock.

Of course there wasn’t.

I exhaled slowly. “Why?”

Another pause.

“I felt you wake up.”

That made my grip tighten again.

“That’s not an answer.”

“It is the only one I have.”

Silence stretched between us.

I opened the door.

Not fully.

Just enough.