Free Web NovelChapter 45: Tessa’s Disappearance...
Nox was sleeping soundly.
Or at least, he was trying to.
Audrey was completely glued to him.
The huntress was hugging him tightly while snoring without the slightest bit of shame.
"GRRRRR..."
Nox opened his eyes.
’How can a woman that beautiful snore louder than a truck driver?’
On top of that...
He was incredibly warm.
Which made absolutely no sense.
The room was cold, the window let in the freezing morning air, and they weren’t even using blankets.
And yet, Nox was lightly sweating.
Maybe because Audrey had practically turned herself into a human blanket.
Or maybe because she seemed to have absolutely no concept of personal space.
Then someone knocked on the door.
Knock.
Knock.
Knock.
"Nox."
It was Misty.
"Nox, wake up."
The demon immediately tensed.
"What is it?"
"Audrey disappeared from her room."
Nox’s eyes snapped open.
And it took him approximately half a second to realize the situation he was currently in.
Audrey was still hugging him.
And one of his hands was trapped right between the huntress’s breasts.
’This is not serious.’
He tried to pull his hand away, but couldn’t.
Audrey was holding it tightly.
As if she was afraid it might escape.
"Nox."
Misty’s voice came again.
"Are you still awake?"
"YES!"
He answered far too quickly.
"I haven’t heard anything from Audrey since last night."
Audrey hid a smile against the pillow.
She was clearly awake.
And she was clearly enjoying the situation.
"Nox."
Misty knocked again.
"I’m coming in."
"Don’t come in."
"Why?"
"I’m naked."
There was a few seconds of silence.
Then Misty burst out laughing.
"Then what’s the problem with me coming in?"
Nox closed his eyes.
’This woman is insane.’
"That’s an order."
"Hm?"
"Don’t come in or I’ll take your title away."
Misty laughed again.
"I was joking."
Nox heard her footsteps moving away down the hallway.
"I’ll keep looking for Audrey in the other rooms."
"Good idea."
"Sleep well."
"Thanks."
The footsteps faded away.
The room fell silent.
Nox slowly turned his head.
Audrey still had her eyes closed.
Smiling.
"You can stop pretending now."
The huntress opened one eye.
"I’ve been discovered."
"I never would’ve guessed."
Audrey let out a small laugh.
Nox finally managed to free his hands.
"We’re going to have to do something so nobody finds out we spent the night together."
"Why?"
"Because I don’t want to listen to Misty making fun of me."
Audrey laughed again.
"That’s reasonable."
"I’m going out first."
The huntress nodded.
"And fifteen minutes later, you come out."
"Okay."
"You go to your room."
"Okay."
"And you get dressed."
Audrey made a face.
"I don’t like that part as much."
"You can’t walk around naked in Tessa’s mother’s house."
"I suppose."
The huntress sat up slightly.
Then she smiled.
"I had fun last night."
Nox smiled too.
"So did I."
Audrey finally released his hands.
"I’ll set you free for now."
◇◆◇
Fifteen minutes later...
Nox was sitting in the main hall of the Pyrell Household.
A cup of hot tea rested between his hands.
Across from him sat Senna, Misty, and Catherine.
Claws was sleeping near the fireplace.
Felix was curled up on top of the enormous bear.
Everything seemed peaceful.
Nox took a sip.
"Does anyone know anything about Tessa?"
Senna slowly shook her head.
"I think I saw her leave a few hours ago."
Misty and Nox immediately looked at each other.
As if they had both thought the exact same thing.
’Don’t tell me she abandoned us.’
’Please don’t tell me she abandoned us.’
Misty set her cup down on the table.
"Do you know where she went?"
Senna sighed.
"It’s sad to admit..."
The woman lowered her gaze.
"But my daughter doesn’t want to talk to me."
The atmosphere became slightly awkward.
"I don’t know where she went."
She continued.
"But she seemed to be in a hurry."
Nox rested an elbow on the table.
’Great. Just when I was starting to trust her.’
At that moment, footsteps echoed down the stairs.
Audrey appeared, yawning.
She was already dressed in the clothes Ellen had made for her.
And she looked quite relaxed.
Misty immediately smiled.
"Well."
Audrey raised an eyebrow.
"What?"
"Looks like you didn’t sleep very well."
The huntress sat down beside Nox.
"What makes you say that?"
"Because Nox’s bed isn’t big enough for two people."
Nox nearly spat out his tea.
Audrey simply laughed.
And that was what finally confirmed everyone’s suspicions.
Nox turned toward Misty.
"You already knew?"
"Of course."
"How?"
The dancer shrugged.
"It wasn’t that hard to figure out."
Audrey kept laughing.
While Nox began wondering whether it would ever be possible to hide anything from that woman.
Catherine let out a small giggle as well.
"People usually sleep together on the streets when it’s cold." free𝑤ebnovel.com
"Thanks for the support."
Nox replied.
The cat girl smiled.
"You’re welcome."
◇◆◇
The laughter continued for a few moments.
But Nox noticed something.
Senna.
The woman remained silent.
Holding her cup with a worried expression.
She was the only person in the room who didn’t seem relaxed.
Nox set down his tea.
"Is something wrong?"
Senna looked up.
The woman hesitated for a few seconds before answering.
"I’m worried about my daughter."
The mood immediately calmed.
"I understand."
Nox said.
"It’s just..."
Senna clenched her hands.
"I don’t understand why the Church declared her dead."
Her voice sounded fragile.
"And I’m worried she might be in danger now."
The woman smiled sadly.
"But there’s nothing I can do."
Nox stared at the cup in front of him.
Then he pulled out a small bottle of liquor.
He uncorked it and poured a rather generous amount into his tea.
Misty watched him.
"At this hour?"
"It’s the best way to start the day."
"Sure."
Nox drank the entire thing in one gulp.
Then he set down the empty cup.
"Don’t worry."
Senna blinked.
"Hm?"
"We’ll figure out what’s going on."
The woman looked surprised.
"That could be dangerous."
Audrey crossed her arms.
"That’s why we’re building a strong group."
Misty nodded.
"Besides."
The dancer smiled.
"Tessa is part of the group now."
She looked at Senna.
"It’s not just your problem anymore."
Senna looked slightly emotional.
Though she tried to hide it.
Nox stood up from his chair.
"Then we’ll go find her."
Catherine raised her hand.
"What about me?"
Nox pointed at her.
"You’re staying here."
"Eh?"
"With Senna."
The cat girl made a face.
"But I can help too."
Nox smiled.
"I’d rather have you take care of Felix and Claws."
The little yellow cat poked his head up from Claws’s back.
"Meow."
"Besides."
Nox continued.
"If Tessa really got herself into trouble, I’d rather you didn’t have to take any risks."
Catherine seemed to think about it for a few seconds.
Then she nodded.
"Okay."
Senna smiled.
"I’ll take the opportunity to help her take a bath."
The reaction was immediate.
"No."
Catherine said.
"I want nothing to do with baths."
"It’ll be good for you."
"No."
Misty started laughing.
Audrey did too.
Even Felix seemed entertained watching the argument.
Eventually, Senna sighed.
◇◆◇
A few minutes later...
Nox, Audrey, and Misty stood in front of the gates of the Pyrell Household.
The cold air struck their faces.
The Capital’s streets were already filling with people.
Carriages, merchants, guards, nobles, and beggars.
All mixed together within that enormous city.
Senna remained by the entrance, watching them.
"Be careful."
She told them.
"There are dangerous people in this city."
Nox smiled.
Audrey adjusted her coat.
Misty spun around with an amused grin.
"We’ll find her."
Nox looked out at the streets ahead.
’Tessa... I hope you’re not doing anything stupid.’
Though part of him suspected something else.
That the former inquisitor hadn’t run away.
That she hadn’t betrayed them.
And that she had probably gone off alone to deal with some problem.
Which...
Wasn’t necessarily any better.
"Let’s go."
Nox said.
And together with Audrey and Misty, he began walking through the streets of the Capital.
Searching for Tessa’s whereabouts.
