Maria.
I was still wondering what that signal meant when, suddenly, the unmistakable sound of horses marching echoed from afar.
The heavy, rhythmic thundering of incoming hooves vibrated straight through the damp earth, growing louder by the second.
I immediately froze, the blood running cold in my veins as terror seized my entire body.
Noah's hands stilled completely on the leather reins, his posture locking into a rigid, defensive stance as his knuckles turned white against the straps.
"Get back to this spot!" Adrien immediately yelled, his voice slicing through the tense darkness as he cursed under his breath at Noah's sheer pride. "Now is not the time to act stubborn!" He paused, his sharp eyes flashing with a rare, desperate vulnerability. "Consider Maria's safety… please!" he added, his voice trailing off into a heavy, breathless plea.
