Chapter 1241

Chapter 1241:

Thoughts of the sacred artifact, Alden’s injury, and Dominic’s anger threatened to turn my brain into a soft mush.

I tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep. Finally, I drifted into a troubled sleep.

A knock on my door early the next morning woke me up.

“Miss Dunn, the three princes are waiting for you in the conference hall. They say they have something urgent to discuss with you,” a servant said from outside the door.

I groggily sat up, realizing it was already daylight.

I massaged my aching temples for a while, then went to the mirror. The person staring back at me had bags under her eyes and disheveled hair.

The restlessness of last night came rushing back, causing me to irritably run my fingers through my hair.

I quickly washed up and headed for the conference hall.

I pushed open the door and saw three pairs of eyes staring at me.

“Makenna!” Clayton called out as he walked toward me. “You look so pale. Didn’t you get any sleep last night?” he asked, his fingers lightly touching my chin.

I turned my head to avoid his touch and muttered, “I’m fine.”

“Here’s something to drink,” Bryan said, handing me a cup of milk.

I took the cup of milk as my eyes sought out Dominic.

He hadn’t said a word since I stepped in. He leaned against the window, paying me no heed.

Suddenly, he looked at me, his deep-set eyes meeting mine.

Makenna’s POV:

I bowed my head in panic, my lashes casting delicate shadows across my cheeks.

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The comforting warmth of the porcelain cup in my hands did little to thaw the icy knot tightening in my chest.

With a nervous glance, I peered up at Clayton, my voice a mere whisper, trembling in the air. “What… what do you want to discuss with me?”

Clayton let out a gentle sigh, his slender fingers unfurling a weathered, yellowed map across the table.

“Our predicament…” His fingertips glided over several marked locations, though the furrow in his brow betrayed his lingering unease. “Our defenses are solid, but our offense is lacking. We can’t keep shielding ourselves indefinitely—it’s a path to ruin.”

I sipped my milk, the warmth soothing my restless heart, coaxing it into a tentative calm.

Bryan chimed in, his tone urgent. “The sacred artifact must be retrieved without delay. Time is no longer on our side.”

“But…” I set the cup down, my fingers absently tracing its smooth rim. “The dangers out there are immense. Wouldn’t it be foolhardy to act so soon?” The room fell into a hushed stillness, the air heavy with unspoken worries. Clayton’s fingers halted on a point on the map, and Bryan’s gaze dropped, his silence speaking volumes.

The moment seemed to hold its breath.

“I’ll go.”

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