Chapter 135 The Rogue King's Reproach

Ben's POV

I ducked down behind some twisted roots with my heart racing and my breathing quick as I looked at the dark rogue camp.

I felt the past pressing down on me like a heavy blanket that wouldn’t go away. But tonight felt different as need and want pushed me ahead like two flames ready to ignite the whole forest.

I saw the rogue scouts fade into the dark with their sharp eyes on the faintly lit entrance of the settlement. They looked like ghosts—thin, tense and always ready to jump into action. The guards stayed hidden with their hunting instincts satisfied by their secret spots.

To an untrained person, the settlement looked empty, but I had learned to look deeper with each hidden figure, reminding me of how dangerous my situation was.

“Stay sharp, stay aware,” I said quietly while repeating what Augustus had taught me. The rogue king was both friend and enemy, like a tricky balance of trust and betrayal.

But tonight I was making my own path, and it was risky going right into the