The Princess's Revenge Chapter 121

Valencia’s POV

No response. Not even a twitch of acknowledgment.

I pulled the curtain aside and sat carefully on the edge of the bed. Delphine was curled into a tight ball, her sandy blonde hair tangled and unwashed.

"Delphine," I tried again, placing my hand on her shoulder.

Her body was cold, almost like ice. She didn't move at my touch.

I scooted closer, lying down beside her so we were facing the same direction. I wrapped my arm around her, holding her gently.

"I'm here," I whispered. "I know you're in pain. I know it hurts more than anything. But you're not alone. I'm here with you."

Still no response. But I felt her body shudder slightly, and I knew she was crying silently.

We lay there for what felt like hours but was probably only thirty minutes. I didn't try to make her talk. I just held her, letting her know through my presence that she wasn't abandoned.

"I should have been here," I said quietly, more to myself than to her. "I should have come back sooner. Maybe I could have helped."

Delphine's fingers twitched slightly, but she still didn't speak.

"Delphine, please," I begged softly. "Please say something. Anything."

Silence.

My chest ached with helplessness. I'd never felt so useless in my life. My friend was drowning in grief, and I had no idea how to save her.

I felt Delphine's body tremble harder, her silent sobs becoming more violent. But still, she wouldn't turn around. I held her tighter, my own tears starting to fall. "It's okay to cry. It's okay to feel everything you're feeling. Don't hold it in."

Time passed slowly. The other women in the room moved quietly around us, respecting our space but staying close in case we needed anything.

"I'll come back tonight," I promised, speaking to Delphine even though she didn't respond. "And tomorrow. And every day after that until you're ready to talk. Don't give up, Delphine. Please don't give up."

I stood slowly. "Take care of her," I told Maya quietly.

"Of course, Luna."

I left the servants' quarters and made my way back to Logan's room. The walk felt longer than usual, each step heavy with exhaustion and grief.

When I pushed open the door, Logan was sitting at his desk, reviewing reports. He looked up immediately, his gray eyes filled with concern.

"How is she?"

"She won't talk. Won't even look at me."

Logan stood and crossed the room, pulling me into his arms. I let myself collapse against him, finally allowing the tears I'd been holding back to fall.

"This is my fault," I sobbed. "I should have been here. I should have done more to help Isaiah. Maybe if I'd tried harder, if I'd found a better solution—"

"No," Logan said firmly, his hands stroking my hair. "You did everything you could. Isaiah made his own choice. A terrible, tragic choice, but it wasn't your fault."

"But Delphine—"

"Delphine is alive. She's hurting, but she's alive. And we'll help her through this."

I clung to him, drawing strength from his solid presence. "I've never felt so helpless."

"I know." His voice was soft. "But sometimes all we can do is be there. Stand beside the people we love and refuse to let them fall."

We stood there for a long moment, wrapped in each other's arms. Life continuing, even in the midst of tragedy.

"You need to rest first," Logan said eventually.

"I can't sleep. Every time I close my eyes, I see Delphine's face. I hear the silence where her laughter used to be."

"Try anyway. For me."

I let him guide me to the bed. He helped me remove my boots and outer clothes, then lay down beside me, his arms wrapping around me protectively.

"I'll stay right here," he murmured. "You're safe. You can rest."

I closed my eyes, but sleep wouldn't come. My mind kept circling back to Delphine, to Isaiah, to all the pain and loss that seemed to follow us everywhere.

Hours passed. Logan dozed beside me, but I remained awake, staring at the ceiling and counting the minutes until I could go back to check on Delphine.

Finally, as afternoon shadows began to lengthen, I couldn't take it anymore. I carefully extracted myself from Logan's arms and got dressed.

He stirred as I was putting on my boots. "Where are you going?"

"Back to Delphine. I promised I'd come back tonight."

Logan sat up, rubbing his eyes. "It's only late afternoon."

"I know. But I can't stay away. What if she needs me?"

He studied my face for a moment, then nodded. "Alright. But Valencia—don't forget to take care of yourself too. You can't help Delphine if you collapse from exhaustion."

"I'll be careful."

I left the room and made my way back to the servants' quarters. The corridor was quiet, most people busy with their afternoon duties. I pushed open the door to the sleeping area. Maya looked up from where she was mending clothes by the window.

"Luna," she said, surprise in her voice. "You're back already?"

"How is she?" I asked, walking quickly toward Delphine's bed.

Maya's face fell. "The same. She hasn't moved since you left."

My heart sank. Part of me had hoped that maybe, in the hours I'd been gone, Delphine would have shown some sign of improvement.

I pulled back the curtain. Delphine was still curled in the same position, facing the wall.

"Delphine," I said softly, sitting on the edge of her bed. "I'm back. Just like I promised."

No response.

I reached out to touch her shoulder, and my blood turned to ice.

The bed was empty.

I pulled back the blankets frantically, but there was nothing there. It was just pillows arranged to look like a person sleeping.

"Maya!" I shouted, my heart racing. "Where is she? Where's Delphine?"

Maya rushed over, her eyes widening when she saw the empty bed. "But she was just here! I swear, Luna, she was right there when you left!"

"When was the last time you actually saw her?" I demanded, panic rising in my chest.

Maya's face went pale. "I... I don't know. I assumed she was still there. The shape under the blankets—"

"How long?" I grabbed her shoulders. "How long has it been since someone actually checked on her?"

"I don't know! Maybe... maybe two hours?"

Two hours. Delphine had been gone for two hours, and no one had noticed.

I immediately reached out through the mind link. Delphine! Delphine, where are you? Answer me!

Nothing. Just empty silence.

I tried again, pushing harder. Delphine, please! Talk to me!

Still nothing. And then I felt it—a wall. She'd deliberately closed off the mind link.

Terror flooded through me. If Delphine had shut down the mind link, it meant she didn't want to be found. And there was only one reason why she would do that.

Logan! I called through our bond, not bothering to hide my panic. Delphine's missing! She's gone and she's closed off the mind link!

What? His shock came through clearly. When? How long?

At least two hours! Logan, I think she's going to— I couldn't finish the thought. We have to find her. Now!

I'm gathering search parties, he responded immediately. Stay there. I'm coming to you.

But I couldn't stay. I ran out of the servants' quarters and down the corridor, my mind racing. Where would Delphine go? What would she do?

I burst out into the courtyard, startling several warriors who were training.

"Everyone!" I shouted, my voice carrying across the space. "Drop what you're doing! We need to find Delphine—she's missing and in danger!"

The warriors immediately stopped their drills, turning to look at me with alarm.

Logan appeared from the main entrance, Elias and several others behind him. "Valencia, what happened exactly?"

"She tricked us," I said, my voice shaking. "She arranged pillows under the blankets to look like she was still in bed. She could have left hours ago. And she's closed off the mind link—she doesn't want to be found."

Logan's expression turned grim. He understood what I wasn't saying out loud.

"Elias," he ordered, his Alpha voice sharp and commanding. "Organize search teams. I want every building in this castle checked—every room, every closet, every corner. Search the stables, the smithy, the storage areas. And send teams to the village and surrounding forest."

"Yes, Alpha!" Elias began shouting orders, and warriors scattered in all directions.

"The cliffs," I said suddenly, horror dawning. "Logan, she might go to the cliffs."

"Take the east side," Logan told me. "I'll take the south. Call out if you find anything."

We ran, splitting up as we reached the outer walls. I raced toward the eastern edge, my heart pounding so hard I thought it might burst.

"Delphine!" I screamed into the wind. "Delphine, where are you?"