The Duke's Bed Warmer

Chapter 186: One Last Chance

Finally, the rain stopped and the riverbank became quiet. The raging water that had almost killed them now flowed peacefully. Birds slowly returned to the trees, chirping loudly.

After days, there was no sound of hooves, riders or barking dogs. Austin winced as he sat, pulling Alina down with him. Then he moved his hand over her, checking for serious injuries. When he saw the deep cut on her calf, he tore a piece of his cloak and wrapped it gently around the wound.

When he finished, Alina moved closer and began cleaning his wounds. Her hands trembled slightly from exhaustion, but she continued. Finally, after finishing, she rested her head on his shoulder.

"I still can’t believe we’re together again," she murmured.

Austin rested his chin on her head as he spoke.

"I’m so tired of running," he said quietly.

She immediately looked up because of his tone. He rarely admitted weakness.

"I don’t want to spend the rest of my life fighting. I just want to be with you. Is it too much to ask?"

"That’s all I want too. A simple life with you," Alina replied, cupping his cheek. "I feel bad for Audrey. But we can’t give up now. We have fought too hard for this."

Austin cupped her face as well and gently brushed a streak of mud from her cheek, looking at her tenderly.

"Once we get out of here we’ll end everything once and for all."

Alina leaned in and kissed him softly.

They did not rest there for long. They slowly stood up and helped each other walk as they made their way back through the forest. Every step hurt but they kept walking supporting each other throughout.

After almost two hours, they heard someone shouting their names from the woods.

"Alina? Austin?"

Austin immediately reached for his sword. Then Thomas stumbled out from the bushes. He was as tired and injured as them. Relief flooded his face when he saw them.

"Thank God!," he whispered, rushing towards them. "I thought the river took you both."

Then he opened his bag and pulled out the documents.

"I kept them dry and safe."

"Thank you," Austin replied as he took them.

Thomas nodded.

"Crane’s men lost your trail after the bridge collapsed. They think you both drowned. They will start searching for your bodies soon, which means ... the chase is finally over."

Alina sighed in relief.

"Finally! We’ve run long enough."

The three of them found a small and quiet spot deeper in the woods and sat there. Thomas still had some food packed in his bag. They ate the food in silence. Even the hard bread and dried meat tasted like royal feast right now. It was better than surviving on water alone.

After eating, they began to discuss their strategy.

"Have you thought something?" Thomas asked.

"We need to stop running," Austin replied. "We’ve spent days running from Crane. It’s time to finally face him."

Alina nodded.

"We need to have one last final conversation with the king first," Austin said.

Thomas thought for a moment before replying.

"I still have a few trustworthy contacts inside the palace?" Thomas said.

"Perfect!" Austin replied. "We’ll send a letter to the king through him and give him one last chance to cancel the wedding quietly. If he refuses again...then we’ll have no choice but to go public with the scandal."

"It’s risky, but it’s our only chance," Alina agreed.

"What about Crane?" Thomas asked. "There is no way he won’t know."

Thomas was right. Crane would know, no matter how private they try to be.

"Then let him know," Austin replied staring into the flame.

Thomas frowned.

"Aren’t you afraid?" he asked.

"I am," he smiled. "But he’d soon know that we are alive when he won’t find our bodies. Nothing will change."

"He has been hunting us for days," Alina said. "He won’t suddenly stop."

Austin nodded and picked up a stick. Then he began to draw uneven lines on the ground.

"Crane’s greatest strength has always been secrecy," he said as he drew a circle. "Every move he has made relies on controlling information."

Alina looked at the drawn lines carefully.

"If we send a letter to the king, he’ll panic."

"Why?" Thomas asked.

"Because he won’t know what the king’s response will be."

"He’ll think the king might choose to protect himself?" Alina asked.

Austin nodded.

"The moment Crane suspects the king may abandon him, he’ll make mistakes."

"Wow!! Now that sounds like the Duke of Ravenmoor," Thomas smiled.

"Don’t remind me," Austin rolled his eyes.

The next morning, they left the forest at dawn.

It took them two days to go back to the capital. Thomas knew some shortcuts through the forest that helped them to save time and energy since they were on foot now.

The closer they got to the capital, the more nervous everyone became. Austin spent most of the time watching the path ahead, protecting Alina while Alina spent hers worrying about what would happen on reaching the capital.

Late on the second evening, the capital finally came into view. Both of them stared at the gates with mixed emotions. Just days ago they had escaped the city while being hunted like criminals. And now they were returning willingly.

Thomas led them through a less crowded streets to the edge of the city and stopped in front of a small cottage hidden between several workshops.

"No one pays attention to this place," Thomas said as he unlocked the door.

The cottage was simple but clean.

"It’s not much," Thomas said. "But right now it’s all I can manage."

"It is perfect," Alina said and she meant it.

After sleeping in forests, caves, and ruined towers, it felt like a palace.

They both cleaned their wounds and bandaged them properly. And spent the rest of the evening resting.

The next morning they got to work. Together, they drafted the letter to be delivered to the king and gave it to Thomas.

Thomas tucked the letter inside his cloak and left the cottage.