e Alpha Bond 105

Chapter Hundred and Five

After leaving the caves, we drove back down to town, the winding roads making our descent slow and careful. The farther we got from the mountain, the more the town came into view, its rustic charm highlighted by the golden hues of the setting sun. The warm glow bathed the stone and wood buildings, making them appear alrest ethereal, like something out of an old storybook. Marrees cobblestone streets curved between charming little cafes, family-run bakeries, and souvenir shops selling handcrafted trinkets. The town was quiet but alive, a peaceful contrast to the cold, damp darkness of the caves we had just left behind.

I leaned my head against the window, watching the world outside blur past. Despite the picturesque scene, my mind was elsewhere, still inside the caves, wondering what we had missed. The riddle had led us there, but the tour itself had yielded nothing. No secret tunnels, no hidden symbols-nothing. It left a nagging feeling in my hest, like an unfinished sentence waiting to be completed.

"We should grab some food," Elijah suggested as he pulled the cat into a small parking lot near a restaurant.

Austin groaned from the backseat. "I still don't get why we didn't just break off from the tour and explore on our own. That was a waste of time."

Isaiah shrugged, unbuckling his seatbelt. "We didn't know if there was anything obvious we'd find. Better to start with the safe option before doing anything reckless."

I stretched as I stepped out of the car, shaking the stiffness from my limbs. "Well, now we know there's nothing obvious. So we're

going back tonight."

Alex frowned, crossing his arms. "We are? What if we get

lost?"

I smirked, patting his shoulder as I walked past him. "Then we'll leave a trail of breadcrumbs for you, Alex."

Austin snorted in amusement as we entered the restaurant. The inside was cozy, dimly lit with flickering candles on each table. The scent of freshly baked bread and sizzling meat filled the air, making my stomach growl in response. After placing our orders, we settled into a booth by the window.

shifted back to our failed

restricted areas," I pointed out. "The tour guide mentioned them, which means there are

nodded. "That's why tonight matters. We do

narrow and packed with shelves stocked with local

bottle of water.

a bundle of flashlights into the

our powers. I can light up the

at Austin's hand. "We don't want to draw attention

the lighter into the cart

scent of butter and sugar filled the air, and I couldn't resist grabbing

town's silhouette against the

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Chapter Hundred and Five

all of this is

at him in surprise. He wasn't usually the sentimental type.

on the distant mountains. "Yeah. It's beautiful here. Wouldn't

smiled. "I'd like

we seriously romanticizing this place? We're here on a

"You just don't want to admit you're actually having fun. But if you

eyes. "I have every right to go wherever my

finishing our food before heading back to the

for no reason. My fingers traced the stone fragment we had found in the Whispering Willows, the rough edges pressing against my skin. What if the next piece was hidden somewhere

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