Chapter 490

The screen of his phone lit up with an unknown number, freezing Thaddeus in place. His private line wasn’t something just anyone had access to—he never entertained wrong numbers or spam calls. Yet this time, his pulse roared in his ears like a storm.

He answered.

"Hello?"

Static crackled through the line, mingling with the distant howl of wind.

"Who is this?"

Normally, he would’ve hung up by now. But tonight, he waited.

"Thaddeus."

Evadne’s voice, fragile and broken by the gale, struck him like a blade to the chest.

"Evadne?!"

He shot to his feet, heart hammering. After everything, after all this time—she was calling him.

"I need to see you," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "I’m so tired."

"Where are you? I’ll come right now!" His throat tightened, dread coiling in his gut.

"I don’t know."

A sob tore through her words. "I’ve walked too far. I can’t... I can’t keep going. My head—it’s spinning. I just want to sleep."

"Evadne, don’t!" His grip on the phone turned white-knuckled. "Stay awake. Stay with me. I’m tracing your call—just hold on!"

Hamilton, overhearing, tensed.

"Granddad, I’m sorry—"

"Go." The old man waved him off, urgency sharp in his voice. "Find her. Now."

Thaddeus didn’t hesitate. He bolted from the hospital room, Gordon scrambling after him.

"Bring her back safe!" Hamilton called after him, voice cracking.

Thaddeus barely nodded before throwing himself into his car. The engine roared to life, tires screeching as they tore through the storm-lashed streets of Skyrim.

His men followed in a convoy, struggling to keep up as he wove through traffic like a man possessed.

Gordon clung to the door handle, face pale. "Sir, slow down! You’ll kill us both!"

"Every second counts!" Thaddeus snarled, knuckles white on the wheel. "She could be dying out there!"

The GPS signal flickered.

Then vanished.

"Damn it!" Gordon slammed a fist against the dashboard. "We lost her!"

Thaddeus’s stomach dropped. Please just be a dead battery. Please let her be alive.

They reached the last known coordinates. His men fanned out, flashlights cutting through the downpour as they searched.

Thaddeus charged into the storm, mud splattering his trousers, his shoes ruined. He didn’t care.

"Evadne! Evadne!"

Gordon stumbled after him, breathless. "Sir, watch your step—"

But Thaddeus wasn’t listening.

Evadne had fought off her attackers, stolen a phone, and pushed herself beyond her limits. Fear kept her moving even when her legs gave out, even when her vision blurred.

Now, curled in a crumbling gazebo, she clutched the phone to her chest, slipping into delirium.

In her haze, she dreamed of blood, of screams, of a loss so deep it still bled.

"Evadne!"

A voice cut through the fog.

Warm arms wrapped around her, pulling her against a solid chest.

"Thaddeus...?" she murmured, barely conscious.

"It’s me." His voice was rough, choked. "I’ve got you."

She was burning up.

He stripped off his soaked jacket, bundling her in it before lifting her into his arms.

"The baby," she whimpered, delirious. "Save our baby—"

His heart shattered.

"Shh. It’s okay." He pressed a kiss to her fevered brow. "I don’t need a child. I just need you."

Gordon spotted them first, relief flooding his face as he sprinted over.

Thaddeus carried her to the car, wrapping her in a blanket, his grip almost bruising.

"Drive. Now."

"No hospital," Evadne whispered, fingers weakly clutching his. "My brothers... they’ll take me away. I don’t want to go. I want to stay with you."

"You’re burning up—"

"Just medicine. Please."

Her eyes fluttered shut.

Thaddeus exhaled sharply, then turned to Gordon. "Change of plans. We’re going to Jareth’s."

Dawn hadn’t yet broken when the knock came.

Jareth, still working in his study, frowned. At this hour?

Lily’s voice was tense through the door. "Mr. Fairhaven—it’s Mr. Abernathy. And he’s brought Ms. Ashbourne."

Jareth was on his feet in an instant.

Downstairs, Thaddeus sat rigid on the sofa, Evadne limp in his arms, her face flushed with fever.

Jareth’s stomach dropped. "What the hell happened?"

"I didn’t know where else to go," Thaddeus said hoarsely. "She didn’t want a hospital."

"You’re always welcome here." Jareth motioned to Lily. "Get the doctor. Now."

Evadne shivered. "Cold..."

Thaddeus held her tighter, willing his warmth into her.

Jareth exhaled. "Thad, I hate to say it, but ever since she met you, this girl’s life has been one disaster after another."

A humorless laugh. "Tell me about it."

"The Ashbournes are probably tearing the city apart looking for her. You’ve basically kidnapped her again."

Thaddeus’s jaw clenched. "Worth it."

Jareth shook his head. "At this point, you two should just elope."

Elope.

The word hung in the air like a promise.