CHAPTER NINETY-FIVE THE LONG WAIT

Daphne's POV I had been pacing the room, my heart a relentless drumbeat in my chest. The waiting was unbearable. Every minute stretched into an eternity. I kept glancing at the door, praying for a miracle, hoping they would return victorious. I whispered prayers under my breath, clutching the locket around my neck—a gift from Javion—seeking solace in its familiar weight. Finally, exhaustion took over, and I sank onto a chair, my eyes never leaving the door. The anticipation was suffocating. Just then, Maya walked in, her face a mask of sorrow. My heart leaped, thinking they had returned. Relief flooded me. “They’re back?” I asked, my voice tinged with hope. Maya nodded, but her expression didn’t change. It puzzled me. Shouldn’t she be happy? “Why the long face?” I asked, my excitement bubbling over. “They’re alive! That’s all that matters.” Before she could answer, I dashed out of the room, my feet barely touching the ground. I ran down the stairs, excitement propelling me forwar