Chapter Sixteen
Vex
(they/sir)
Sugar, We’re Goin Down – Fall Out Boy
“She’s gone.”
A weird sensation tingles inside my rib cage, separating me from her. As if what tethers us is being stretched to its limit until it snaps. It lets me know she not only isn’t on this realm anymore, but she’s not wearing the collar she always wore to honor us.
When did she remove it? Was I so caught up in my lusting and our scene that I didn’t notice that very important part of her missing?
My chest aches with worry. She’s not where I can find her. I’ve only just got her, and already, I’ve failed her.
Even with a newfound bond, it’s not strong enough to sense her from another realm. She’s lost to me. For now.
Dread rises within me, and everyone looks at me for guidance after what just occurred. As if they’re aware of my moods, they know it isn’t a part of the scene. And for once, I have no fucking clue what to tell them. Yes, somehow we’re unsafe and something took my mate? That’ll likely induce panic.
“Was that part of the scene?” someone braves, and I hiss in response, visibly upset. I’d rip out their throat if I thought it’d make me feel better. This isn’t their fault, it’s mine. I’ve lost her and it’s on me to fix.
“Out!” I roar, not feeling like myself. My skin itches, my chest aches, and there’s an unexplainable pain tearing itself from my heart.
Is this what death feels like?
I’ve always wondered, and with this curiosity, I never want to experience this sensation again. It’s far worse than a century ago with my friend. Not until Dulce did I ever bond with any being.
“Fuck!”
I grip the table she’s supposed to be on right now and heave it angrily. The whine of the wood exploding is nothing in comparison to my inhumane groans. Everyone has left, but there’s no stopping the absolute horror flooding my existence.
By the time I’ve gone through this entire room, roaring, destroying things, a familiar voice stops me in my tracks.
One I trust.
One that would never betray me.
One that’ll hate me for fucking his sister-in-law but will also want to help me because he cares for Dulce.
“Vex.”
I’m unable to speak and bring a voice to the emotions flooding through me. Words evade me but my eyes meet familiar ones.
“What’s happening, Vex?” Pyro asks, sobering me up. The rage within me isn’t tempered but rather currently distracted. The familiarity he offers is necessary to ground me.
“D-Dulce,” I stammer, letting the shock hit me. Who would take her? Where would they go?
Alarm has his shoulders stiffening. He walks up to me, placing his palms on my shoulders. “You need to tell me what happened.”
“She disappeared. We were about to do a scene,” I rasp, knowing he won’t approve, but at least he isn’t Val. His eyes narrow at me, nearly slits, yet he doesn’t comment. Waiting on me to continue. “Then she disappeared through a port-path.”
“Who took her?” His shoulders are tight, bunched. His wings mirror them. It’s enough to tell me he’s pissed and concerned simultaneously.
“I don’t know, but I’ll fucking kill them for taking her from me.” The vow comes from deep within, but I mean every word. Who dares take what’s mine? She is mine. Mine to protect, to dote on, to cherish, and to possess.
He closes his eyes and exhales, concern lacing his heavy sigh. “I’m going to need you to focus, Vex. What happened recently with her? Did she change her pattern? Was there a pact she might’ve made and owed someone money?”
A scoff rises in my throat, dying soon after.
“No?” I rush to say, but I don’t actually know. We’ve been on cloud nine since we bonded, and we’ve been inseparable. Except for their wedding. We pretended like we weren’t even friends. Then reality hits me. I note his night clothes. Low-slung linen trousers, and an undershirt that doesn’t cover his shoulders.
“Wait, you’re supposed to be on your honeymoon.”
He nods stiffly. “I know, but Nyxie called and said you were destroying the Viewing Room. It’s unlike you to be so angry, let alone to freak out irrationally. Couldn’t risk not figuring out what’s wrong. You’re the most level-headed monster I know.”
“I don’t know what to do. She’s gone.”
“We’ll find her. Let’s ask your patrons if they noticed anything.” He gestures to the now empty room, knowing that it wouldn’t take much for me to call them back here. Maybe I need to test their blood. Blood can tell you everything about a person when you’re a Saephyn like me. Your fears, your past, even the secrets you think you can keep. We’re connected spiritually to everyone’s mind once their blood passes our tongues.
When I don’t respond, he continues. “Let’s interrogate them.”
“This place is sealed,” I barely argue, thinking of the wards we have—and again, how I haven’t checked them in days. Not since our bond. It’s like I’ve been so far up my own arse that I haven’t been able to avoid my stupidity.
“Fuck.”
It’s one word but it feels as if it has been choked from me. Reality rains down, splattering me with the obvious.
“What?”
“I haven’t checked the wards. Whoever took her used a port-path.”
“Those aren’t common anymore,” he comments, crossing his massive navy arms. “Though I know my brother Cinder has a connection to an Orukna who gives him them.”
I shake my head, not caring about his brother or the other bloke mentioned, or anything outside of the answers I seek. “It’s not easy to find people who make them, and they’re tied to magic.”
“Okay, then maybe you should be looking for someone who would know how to trace it.”
I nod, thinking of my Orukna connection. He and I haven’t spoken in centuries, not since he created all the ones for my place. And even then, he doesn’t come here anymore. Not since his realm was plagued with the sickness. Their numbers dwindled after that, and he’s kept to his own realm for safety and to raise the next generations to come.
“Orukna originate from Solera,” I recall, walking toward my hutch. It’s filled to the brim with wine and whisky. Right now, the latter is probably best for this moment.
Pyro follows me, as if he’s my shadow, and it irritates me. Can’t he magically find her?
“I’ll see if I can get in contact with their queen.”
I nod, unhappy but calmer now. “I probably have contacts as well. Finding them shouldn’t be too hard with my constituents.”
“Bring her home, Vex. Then we can chat about the fact that you’re fucking Val’s sister.”
I can’t even bring myself to flinch at the harshness of his tone. I can only sigh and hope he magically disappears like Dulce did.
Pyro leaves me by myself. At his sudden departure, dread consumes me. If she didn’t magically show up with him, then it’s not an easy feat.
A tiny part of me wondered if he or Val maybe had something to do with it. It would make sense knowing they wouldn’t approve of her being with me, and if they magically knew about our scene tonight... but now there’s no hope it’s something simple.
I think of Solera, a place I haven’t traveled to in so long. There’s no way they know about me any longer. I had ties to the original Reyes family.
Dottie, specifically.
Theodora, the queen of Solera, brought me so much joy in my time there. I’d gone on a bender about four centuries back, landing myself there. Which is how Vex’s came to be.
When I found myself there, I fell into a pollen spore—I can’t recall what they called it, exactly—but me ending up there at that very moment told them it was predestined.
I head toward my room, trailing up the staircase, and upon touching my doorknob, something shifts inside me.
That.
I remember this feeling the last time I came in here, looking for Dulce. It felt wrong, like someone else had been here. Somehow, I justified it being Dulce and not recognizing it because I was too euphoric seeing her inside there.
My knees nearly fall to the floor as I crouch. Scenting the air, there’s a whiff that’s unrecognizable to me. It’s been years since I’ve needed to use my senses past predation purposes.
“Nyx!”
They pop in, a little puff of smoke. “What is it?” The panic in their voice rises, their eyes hollowing out with worst case scenarios. Yet, part of their fear filling the air tells me they know something.
“Someone’s been in here,” I say.
Nyx’s face is ashen. They’re gnawing on their lower lip almost like they realize something.
“What?” It comes out harsh as I spin to face them entirely. Their body shakes as if they’ve seen a ghost. I want to shake them to get the answer, hear what they know, because it must be something.
“Don’t be angry.”
I close my eyes, fury rolling through me. “When people say that, my first thought is that I’ll be pissed off.”
“A big guy showed up two nights ago.”
I think of every person I saw here, not recalling anyone out of the club regulars. There hasn’t been a new person since Val over a year ago. Yet when my mind ponders the last seventy-two hours, the only thoughts present are on Dulce, our bond, and the times we’ve shared.
“Who was he?”
“Myr vouched for him,” they say in an attempt to placate me.
I press my palms against my head, trying to understand why this one person could possibly be able to enter this place, let alone my room without my blood. Blood wards keep those who aren’t part of the creation away. Dulce is the only one who has passage and it’s not her blood that allows it. It’s her collar.
“That doesn’t explain how this person snuck inside my room.”
Nyxie is a Saephyn like me. The only difference is, their magic with blood surpasses my own. They can trace origins, where I’m only able to sense lineage. Nyx can trace surnames, progenies, and even the overall sires if they’re Sanguine or Saephyn alike.
They reach for the handle, and while I want to interrogate them, I’d rather have answers quicker.
“Yes,” Nyxie confirms, like they’re understanding more. “He’s an Orukna. Raevar Tora Jr. from Solera. Son of Raevar Antonio Tora Sr.”
“That’s how he got inside. He somehow tied it to me.”
“Where have you been out in the open?”
I think back to the past week and realize I haven’t. Only Dulce has. “He wanted her. This was never about me.” Not an enemy, nor a rival. This was planned and he targeted my mate.
Now having my answer, I rush for my magical quill that can send letters to any place that has a known name. Hurrying with my words, I now know what is needed. Not a threat—no, a promise offered in kind.
Their queen must give me this Raevar. He must pay for taking what’s mine.