CHAPTER 492: WITH YOU OR WITHOUT YOU

The journey back to the mainland was rough with Arabella nearly falling off Cynric’s back multiple times due to the high speed at which they traveled.

Thankfully, Allegra was there to catch her every time the flicker fizzled out of her, shaking her back to reality.

It took a little less than fifteen minutes for them to reach the spot where Silas’ trace vanished.

"This is it," said Cynric after letting the women down and shifting back to his humanoid form.

Arabella required a few seconds to catch her breath and stand on her two feet without assistance.

"This is where it ends!" she half asked.

"I can no longer smell him either," Allegra looked around.

"A group of humans and vampires have definitely been through this route recently, but other than that, I am getting nothing,"

"Is there a way you too can catch up to the royal caravane?" Arabella leaned against a tree for support, "The vampire escort and the witch accompanying them work directly under the syndicate. I am sure if you explain the situation, they will stop and sign the alarms,"

"I do not think that is such a good idea," Allegra glared at the path ahead without blinking.

"Why so?"

"We are already very close to the border," her gaze remained straight, "As in less than an hour away. It already took us fifteen minutes to get here, adding to it the time we consumed to find and then join you," she turned towards Arabella very momentarily, "By the time we reach it, the caravan would have already crossed, assuming they did not stop for the night. If we sign the alarm as the prince is in Lustris, there is nothing the syndicate can do aside from sealing the borders which is the opposite of what we want to happen,"

Arabella needed no pointers to understand the meaning of her words.

"Yes, they will definitely not risk igniting a new conflict with Lustris, especially without any proof. So, they will close the border to prevent his family members from acting brash," Cynric gave his two cents.

Arabella took their words as well as the times to ponder them before asking, "Who did you tell about finding Allegra?"

"Like I said, no one was with me when I found her and she screeched until I brought her to you, so we didn’t tell anyone,"

"Alright then, but if madame Morgana is still looking then she would have probably been able to spot you by now since there is no spell concealing your body," the young woman turned to Allegra who glowered at Cynric, grumbling about how she did no screeching, "We should head back to the manor, hopefully mother and your sisters are still out with the search party. I only need Morgana’s help,"

"Well, whatever your plan is," Cynric started marching towards the forest, "You may count me out of it. I cannot put my people in the middle of this. We are already on shaky terms with the syndicate,"

"I understand. Just please, don’t inform anyone of what happened. The news will spread soon enough but by then I hope to be beyond the border without much hassle," Arabella nodded his way before bringing her attention back onto Allegra, "I am afraid I will have to put my weight on you in order for us to travel faster, but you will be able to rest home and recover,"

The women and the wolfman finally went their separate ways as Cynric disappeared among the trees.

"You are planning on giving yourself up, aren’t you?" Allegra snapped Arabella out of the daze that had entrapped her while watching the alpha shift and run off.

"What other choice do I still have? Not to mention, the prince has my brother too so...,"

Allegra looked as though she was about to say something but kept her peace in the end. As Arabella had requested, the vampiress carried her weight closer to the property but did not set foot upon the Eleazar land.

"What are you doing? Why are we stopping?" the young woman asked as Allegra settled her down.

"I can never face them again. How could I? How dare I?" Allegra shook her head.

"They don’t know that you worked for Drago... For your father,"

"But I know it. I can never get it out of my head. Don’t get me wrong, I did not delude myself into thinking I was part of the family ever since I reported to him for the first time but," Allegra’s features trembled as she broke eye contact with Arabella, "It was for their own good,"

"What do you plan on doing now? Will you go to your father?" Arabella’s hand squeezed at her wedding brooch for comfort.

"Never!" Allegra hissed, "Isn’t it obvious? I am coming with you to Lustris!" her voice was a lot stronger at those words.

"I am afraid that will be impossible,"

"Why?" Allegra stepped closer to Arabella.

"You are a nightwalker in every meaning of the term. Not only you cannot travel by day, but you hibernate as well which is a function of your body you have no control over. You would be a liability for me,"

As Arabella turned around to head for the manor, a strong hand wrapped around her wrist, stopping her from moving.

The young woman turned back around and stared between her hand and Allegra a few times instead of asking.

"Morgana," Allegra blurted.

"What about her?"

"She is the most skilled witch of our time. I am sure there is something she can do to minimize my disadvantages. I can be of great help. You need me," she reaffirmed.

In response, Arabella grimaced before twisting her hand out of Allegra’s grip, prompting the vampiress let go without a fight.

"Again, no offense to you Allegra but... I still can’t fully trust you after what I just found out," she shook her head.

"Lady Arabella Eleazar!" Allegra shouted as Arabella began to walk away from her, effectively stopping her in her tracks again, "I am going to Lustris whether you agree to it or not. You will just have to decide whether it will be with you or otherwise,"