Chapter 19

"A cry into the night; Save me from his delight."

.

The darkness was shattered by urgent voices, and Ryker's name echoed through the night. "Ryker!"

He came out, bleary-eyed, to find torches encircling the campsite. Ferguson's serious expression heightened his alarm.

"What happened?" Ryker asked, his gaze locked on Ferguson.

"Belladonna..." Ferguson's voice trailed off.

Ryker's eyes narrowed. "What about her?"

"Have you seen Belladonna?" Ferguson's urgency was palpable.

Ryker shook his head vigorously, hastening back to his quarters to secure his weapon belt and grab a lamp. "What happened to Belladonna?" he pressed, noticing the townsfolk's frantic searches.

Ferguson's guilt was evident. "Initially, I told her to take a walk, fearing she'd agitate Maeve... Now that Maeve's awake—"

Ryker's eyes widened. "Maeve is awake?"