The Human Among Wolves (Aurora) novel Chapter 366

Chapter 366

Zayn

“Where. Is. She.”

The words scraped out of me for what felt like the hundredth time, low and feral, nothing human left in them.

My father’s right-hand man-Leoric-stood chained to the stone pillar, blood dripping slowly from his split lip. He was built like every soldier my father kept close: broad, loyal, stubborn to the point of stupidity. But even bruised and shaking, he kept

his mouth shut.

“I already told you,” he panted, eyes flicking toward the far corner as if looking for an escape that wasn’t there. “I can’t tell

you. If I speak, His Majesty will kill me.”

I stepped closer, close enough that he could feel the heat radiating off my skin, close enough that the beast under mine pushed forward, itching to tear him apart.

“And you still think I won’t?” I hissed.

He opened his mouth-maybe to plead, maybe to lie-but I didn’t let him.

My fist slammed into his jaw, the crack echoing off the stone walls.

The dungeons were cold this time of year, damp air clinging to the back of my throat. Torches flickered in the sconces, casting

long shadows that shifted across the stones like restless ghosts. It smelled like old iron, spilled blood, fear. A place built to

break people.

And somehow, I felt like I was the one breaking.

It had been seven days.

Seven fucking days since Aurora vanished.

Three of those days Kael and I had spent in this castle, tearing through every hallway, every chamber, every corridor like rabid

animals. We’d questioned guards, staff, advisors-anyone stupid enough to cross our path.

No answers.

Not a single breadcrumb to follow.

1/4

Yesterday we went to Cecilia-dragged ourselves into her little circle of herbs and candlelight, told her everything. Every detail

of Aurora’s disappearance. Every piece we had.

She tried everything. Every spell she knew, every locator charm, every binding incantation. Her hands shook by the end of it. magic sizzling against the stone floor in frustration.

Nothing.

No spark.

No whisper.

No trace of Aurora anywhere in the world.

“We can’t find what’s been sealed,” she’d said quietly. “Someone hid her. Someone very, very old.”

Even hearing it a second time made my skin crawl.

Then we went to Theron-dragged him from his castle, forced him to sit, forced him to listen.

He didn’t know anything about the auction house. Not the real one. Not the one my father had shown me.

He couldn’t help.

No one could.

And now…

Now I was standing in the coldest place in this kingdom, staring at the one man who might know something-anything—and

all he did was bleed and shake and refuse.

My breathing was uneven. I could feel it. Every inhale scraped against my ribs. Every exhale rattled with fury I couldn’t

contain anymore.

“Zayn.”

Kael’s voice came from behind me-flat, exhausted, sharp at the edges. The last seven days aged him. Or maybe they aged us

both.

“Enough,” he said quietly. “He’s not talking.”

I didn’t look back.

2/4

Because stopping meant thinking.

And thinking meant acknowledging the thing clawing at the back of my skull-the thing I hadn’t let myself say out loud.

If she was alive…

Why couldn’t I feel her?

Why wasn’t the bond screaming?

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