Chapter 1176
As soon as the danger passed, Elliana’s strength gave out. She had been running purely on willpower, forcing herself to stand until help arrived. Now that Donovan and Seth had taken over, her adrenaline ebbed away. Her knees buckled, her vision blurred, and the world went dark.
Elliana slept for what felt like an eternity. When she finally opened her eyes, the storm had long since cleared. Sunlight streamed through the window, carrying the soft scent of flowers that mingled with the sharp hint of disinfectant. Her lashes fluttered, and the first thing she saw was Cole’s face—tired, pale, and filled with worry. He leaned closer the instant she stirred.
“Elliana, you’re awake. How do you feel?”
Her throat was dry and raspy. “Is it really you? You’re back?”
“I am,” he said, gripping her hand tightly. His voice was low, laced with self-reproach. “I’m sorry. I returned too late.”
It was truly Cole. Relief washed over Elliana like a tide, drowning out her pain. She ignored the ache in her body and studied him from head to toe.
He looked terrible. Cuts and bruises covered his neck and arms. Blood stained his chest, his clothes were filthy, and his hair was still damp. His face was pale and drawn, like someone who hadn’t slept in days. He must have come straight to her side without a moment’s rest.
“You’re hurt. How bad is it?” she asked, her voice trembling.
Cole forced a faint smile. “Just scratches. Nothing serious.”
She didn’t buy it. He had always downplayed his injuries. Pushing herself upright, she checked him over until she was sure—no broken bones, no internal bleeding, only deep gashes that looked painful but not fatal.
“Even small wounds can fester if you ignore them,” she scolded gently. “Go get cleaned up and let the doctor treat them before they turn ugly.”
But Cole stayed still, his eyes locked on her. His voice hardened as he spoke the one truth that weighed heavily on his heart.
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“I couldn’t bring my mom back.”
“What exactly happened?” Elliana asked, her voice tight with worry. She was desperate to know what went down at SerpentFang.
Cole let out a weary sigh before explaining everything.
A few days earlier, when Cole reached Podgend, he had used Blaze Wildfire’s network to dig into SerpentFang. What he uncovered had shocked him—SerpentFang was under the wing of the Serpent Society.
It hadn’t taken him long to realize that Sophie’s abduction was a setup. Maxine had laid the trap herself, and he was the true target. Maxine’s plan was cruel but clever. First, she aimed to lure him away from Ublento, leaving his daughter vulnerable. Then, she planned to kill both him and Sophie in Podgend.
The Griffiths family had no mercy for traitors. Maxine was determined to kill Sophie for betraying them, and she couldn’t bear to see Cole—one of their own—living free beyond their control.
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.
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