Chapter 157

Elyana sighed. He had a point, annoying as he was. “Fine,” she muttered. “I’ll help keep your presence quiet and get you the map. But that’s all I’m doing. Don’t drag me into anything else.” Arden gave her a grin so wide she wanted to smack it off his face. “That’s more than enough, darling. I knew I could count on you.” Just as Elyana opened her mouth to speak, the sound of chattering and running footsteps echoed from the corridor outside. “The kids are back,” she muttered under her breath. But before she could say anything more, Arden suddenly sprang to his feet and leapt out the window like it was the most natural thing in the world. Her eyes widened. Did that just happen? One second he was standing there, and the next, gone. She blinked, wondering if she’d imagined it. “Mom! We’re here!” came Joxan’s cheerful voice from outside the door. Seconds later, a blur rushed into the room—small feet pattering loudly on the floor—and just behind him, as expected, Oasis followed close on his