Chapter 195 PIPER 1/6 Trajans capture had cast weak and sad emotions over all of us .

The usually firm and composed Aurora didnt know what to do either as she moved about in the weak light of the war room in Broken Ridge , hands shaking uncontrollably holding tightly at the pearl pendant .

I stood by the door , silently watching her .

The pack was growing loud murmurs of doubt about her decisions , whispers about questioning her judgment .

My blood boiled , but not now .

It wasnt relevant now .

Warricks voice cut through my thoughts .

Piper , he said , no sarcasm in his tone for once .

I turned to him , raising an eyebrow .

What do you want , Warrick ? I , I think I can help , he stammered , so uncertain .

I crossed my arms .

Help ? Like you helped last time ? He clamped his jaw tight , forging ahead .

Ive heard stories .

Theres this part of the forest nobody dares tread .

Chapter 195 2/6 Something is there , a relic , ancient , perilous but it can give us a fighting chance against the Nameless .

Stories ? I echoed , utterly incredulous .

Rumors , alright ? But when in Rome , right ? he replied , his tone .

rising ever so slightly .

I watched him closely .

For once , his eyes shone with a sign r of sincerity ; for once , he wasnt hiding behind smiles .

Alright , I said after some time .

But if this is one of your ploys , I will be the one to kill you .

He nodded then , a little resolution settling over his face .noveldrama

Deal .

Lets go .

The trees were thick , the air thick with silence .

Warrick led the way , his steps were kinda sure for one navigating a place hed said hed never been to .

How do you even know where were going ? I asked , my voice low .

I dont , he said .

But the stories always mentioned this part of the forest .

The trees are supposed to look different .

I rolled my eyes but continued to follow him deeper into the underbrush .

And , amazingly , the further in we walked , the more the forest seemed to change .

Trees stretched up taller , their trunks Chapter 195 twisting unnatural as if they were caught in screams .

3/6 Comforting , I muttered , the top of my dagger clutched tightly in my hand .

Warrick didnt say a word .

He just stared straight ahead .

The closer we drew , the stranger the sounds became : faint whispering that seemed to come from all directions at once .

I froze , my head jerking toward the sound .

Do you hear that ? He nodded .

Just zone it out .

Keep walking .

Easy for him to say .

The whispers grew louder , more insistent like they were trying to lure us off the path .

My steps faltered , my mind clouded with fragmented images .

Piper ! Warricks voice snapped me back into reality .

He clutched my arm with firm fingers .

Dont listen to them .

I nodded , still shaking the fogginess of the moments before .

Lets keep going .

After what felt like hours , we came into a clearing .

There in the middle of it stood some sort of decaying stone ash and on its surface , etched upon it , were symbols that glowed faintly in the moonlight .

This must be it , Warrick whispered reverently .

Chapter 195 The floor around the pedestal was covered in intricate designs line after line , each joining another in a maze like fashion .

Warrick dropped to a crouch and looked at them .

Theyre a code , he said , furrowing his brow .

Can you figure it out ? I asked .

Give me a moment , he said , tracing the lines with his finger .

5/6 We tried to understand the patterns together , with every symbol a different direction a wrong step in who knew what .

LEFT , I said , pointing to the next one .

NO , ITS RIGHT , Warrick said .

I gave him my best glaring look .

Are you sure ? I asked him .

Trust me , he replied , and stepped .

The symbol lit up , and we exhaled .

After an eternity , we gained the pedestal ; Warrick reached for the relic and I looked at his hand .

Wait , I said , pointing to the inscription written into the base .

What does that say ? He peered hard at the ancient text , working his lips as if trying to talk the translation out .

It is a warning , he finally said .

Something to do with a curse .

.

Of course theres a curse , I muttered .

What does it do ? Chapter 195 6/6 I dont know , Warrick admitted , his hand moving over the relic .

But we dont have a choice .

This might be our only chance to weaken the Nameless .

I hesitated , my gaze moving between him and the artifact .

The air around it felt thick , tingling with weird energy .

Piper , Warrick said , his voice very serious , we need this Whatever the curse is , we can sort it out later .

I clenched my fists .

My mind was racing .

With the relic , we had a good chance of winning against the Nameless , but if the curse was too powerful .

Warricks hand hovered over the relic , his fingers shaking while he reached for it .

Are you sure about this ? I whispered .

He looked at me , his face moody .

No.

But we dont have a choice .

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