The Scarred Queen's Rise (Athena) novel Chapter 518

Chapter 518

Though spring had arrived, a biting chill still lingered in the air.

Athena noticed Michael’s ears and hands were crimson with cold. He rubbed his hands together briskly, then cupped them and exhaled warm breath onto his palms.

Suddenly, a fresh loaf of bread was placed in front of Michael.

Michael looked up in surprise, only to see Athena’s expressionless face.

Before Michael could react, Athena thrust the bread into his chilled hands and disappeared back into the room without another word.

The sweet, homey scent of warm bread filled the air. Michael stood frozen, a thousand memories washing over him, before a slow grin curved his lips.

He lifted the loaf, hesitated for just a second, and then took a gentle bite.

He savored each bite, the sweet warmth spreading straight to his heart.

When Athena returned to the room, she found that Jessa was already awake.

Jessa sat at the table, her eyes thoughtfully fixed on Athena, her expression unreadable. She asked pointedly, “You’re not going to send him away?”

Athena placed the food on the table, gently handing Jessa a spoon. “You’re injured, you need someone to watch your back,” she said.

“I don’t need his protection. If not for this injury, he’d already have fallen to my sword.” Jessa clearly wasn’t appreciative, her hostility toward Michael ran deeper than Athena had imagined.

Athena glanced up mid–bite, brows raised. “Do you have something against him or something?“.

Jessa shook her head. “No.”

“Then why?” Athena pressed.

“Because of the way he looks at you…” Jessa replied.

Suddenly, Athena began to realize where all of Jessa’s hostility was coming from.

Being Xander’s loyalist, she naturally regarded Michael as an enemy.

But, Athena still felt something was off. She told Jessa, “There’s no future between Michael and me. What’s past is past, there’s no going back.”

Jessa looked at Athena and asked, “Even if he risked his life for you, you still wouldn’t be moved?”

Athena thought for a moment, then said, “I could even give my life for him, but I can’t bring myself to treat him the way I used to.”

At these words, Jessa felt the tension in her body suddenly melt away.

She took a big, decisive bite of the bread and flashed Athena a relieved smile. “Good,” she said, her tone finally at ease.

Athena didn’t say anything, just thinking to herself, ‘She really is such a simple soul.‘

After two days of rest at the inn, Jessa’s wound had healed remarkably well.

With Athena’s treatment, Jessa remained free of infection and showed no signs of fever.

Jessa could have stayed another two days, but she simply couldn’t stand being cooped up indoors any longer. No matter what, she insisted they hit the

road.

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Chapter 518

Athena had no choice but to hire a carriage and continue on their way

The carriage rolled out of Lochmere. Inside, Jessa pulled back the curtain and peered out, spotting Michael trailing them at a sterly diace

Jessa dropped the curtain, her face twisted in resentment. “Like some darnn shadow,” she muttered,

She kept anxiously peering out the window. Athena finally couldn’t help but ask, “What are

looking for?”

“I already sent word to him, why isn’t he here yet?” Jessa said.

Athena arched an eyebrow. “Him?”

“Oh, I meant Prince Xander, of course.” A smug smile tugged at Jessa’s lips, her eyes gleaming at the sound of his name.

However, suddenly, Jessa’s expression froze.

Athena sensed something was wrong. Just then, the sounds of fighting erupted outside the carriage.

She looked out the window, only to see a dozen or so black–clad assassins locked in fierce combat with Michael.

Steel clashed, filling the air and instantly ratcheting up the tension.

With Wendral Mountain almost within reach, the assassins could hold back no longer and finally struck.

Athena didn’t hesitate. She tightened her grip on the reins and called out to Jessa, “Hold on tight!”

She cracked the whip across the horse’s back. Stung by the pain, the horse whinnied and bolted forward in a wild gallop.

Jessa shot Athena a startled look. “You’re just going to leave him to his fate?”

She was talking about Michael.

Athena kept her eyes fixed ahead, her face calm and her voice unwavering. “He’ll be fine.”

If those assassins really wanted him dead, they wouldn’t have let him live this long.

It seemed incredibly risky, but every move was precisely calculated.