Deborah's POV
The chill of Ablach's night air bit sharply into my skin as Barron and I made our way briskly toward my car. The urgency of the moment quickened my steps, though Barron, ever the composed one, kept pace at a steady rhythm beside me.
"Slow down, Deb," he said softly, his voice as calm and measured as always. "We'll get there. There's no need to rush."
But the truth was, I couldn't help it. My mind was a whirlwind of emotions, and my thoughts were consumed by the image of Matthew. Each step felt like an eternity, and my heart raced faster than my feet could carry me.
When we finally reached the car, I reached for the door handle, only for Barron's hand to intercept mine. His touch was gentle yet firm. "Let me drive," he said, his tone leaving little room for argument. "You're too worked up right now, and driving like this could be dangerous."
For a moment, I wanted to argue, to insist I was fine, but the nervous sweat on my palms betrayed me. He was right. Reluctantly, I nodded, stepping aside to let him take the driver's seat.
Barron moved with purpose, quickly opening my door before circling to his side. I climbed into the passenger seat, fumbling with my seatbelt as he started the engine. Just as I exhaled a shaky breath, a sharp knock on the window startled us both.
We turned in unison to see Chad standing outside, his expression as unyielding as ever. His chiseled features looked almost severe in the dim light, the faint glow casting shadows that deepened his perpetual stoicism.
Before I could question why he was there, Chad acted with the precision of someone utterly confident in his authority. In one fluid motion, he opened the rear door, slid into the seat, and closed it behind him, all without a sound. His movements were so swift and deliberate that it felt like watching a scene from a perfectly choreographed action movie.
The cold night air swept into the car as the door briefly opened, sending a chill straight through me. Instinctively, I shivered, the temperature sharp against my skin.
Barron noticed immediately.
Without a word, he reached over and adjusted the car's heat, angling the vents slightly toward me.
The gesture was so natural, so thoughtful, that it warmed more than just the air inside the car. I couldn't help but glance at him, feeling an unexpected surge of gratitude. He had a way of noticing even the smallest details, and his kindness never felt forced or performative—it was simply who he was.
"Why are you here?" I snapped, turning to Chad with a sharpness that surprised even me. Frustration bubbled just beneath the surface, my words edged with irritation and something unspoken—fear, perhaps. "Barron and I don't need you shadowing us every step of the way. We can manage without you. You're not needed, and frankly, you're not welcome." My eyes narrowed, daring him to respond, to justify his unwanted presence in a moment where his intrusion felt both disruptive and suffocating.
Chad, as always, remained impervious to my tone. His expression didn't so much as flicker. "Mr Edwards instructed me to protect you," he said simply, his voice cool and detached as though he were reciting a fact rather than explaining his presence.
"I don't need your protection," I shot back, crossing my arms tightly over my chest. "Barron is with me. What could possibly happen that he can't handle?"
The words left my mouth with more force than I'd intended, but Chad's presence wasn't just a nuisance—it was a threat to the plan. He would inevitably interfere with our search for Matthew, and I couldn't risk that.
Chad's eyes flicked toward Barron, assessing him with a brief, unreadable glance, before settling back on me. His expression remained calm, almost indifferent, as if my frustration had no effect on him. "I'm simply following orders," he said evenly, his voice steady, unbothered by the sharpness in mine.
There was no trace of defensiveness or justification, only a detached professionalism that made his presence feel even more infuriatingly immovable. It was as though my protest was irrelevant, a mere formality he was willing to tolerate but never entertain.
The matter-of-factness of his response left me momentarily speechless. I turned to Barron, silently appealing for his help.
Barron, ever the mediator, cleared his throat. "Mr Baker," he began, his voice steady but not as confident as usual. "I can assure you that Deb is perfectly safe with me. I'll make sure nothing happens to her."
Chad's response was as swift as it was cutting. "And how exactly do you plan to ensure that?" He leaned forward slightly, his gaze sharp and unyielding. "This is Ablach, not Tairngire. Ablach has its own rules, its own methods. It would be wise not to make promises you can't keep on someone else's territory."
Barron's mouth opened as if to retort, but no words came out. Chad's words hung in the air like a challenge, one that Barron had no answer for.
Chad shifted in his seat, his posture relaxed yet commanding. "You're in a hurry," he said, his tone almost conversational. "If you don't want me to follow you, the solution is simple—stay here. Don't go."
My fists clenched in frustration. "You—" I began, but my words faltered, my anger momentarily silenced by the safety belt holding me in place.
Chad's gaze flicked between us, his eyes narrowing slightly. When he spoke again, his voice was quieter, but it carried an edge that cut through the tension in the car. "You're looking for someone, aren't you? Someone who's in danger?"
Neither Barron nor I responded, but the silence was answer enough.
Chad's jaw tightened, his gaze growing even more intense. "They're not from Ablach," he continued, his words laced with certainty. "An outsider. And if you're this desperate, it means Barron has seen them. Likely when he first arrived, at the border."
My breath caught. His deduction was frighteningly accurate, as if he'd been privy to every step of our plan.
Chad's lips curved into a faint, humorless smile. "So, you're heading to the border, aren't you?"
For a moment, I couldn't breathe. How did he know? Was it pure intuition, or had he been investigating all along? Or worse—was this part of Lugh's plan?
Chad's voice cut through my spiraling thoughts. "It's Matthew, isn't it?"
The name struck like a physical blow. I glanced at Barron, whose brows knitted in confusion. "Matthew?" he repeated, looking to me for an explanation. "Who's Matthew?"
Chad didn't give me a chance to respond. His smile widened, though it held no warmth. "Ah, so Mr Barron Thorne doesn't even know the name of the man you're so eager to find. Seems your relationship isn't as solid as you'd like."
I bit my lip, struggling to keep my emotions in check. Chad's ability to piece everything together was as infuriating as it was impressive.
"Let's not waste any more time," Chad said, his tone brisk. "Unless you'd rather wait for him to get caught?"
I hesitated, the weight of the situation pressing down on me. "You won't tell my father, will you?"
Chad didn't answer, his focus fixed on the road ahead.
"Can you keep this a secret?" I pressed.
Finally, he turned his head slightly, his expression unreadable. "I'll drive," he said simply. "I know Ablach better than either of you."
Before either of us could protest, Chad was already out of the car, his movements as swift and calculated as before. Within seconds, he'd opened Barron's door, a silent command for him to move. Barron hesitated, his irritation evident, but he complied nonetheless.
"Miss Edwards, stay where you are," Chad instructed as he slid into the driver's seat. "You'll need to recognize him when we get there."
I reluctantly settled back into my seat, the tension in the car thick enough to cut. As the engine roared to life, I couldn't help but notice how out of place Barron looked in the back seat. It was a small shift, but it left the dynamic feeling distinctly imbalanced.
Chad's voice broke the silence. "Mr Barron Thorne," he said smoothly, "you don't know who Matthew is, do you?"
Barron leaned forward slightly, his posture tense. "Who is he?"
Chad chuckled, a low, sardonic sound. "Miss Edwards didn't tell you she has a boyfriend?"
"What?" Barron's voice was filled with disbelief as he turned to me. His wide-eyed expression was almost enough to make me flinch.
"I'm sorry," I said quietly, unable to meet his gaze. "I didn't tell you about Matthew because it wasn't relevant anymore. We broke up. It's been over for a while now."
Out of the corner of my eye, I caught the faintest twitch of Chad's lips—a smirk he clearly tried to suppress.
"Is that so?" Chad drawled, his tone laced with mock surprise. "You and your little boyfriend broke up? Hard to believe, considering how inseparable you two were."
His words hung in the air like a storm cloud, and for once, I had no retort. The car fell into an uncomfortable silence, the tension between the three of us suffocating.