<h4>Chapter 30: Warm Meals and Small Moments</h4>


    <strong><i>Third Person POV.</i></strong>


    The van rolled smoothly along the forested path, weaving past the shadows of towering evergreens. The early morning light had begun to spill golden streaks through the tinted windows, catching on the faint mist that clung to the lond borders of Stormveil.


    Inside the van, Meredith satfortably, her stomach no longer making loud demands. Deidra leaned over from her seat with a warm smile.


    "No need to worry, mydy. We packed enough food, snacks, and drinks tost the entire trip."


    A quiet sigh escaped her lips—she hadn’t even noticed the tightness in her chest. "Thank the stars. I thought I would have to starve my way to Duskmoor."


    Azul, seated at the edge near the aisle, gave a small smile. "You will be served your breakfast now. Since you didn’t get to eat before we left."


    Meredith’s eyes brightened slightly as she nodded. "I’m ready."


    Deidra reached for one of the insted travel bags tucked near her feet and unzipped it carefully. From inside, she retrieved a sleek thermos lunch box and passed it to Kira, who had already pulled out the hidden tray table folded neatly into Meredith’s seat.


    Meredith blinked in mild surprise. She murmured about how the van keeps getting better while running her fingers over the smooth, polished surface of the wooden table.


    With practiced hands, Kira unclipped the lunch box and lifted itspartments, revealing the dishes: warm congee, a clear chicken broth, soft-boiled rice with sweet corn, and a cup of fragrant lemon tea still steaming in its insted sk.


    The aroma wafted upward and filled the space with aforting scent. Meredith’s lips curved into a soft smile. There was nothing extravagant about the meal, but it felt thoughtful. Personal.


    Then Kira added gently, "Azul told us you don’t do well with spicy food this early. And you can’t eat too much on long-distance travel for the first meal either, especially not to unfamiliar ces. That’s why we kept the portions light and the vours mild."


    Meredith turned her gaze to Azul, startled but touched by the small details still embedded in her memory. "You still remember things like this?"


    Azul gave a small, almost shy nod. "You were thest person I served before... everything. It’s not something I would easily forget."


    A beat passed between them. Meredith nodded once, quietly moved. "Thank you."


    "Mydy, you should eat before the food gets cold," Deidra chimed in, breaking the softness before it grew too heavy.


    Meredith picked up her spoon and began to eat.


    ---


    Back in the Maybach, Wanda leaned forward slightly, the folder closed now and reced by her phone. She tapped on the screen and held it out toward Draven.


    "Ipiled thisst night," she said. "News footage from Duskmoor about the organ trafficking incidents. Both recent and older ones."


    Draven took the phone wordlessly and began to watch. The screen flickered with somber news anchors, grim body counts, blurred images of hospitals, sirens, and protest banners. Three minutes ticked by before he handed the phone back, brows drawn low.


    "Well?" Wanda prompted.


    "The ck market’s gotten bolder," Draven replied, his voice low butced with simmering focus. "Heart, kidney, lung transnts—they’re in high demand. Too many patients. Too few donors."


    Wanda tilted her head. "Maybe they want to try werewolf hearts now," she said with a trace of bitterness in her tone.


    Her words weren’t meant to be a joke, but Draven’s jaw tensed all the same.


    "If the deaths of our people are linked to Duskmoor’s organ trade," he said tly, "then I will make sure their business burns." And he meant every word.


    Jeffery, who had remained quiet in the front seat, checked his watch when Draven asked how close they were.


    "Four more hours until we cross Stormveil’s borders, and head on our way for Duskmoor’s," he said without turning.


    Draven nodded once.


    ---


    Three hours passed.


    In the van, the mood had softened into somethingpanionable. The two maidservants who had been quiet all morning had finally introduced themselves during brunch. Their names were Cora and Arya. Meredith tucked them into memory with faint nods.


    Deidra and Kira served her flower tea—lightly sweetened and aromatic—and small mooncakes decorated with edible petals in pastel colours. Meredith admired them, even before tasting.


    "These are almost too pretty to eat."


    But she did eat them. One bite and her eyes lit up. She nced around at the quiet faces watching her and smiled.


    "You should all have some too," she said.


    But Deidra shook her head politely. "We are not allowed to eat thedy’s food."


    Azul added, "It’s against the rules. Matron Beatrice’s, specifically."


    Meredith rolled her eyes slightly, then picked up one of the mooncakes and held it out to Azul. "She’s not here."


    Azul hesitated.


    "I can’t finish twelve of these on my own," Meredith added. "Come on."


    A soft chuckle spread among the maids at the mention of the matron. Finally, Azul reached out and epted the offering with a quiet, "Thank you, mydy."


    Meredith proceeded to hand one each to Kira, Deidra, Cora, and Arya. They epted with soft thanks and a little surprise.


    It was a small moment. But for the first time since the trip began, Meredith didn’t feel like a distant figure among them. She felt normal, which was totally unexpected for someone who suffered low self-esteem.


    ---


    Later, as the van hummed steadily along the winding road, Meredith shifted ufortably. A pressure had begun to build in her lower belly—a familiar one.


    She parted the curtain and peered outside. The van was still navigating a rough path, surrounded by dense forest and winding trails. Not a single rest stop in sight.


    Azul noticed her fidgeting. "Something wrong, mydy?"


    Meredith hesitated. Then instead of answering directly, she said, "How does one survive a ten-hour journey with no bathroom breaks?"


    Kira stifled augh behind her hand. "You’re not wrong, mydy."


    Then she pointed behind them. "There’s a portable toilet seat just past that curtain. But... you will need to wait until we are out of this stretch. The road is too bumpy now."


    "Safety first," Deidra added. "We have done this trip before. It will smooth out once we reach the tarred road leading to Duskmoor."


    Meredith sighed, resigned. "And how long till then?"


    "Another hour or so," Kira replied, then added, "And there are six hours total left until we arrive."


    Meredith leaned back with a soft groan. "Six hours left. Great."