Page 69 of Red Queen

“Eleanna,” I breathe, her name a prayer against the darkness that seeks to crush us. Her image, fierce and beautiful, burns behind my lids, powering my every step.

Ivan’s gaze is unwavering in the dim light. “General Amanar, we’re with you till the end.”

“Until the end, my friends.” My heart steels itself for what we may find. Eleanna, dead or alive…

We advance, the weight of responsibility pressing on my shoulders. Each step forward is a struggle against the rush of fear that threatens to consume me. The dungeon’s chill seeps into my bones, yet it’s nothing compared to the ice in my veins at the thought of finding Eleanna too late.

I adjust the grip on my sword. “Keep your eyes sharp.”

“Always, my liege,” Ivan replies, his voice steady, a counterpoint to the chaos swirling within me.

I nod, not daring to speak further, lest my voice betray the turmoil that claws at my insides. Every nerve in my body screams for action, to break through the walls and tear apart anyone who dares harm her. Eleanna, my Queen, the flame that ignites my soul—even now, with her fate unknown, she drives me forward.

The corridor narrows as we approach the dungeon at long last. Each cell door we pass is a reminder of what’s at stake. Eleanna could be behind any of them, her strength sapped by poison and imprisonment.

“Stay ready,” Marianne whispers fiercely from behind.

Nicolai looks at us all. “Death before dishonor.”

My heart hammers against my ribs as we reach the last cell. This is it—the moment where hope either flourishes or dies an agonizing death. The door looms before us, a mocking barrier to the truth I both crave and fear.

Ivan rests his hand on my shoulder, grounding me. “General Amanar?”

“Open the door.” My words are a growl, barely escaping clenched teeth.

We stand united, poised on the precipice of revelation. There’s no turning back now.

Ivan thrusts the door wide, the metal grinding in protest as if sharing our hesitation. I step forward, my eyes piercing thedarkness for any sign of her. But the cell is stark, barren—devoid of life.

“Eleanna!” My soft call is a desperate invocation, one that goes unanswered.

The emptiness of the chamber claws at me, an abyss pulling me into its void. The space where she should be—a space now filled with nothing but the ghost of my fears—gnaws at the edges of my composure. I search every shadow, but there’s only the cruel confirmation of her absence. Not even a whisper of her remains, and the silence is a torment all its own.

“Damn it!” I clench my hands so tight they tremble. This was supposed to be the end of our quest, not another torturous beginning.

“Alexandru...” Marianne’s voice holds a note of caution, warning me away from the precipice of rage.

“Spread out,” I say, my voice a blade cutting through the fog of confusion. “Search every godforsaken inch of this place. She must be here.”

They move instantly, a flurry of silhouettes against stone, scouring the dungeon for any trace, any clue that might have been overlooked. But deep down, I know it’s futile. Catarina must’ve anticipated a rescue and moved my beloved elsewhere.

“General. She is not to be found. I’m sorry.” Nicolai stands firm, his eyes reflecting the same ferocity that rages within me. “This changes nothing. We will find her.”

“Find her?” I spit out the words like poison. “She’s not here because of me. My failure.”

“Enough of that bullshit,” Ivan says. “We’re in this together, remember? For you, my liege. For the realm.”

“Yes, yes, of course.” The words are like a shard of glass, a focus point.

This isn’t just about power, about claiming victory over Catarina. To me, it’s about love—my rediscovered love for Eleanna. I won’t let this be the end. I can’t.

“Then we keep looking,” I say, my determination hardening. “We turn over every stone until we find her. And when we do, Catarina will pay in blood for her deception.”

The last part goes without saying. Catarina’s end is the original mission, but now it’s superseded by finding Eleanna. Nods of agreement meet my declaration, a mighty pact forged in the depths of desperation and resolve. We will bring Eleanna back, whatever it takes.

If I was alone, I’d take off, rip the castle apart until I found her. But I’m not, and there’s a deeper mission, one Eleanna would never forgive me for if I ignored it. With a heavy bitterness to my resolve, I look at my team.

“Let’s return home.” The weight of leadership settles on me once more, transformed now by a purpose renewed—not just a general fighting a war, but a man battling for the heart that beats in tandem with his own.

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