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Todos los capítulos de A Marriage Bound by Curse: Capítulo 31 - Capítulo 40

43 Capítulos

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Aurelia POVMorning came far sooner than I would have liked.I had slept for perhaps a few hours in one of the tents Henry's men had prepared for Lyra and me, though calling it sleep felt generous. The storm, the memory I had forced myself to confront, and everything I had told Henry afterward followed me each time I closed my eyes. Eventually, remaining beneath the blankets became more exhausting than getting up.Henry was already awake when I stepped outside.The temporary camp had begun stirring beneath the pale morning light. Several fires still burned from the night before, their smoke drifting lazily above the tents while guards moved quietly between horses and supplies. Beyond them, the village remained mostly still, though a few distant windows had begun to glow as families woke.Henry stood over a rough map spread across a table near the center of camp.Several new markings had been added since the night before.

Chapter Thirty

The woman who answered the cottage door looked as though she had been expecting us.She was older, perhaps in her late fifties, with graying hair pulled into a loose braid and a faded apron tied around her waist. Her eyes moved from Henry to me before settling on the three men standing a short distance behind us. Although she greeted us politely, I could see the weariness in her expression when she realized why we had come.“Captain,” she said, stepping aside. “I take it you still have not found him?”“Not yet, Martha,” Henry answered. “We were hoping you might be willing to speak with us again.”Martha's shoulders lowered slightly. “I told your men everything I remembered yesterday.”“I know,” Henry replied. “But we are approaching the search differently today, and there are a few things we would like to go over.”Her gaze shifted toward me.“Yo

Chapter Thrity-One

Fenrir POVBy the time we reached the northern edge of the village, I was beginning to understand why the old road had been abandoned.The southern route was wide enough to accommodate two merchant wagons traveling in opposite directions, with enough room along either side for pedestrians and riders. The northern road, on the other hand, had nearly disappeared beneath years of neglect. Grass grew between the uneven stones, thick roots had pushed sections of the road upward, and branches extended so far overhead that the trees formed a canopy above much of the entrance.It was hardly an inviting route for merchants, particularly those transporting heavy goods.Henry stopped beside a weathered wooden signpost, its lettering worn almost beyond recognition. Two guards had accompanied us from the village, and Rowan had sent another pair to question the households nearest the northern approach. The rest of us had continued on foot, following th

Chapter Thirty-Two

Fenrir POVThe tracks continued behind the storehouse, following a narrow stretch of ground that had once served as an access road for wagons delivering grain to the mill. Years of neglect had allowed grass and weeds to reclaim much of it, but the two shallow impressions remained visible where the wheels had pressed into softer patches of earth.I followed them carefully, keeping to one side while Rowan examined the opposite edge. Elias moved ahead to check where the track disappeared between the trees, while Henry instructed his guards to remain close enough that nobody would become separated.Aurelia walked beside the captain, her attention moving between the ground and the surrounding buildings."How recently do you believe a wagon passed through here?" Henry asked me.

Chapter Thirty-Three

Aurelia POVBy the time Lyra finished reminding me that I needed to rest, I had begun to regret telling Henry I would be ready to leave at first light.My legs ached from the hours we had spent walking along the abandoned northern road, and my shoulders had grown stiff beneath the weight of my cloak. I had managed to eat most of the supper Lyra brought me, although she had watched every bite with such determination that I suspected she would have remained beside me until I finished regardless of how long it took.Now she was arranging our blankets for the night, occasionally glancing over her shoulder as though expecting me to collapse the moment she looked away."You can stop watching me," I told her."I am not watching you.""You have looked at me six times since I sat down.""Seven, actually. You missed one while you were taking off your boots."I sighed and leaned back against the folded blanket behind me.Lyra smiled as she shook out another blanket. "You could simply admit that

Chapter Thirty-Four

Fenrir POVI had spent a considerable portion of the night thinking about Aurelia's hands.It was an inconvenient thing to admit, even to myself, particularly when we had an important search to resume in the morning. Yet every time I closed my eyes, I remembered the warmth of her fingers against my chest and the expression on her face when she realized what her touch was doing to me.I had expected pain.The moment she asked permission to touch the sigil, I had nearly refused. My experience with Valeria had been unpleasant enough that I had no desire to repeat it, especially in front of Aurelia. I remembered the way the curse had burned through my chest, how quickly the pain had become unbearable, and the humiliation of discovering that even the simplest physical contact could bring me to my knees.But Aurelia had touched the marking, and there had been no pain.Quite the opposite.The warmth had spread through me so quickly that I

Chapter Thirty-Five

Aurelia POVThe eastern trail was considerably narrower than the road we had followed to reach the clearing. Thick branches stretched across the path, forcing us to duck beneath them, while tangled roots made the ground uneven enough that we had to watch where we placed our feet. The trees grew close together, their leaves forming a dense canopy that allowed only scattered patches of sunlight to reach the forest floor.Fenrir walked beside me, occasionally moving ahead whenever the path became particularly difficult. Henry remained several paces behind us with Garrick, while Rowan and Elias examined the ground for signs of the people who had passed through before us. The remaining guards had spread out as much as the narrow trail allowed, keeping close enough that we could still see one another.I glanced toward the trees.It was difficult to believe that a place so quiet could have been used regularly without anyone noticing. Yet the wagon we had discovered was undeniable evidence th

Chapter Thirty-Six

Fenrir POV By the time we returned to camp, the last of the afternoon sunlight had disappeared behind the trees, leaving the forest in the dull gray light that preceded nightfall. The journey had taken considerably longer than I would have preferred, particularly with two prisoners who seemed determined to make themselves as inconvenient as possible. Martin had spent much of the return trip complaining about the ropes around his wrists, occasionally insisting that we had no authority to detain him, while Jory had remained almost entirely silent. Whenever the trail narrowed and brought them within sight of one another, Martin attempted to catch his companion's attention, but Rowan had been careful to keep several guards between them. I had considered ordering Martin gagged after his third attempt to intimidate Jory, though Henry had assured me that the guards could manage him without resorting to such measures. He was probably right, but I was beginning to regret listening. Aureli

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Fenrir POVWe questioned Martin after supper, once the camp had settled into its evening routine and the guards had been changed. He entered Henry's tent with his wrists restrained and an expression that suggested he considered the entire situation a personal insult. Whatever relief he might have felt at being brought out of confinement disappeared when he noticed the supply list spread across the table."You had no right to take us prisoner," he announced before Henry had even offered him a chair. "We were traveling through the forest, and you attacked us without cause. If you're expecting me to confess to something, you're wasting your time."Henry regarded him calmly. "You attempted to flee from armed guards, were carrying a concealed weapon, and have been delivering supplies to a camp where people are being held against their will. I would suggest that you sit down and reconsider how you intend to approach this conversation."Martin looked

Chapter Thirty-Eight

Aurelia POVBy the time I finished fastening the last clasp of my traveling cloak, Lyra had already gathered most of our belongings and arranged them neatly beside the entrance of the tent. The morning air was cool, and the camp had been awake for some time, judging by the voices carrying through the canvas and the occasional sound of horses being led toward the northern trail. I could hear Henry giving instructions somewhere nearby, his voice easily distinguishable from the quieter conversations of the guards preparing to depart.I had slept poorly, although I suspected I was not alone in that regard. The information we had gathered from Martin and Jory had given us more reason to believe Thomas was alive, but it had also revealed a situation far more serious than his disappearance alone. Somewhere beyond the northern hills, women were being held against their will, guarded by armed men who appeared to answer to someone outside the camp. We still did

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