Soulbound: Mate of a Powerful Prince

Chapter 24

Adrian woke up to the soft rays of sunlight filtering through the window of the cozy cabin. Stretching his arms, he expected to feel Emery's warm presence beside him, but instead, his hand met an empty space. Confusion creased his brow as he sat up, scanning the room.

"Emery?" he called out, his voice tinged with concern. When there was no response, he felt a knot of worry tightening in his chest. Could she have gone out without telling him?

Pushing aside the blankets, Adrian got up from the bed and began searching the cabin. He checked every room, calling out Emery's name with increasing urgency, but there was no sign of her. Panic started to gnaw at his insides as he realized she was nowhere to be found.

Rushing outside, Adrian's eyes darted around the surroundings, hoping to catch a glimpse of her familiar figure. The beauty of the valley seemed to mock him in his distress, the chirping of birds and the rustling of leaves offering no solace.

"Emery!" he shouted again, his voice echoing through the trees. Still, there was no response.

Frantically, Adrian retraced their steps from the previous day, searching every nook and cranny of the valley. As minutes turned into hours, his worry grew into a consuming fear. Where could she have gone?

Just as he was about to give in to despair, Adrian's keen senses picked up on something faint yet familiar—a lingering trace of magic in the air. His heart skipped a beat as he followed the trail, his instincts guiding him toward the source.

The magic led Adrian to a secluded spot in the valley, hidden from plain view. As he approached, he saw faint remnants of a teleportation spell, confirming his worst fears. Someone had taken Emery, and they were powerful enough to breach the magical barriers protecting the valley.

Gripped by a sense of urgency, Adrian's mind raced with possibilities. Who could have done this? And why? The answer came to him in a flash—a figure from his past, a shadowy presence he had hoped never to encounter again.

Philip.

Adrian's elder cousin, a man driven by ambition and greed, had always harbored dark intentions. Could he be behind Emery's disappearance? The thought filled Adrian with a fierce determination. He would find Emery, no matter the cost.

With renewed resolve, Adrian closed his eyes, reaching out with his senses to trace the residual magic left behind by the teleportation spell. The trail led him deeper into the valley, toward a foreboding darkness that seemed to swallow the light.

Ignoring the voice of doubt in his mind, Adrian pressed on, his heart pounding with each step. He would not rest until he found Emery and brought her back safely into his arms.

For her, he would defy all odds, face any danger. Nothing would stand in the way of their love.

As he ventured further into the unknown, Adrian vowed to himself that no matter what trials lay ahead, he would emerge victorious. Emery was counting on him, and he would not let her down.

With a silent prayer on his lips, Adrian forged ahead, ready to confront whatever challenges awaited him in his quest to rescue the woman he loved.

And so, the search for Emery began in earnest, a journey that would test Adrian's strength, courage, and unwavering devotion.

But for now, all that mattered was finding her, bringing her back to safety, and holding her in his arms once more.