Reborn to Flee My Fiance's Obsession (Fiona and Soren) novel Chapter 286

Neglected 286 Summary

Soren admits his mistake to Fiona and promises to inform her first next time, but Fiona remains silent and retreats into a cave. Soren reveals he visited the Custodian Shrine to check on Spencer’s body, only to find it missing, which deeply unsettles Fiona. She worries not only about her mother but also about Xavier, who should have arrived in Dasshire by now and might have sent her a letter she hasn’t answered.

Suddenly, Soren is attacked by men dressed in black, but he skillfully defends them both, quickly incapacitating the assailants. He then carries Fiona down the mountain to a waiting chestnut stallion and urges it into a fast gallop toward Dasshire. Fiona feels relief knowing she never returned to Niven Manor and remains disguised as a young gentleman, which keeps her safe. Soren explains the attackers were mountain bandits, not agents of the king, and that heading straight home is too dangerous.

As they ride through the rugged mountain path, Fiona asks about Soren’s plans and the people waiting for him in Dasshire. He admits he has lost contact with his men there and must rest and recover while carefully watching the emperor’s weakening power. Soren reveals the political tension in the kingdom, anticipating potential rebellion and conflict, and acknowledges the importance of defending the frontier against nomads.

Fiona tentatively asks if Soren would silence her if she ruined his plans, and he reassures her that he values her life too much and would simply devise new plans if one fails. Their bond deepens as they share a moment of playful trust during a stop at a roadside stall. While traveling in black, they draw wary glances from other travelers, who gossip about an official named Luthor overseeing road construction—possibly Xavier Luthor—heightening Fiona’s hope and anxiety.

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“Yes, I admit I was wrong. Next time, I promise I will inform you first,” Soren said, his eyes locking with hers, filled with a raw and unfiltered honesty.

Fiona said nothing in reply. Instead, she turned away, stepping back into the shadowy cave. The edge of her cloak brushed against the rough stone floor, kicking up a thin layer of dust that swirled in the dim light.

From just outside, Soren’s voice drifted after her. “I went to the Custodian Shrine. I wanted to check if Spencer’s body was still there.”

She paused, standing just inside the cave’s entrance, and finally asked, “Is it still there?”

“No,” he answered quietly. “It’s gone.”

A sharp pang shot through Fiona’s chest. First, they disfigured his face, and now even the corpse has disappeared. How can no one be questioning this? Yet, looking at Soren’s composed expression, she guessed he must have anticipated such a turn of events.

“When will your men come for you, Lord Soren?” she inquired, her voice barely steady.

He glanced back at her. “I honestly don’t know.”

That uncertainty only deepened Fiona’s anxiety. It wasn’t just her mother she worried about—Xavier should have reached Dasshire by now. Maybe he had sent a letter, one she had yet to answer. The thought of him fretting gnawed at her.

Suddenly, Soren’s eyes sharpened, alert and focused. “Come with me,” he said abruptly.

Before she could respond, he swept her up effortlessly, placing her behind him. Out of the shadows, several men dressed in black surged forward.

Fiona’s concern for him vanished in an instant. Each time Soren’s arm moved to deflect a blade, the motion was precise, fluid, and almost casual. The wounds she had feared fatal now looked like mere bruises fading on a seasoned fighter.

In the next heartbeat, Soren launched forward like a storm incarnate. Steel gleamed in the fading light, shouted threats cut short, and within moments, three assailants lay unconscious on the frost-covered path.

Before Fiona could even find her voice, Soren had already lifted her into his arms and propelled them both off the ridge. They landed at the mountain’s base, where a chestnut stallion, riderless and restless, pawed impatiently beneath the tall pines. Without hesitation, Soren tossed her onto the saddle, swung up behind her, and urged the horse into a full gallop—likely the very mount abandoned by those masked attackers.

In those frantic moments, Fiona’s mind raced with relief. She had never once returned to Niven Manor, a fortunate choice now. Besides, dressed as a young gentleman, she remained unrecognizable to any passerby.

Soren rode so close behind her that his chest pressed firmly against her back, shielding her from the biting mountain wind. Holding the reins in his left hand, his right arm wrapped securely around her waist, a protective barrier against the cold.

“Wouldn’t His Majesty know by now that you survived?” Fiona blurted out, unable to hold back the question.

“Those men were not sent by His Majesty,” Soren replied, his voice calm but resolute. “They’re nothing more than mountain bandits from Dasshire. They spotted the emerald pendant at your belt and thought murder might fill their pockets.”

Fiona exhaled, the tight knot in her stomach loosening at his explanation. Thank goodness it was nothing more.

“Then where exactly are you taking me, Lord Soren?” she asked, her brow furrowing slightly.

“For now, heading straight home is far too risky. Once we reach Dasshire, I’ll find someone trustworthy to escort you back safely.”

Hearing they were bound for Dasshire, Fiona’s shoulders relaxed for the first time since the attack. The detour, she realized, might also grant her the chance to see Xavier.

The road to Dasshire wound steeply up the mountainside, a jagged ribbon of stone that tested both horse and rider with every twist and jolt.

Their mount galloped so swiftly that the wind lashed at Fiona’s face like sharp whips. Each bump threatened to unseat her, but Soren’s steady hand resting on her waist was an unyielding anchor amid the storm.

“When we arrive, will someone be waiting for you?” she asked after a long pause, her voice tinged with cautious hope.

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