Chapter 43

VALERIA’S POV “You did what?” My voice echoed through the trees, louder than I intended, but I couldn’t hold back the frustration bubbling inside me. Elijah stood a few feet away, arms crossed defensively, but his expression remained calm, like he’d anticipated my reaction. “I know I didn’t discuss it with you, but I had to,” he said, his tone steady, almost too steady, as if trying to justify his actions to himself as much as to me. “You had to?” I snapped, pacing back and forth as my thoughts spiraled. “Elijah, you could have just returned! There are plenty of places in this forest to find herbs. You didn’t have to… didn’t have to reveal anything!” My voice cracked on the last word, and I stopped pacing to glare at him. “Do you realize what you’ve done? If Magnar is even half as smart as he thinks he is, he’ll figure it out. He’ll know I’m alive!” Elijah tilted his head, unfazed by my outburst. “And what if he does?” I froze, the weight of his question crashing over me like a tidal w