Thank you for reading on ! We provide free access to all our stories, but maintaining this platform requires ongoing costs. To keep the site running and continue offering free content, we display advertisements. You can close the ads anytime, or upgrade to premium membership ($5/month) for an ad-free reading experience while supporting our mission. You can also earn premium for free by completing simple tasks. We truly appreciate your understanding and support!Kiara took the baby to her room, gently rocking her until she calmed down. Afterward, they called for someone to prepare some milk. Once fed, the baby fell asleep, and Kiara tenderly caressed her head, whispering, "Take care; your mother will come looking for you. I won't allow anything to happen to you." Seven days had passed since Abril collapsed. Alessandro felt utterly helpless; there was nothing he could do for her, and above all, he felt guilty for not being able to prevent the elven kingdom from taking his daughter. As he caressed Abril's brother, he wondered what she would say.He buried the thought that he could not fulfill the promise he had made to protect Lissana. Cassian approached him, placing a hand on his shoulder. "You should rest, Lessan. You haven't slept all night." "I really wish I could," Alessandro replied, his voice heavy with fatigue. "You must try, or you'll end up worse than you are now. When Abril wakes up, you will need all your strength." "Will they bring our daughter back?" Alessandro asked, his voice laced with desperation. "Lessan, you did everything you could to protect her," Cassian reassured him."But it wasn't enough; otherwise, she would be here with us." Alessandro lightly shook Abril's hand and murmured, "I should have protected her better. We wouldn't be in this situation." "Don't be so hard on yourself, Lessan." "But I lost control." "They took your daughter. If I were in your place, I would have acted the same way. If I lost Maya, I would lose control too." Though Alessandro couldn't shake the guilt, Cassian's words provided some comfort. "Sleep, Lessan. I'll stay with her," Cassian offered. "Thank you." Reluctantly, Alessandro stepped away from Abril.He didn't want to leave her side, so he settled onto the nearby sofa and closed his eyes, hoping to catch a little sleep. Exhaustion soon overtook him, and he drifted off. Hours later, he woke up startled, with Cassian watching him. "What's wrong, Lessan?" Cassian asked, concern etched on his face. "I had a nightmare," Alessandro replied, running a hand through his unkempt hair. "More than a nightmare, it felt like a terrible reality." He glanced at Abril, who remained still, but he believed she looked a little better, her face regaining some color.He knelt beside her, studying her closely, and realized Cassian had been right; she seemed to have recovered some of her strength, and her breathing appeared more normal. Cassian, still worried about Maya, mentioned, "I should check on her. She's been struggling lately." "How is she?" Alessandro inquired. "Better, but the doctor says she needs to rest for a few days." "I hope she gets through this," Alessandro said, his heart heavy. "I'll go see her. Take care of Abril," Cassian replied, standing up. "Thanks, Cassian.noveldramaThank you for always being there when I need you." "You're my brother, my family. I'll always be here." Meanwhile, Maya felt weak and tired, unable to get out of bed. Each day was a struggle, and despite her attempts, she remained bedridden. The pixie, trim and bright, hovered nearby. "I told you this was only temporary. You need to return to the fairies," the pixie insisted. "You're being stubborn. Do you want to die?" Maya retorted, ignoring the pixie's warning. Just then, the door opened, and Pee entered, concern written all over her face."How are you feeling?" she asked, sitting at the edge of the bed. "I'm much better. Is Abril okay?" Maya replied, her voice barely above a whisper. "She's still not out of the woods, but I believe she's improving," Pee reassured her. "I hope so," Maya said, her heart aching for her friend. Cassian took Maya's hand, noting how cold it was despite the warm day. "Are you sure you're alright?" "Yes, I'm here for you. If Sirius asks, tell him it's just fatigue," Maya replied, trying to sound more confident than she felt. Cassian leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss to her lips."Recover quickly." "I will. Soon, I'll be as good as new," Maya promised, attempting to calm the fear and sadness that threatened to overwhelm her. "I'm sure you'll get through this," Cassian said, his voice filled with encouragement. Maya sighed deeply, feeling drowsy despite having slept all night. "I'll try." "I'm going to rest. I'll be back soon," he said, giving her one last reassuring look before leaving the room. Once he was gone, the pixie reappeared. "You know you won't recover if you don't return to the land of the fairies.Why do you keep lying to yourself?" "Because I can't bear to see him suffer," Maya replied, her voice trembling. "Even if you insist you're fine, you know you can't hide from the truth. It will consume you slowly if you don't face it," the pixie urged. "Leave me alone! You're only saying this because you know it's true. No matter how many lies you tell, the truth will always shine through," Maya snapped, tears streaming down her face. The pixie vanished, leaving Maya alone with her turmoil. She felt trapped between her pain and the fear that was slowly eating away at her soul.Ethan had tried to leave Arkala several times, but the guardians of the realm kept a watchful eye on the roads. After his twelfth attempt, he sought out Dantriel, desperate for a way to reach the horsemen. When he finally arrived at Dantriel's workshop, the first question out of Dantriel's mouth was why everyone seemed to be coming this way.