ONE NIGHT STAND WITH HOT DUKE-Chapter 186: Edge of the wide river.

A thin mist hovered above the surface of the water when they finally reached the edge of the wide river.

It was not an official dock there were no signs, no guiding lanterns, no guards. Only a stretch of old wooden planks driven haphazardly into place, some of them darkened by age and damp, as though this place had been made specifically for those who wished to leave without being recorded.

The water below was calm, yet deep in its current. It reflected the pale sky as its colors began to shift somewhere between gray-blue and cold silver.

Valerie paused at the very end of the wooden planks.

There was a strange feeling in her chest not doubt, but the awareness that beyond this point, there would be no easy way back. Every step forward was a choice that would shape her life forever.

"Across the river, it will be much colder," Lena said quietly as she came to stand beside her. Her voice was calm, but attentive. "The wind is sharp. The nights are long. I hope you’ve prepared warm clothing."

Valerie turned and offered a small smile that was no longer fragile this time.

"You warned me," she replied gently. "When we stopped at the previous village, I bought several coats and woolen clothes. I don’t intend to be careless... not now."

Lena studied her for a few seconds longer, then smiled the smile of a woman who had seen many destinies born and collapse.

"Good," she murmured. "Your child will keep you warm. And you know..." she lowered her voice, "...this one is no ordinary bloodline."

Valerie’s hand moved back to her stomach by reflex. A warmth spread through her not only physical, but something deeper, a quiet certainty.

"I know," she said softly.

And for the first time, she was not afraid to say it, even before a mage.

Lena then shifted her gaze to Ethan, who stood a few steps behind them. His dark coat was already on, his bag secured neatly over his shoulder, his expression calm though his eyes remained alert.

"You as well," Lena said without preamble. "You’ve prepared yourself, haven’t you?" 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Ethan nodded firmly. "Of course. I won’t be a burden."

His tone was simple, but his resolve was clear.

Valerie turned to him. Their eyes met, and she smiled not a grand gesture of gratitude, but a small, honest smile that said I see you.

Ethan returned it with a brief nod, as though that were more than enough.

Before them, the wooden boat waited. Not large, not elegant. Its sail was neatly folded, its hull marked by long journeys fine cracks, old patches, the scent of wet wood and rope worn smooth by travelers’ hands.

Several mages from the caravan had already boarded, their steps light, as if the boat were merely an extension of the road they had walked for years. There was no commotion. No dramatic farewells. Everyone moved with the same understanding: this was only another crossing toward a place not yet named.

Lena stepped onto the gangplank first, her staff tapping the wood in a slow, steady rhythm.

Valerie followed.

As her foot touched the deck, she drew in a deep breath. The air felt colder here, sharper. Yet beneath it was a sense of relief like someone who had finally stopped running and begun to walk with purpose.

Ethan boarded last, making sure their bags and belongings were secure before stepping aboard himself.

The boat swayed gently as their weight settled, then steadied.

No trumpets.No loud prayers.No promises spoken aloud.

Only the sound of water parting softly as the ropes were released.

And as the boat began to move, drifting away from the nameless shore, Valerie looked ahead not back.

Whatever might be searching for her now, whatever might already be moving to find her, she had chosen her path.

And for the first time in a long while, that choice felt right.

The ritual chamber was filled with dim, pulsing light, as though it were breathing in rhythm with the magic being summoned.

A magic circle was etched into the stone floor intricate, ancient, and crowded with symbols whose names not everyone dared to speak aloud. Black candles burned without wicks, their flames tinged blue at the tips. The air felt heavy, cold, pressing against the chest.

Vedseel stood at the center of the circle.

His eyes were closed, palms raised, lips moving in an incantation that sounded less like human language and more like a whisper addressed to another world. His hair stirred gently despite the absence of wind. Magic flowed strong, abrasive, and not entirely obedient.

Demian stood several steps away from the circle, his jaw clenched. His gaze never left Vedseel, as if staring harder might force the result he desired into existence.

Kaiser stood on the opposite side, both hands folded behind his back. His expression was calm, but his eyes were alert. He knew if this ritual failed, something large would fracture.

The chant stopped.

The light on the floor dimmed, the magical symbols fading one by one as though swallowed back into the stone itself. The candle flames flickered, then returned to their ordinary color.

Vedseel opened his eyes.

A silence followed too long, too heavy.

"What is the result?" Demian asked at last. His voice was low, controlled too controlled.

Vedseel exhaled slowly. For the first time since standing before the Duke of Morvex, there was the faintest trace of uncertainty on his proud features.

"I couldn’t find her," he said flatly.

The words fell like a stone into still water.

"What?" Demian took a step forward. "That’s impossible. You’re a mage. You were once bound to her. You said it would be easier."

"I know exactly what I said," Vedseel replied coldly, yet there was a gravity in his tone that could not be dismissed. "And precisely because of that, I am certain Valerie is no longer here."

Demian froze.

"No longer... here?" he repeated slowly.

Kaiser narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean?" he asked. "Dead?"

Vedseel turned to him, his expression sharp. "No."

Demian released a sharp breath, relief and tension colliding in his chest.

"Then explain," he said, his voice beginning to harden. "If she’s alive, where is she?"

Vedseel looked back at the magic circle, now nothing more than a faint scar on the floor. "She is no longer on this land."

The silence thickened instantly.

Kaiser lifted an eyebrow. "That isn’t an answer," he said quietly, but keenly. "If not here, then where?"

Vedseel raised his head again, looking at them one by one. "Somewhere," he said slowly, weighing every word, "but not on this land."