Chapter 21
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
ESTEE
W alking back into the office feels like slamming my face into a brick wall. Isla and Asher are standing as if they’re ready to leave, and that’s the last thing I need right now.
“What’s wrong?” My gaze fixes on my sister, a demand in my voice I can’t hold back.
She hesitates. “We have to go.”
I close my eyes, inhaling deeply to brace myself then look at her again, hoping for some way to change her mind. “Why?”
“Jerome came by while you were looking for Theo,” Asher says, his expression grim and a deep crease between his brows. “We received a call from Malimorte. There’s been a threat against our kingdom—against Isla, specifically. I have to get her back and keep her safe. As much as we want to stay and help you, being here leaves Polaris vulnerable.”
“What kind of threat?” I ask, my tone sharper than I intend, but the idea of someone targeting Isla sends a surge of protective fury through me, especially as she remains much too still beside Asher.
The two of them share a look, and she nods just before he answers. “Pictures of Isla were delivered to the castle, including ones of us getting on the ship, with a note stating they’re watching her every move, can find her anywhere, and it’s only a matter of time before they do.”
My stomach roils, and I close the distance between me and Isla, wrapping my arms around her. As much as I need her, my sister’s safety will always come first. “I’m so sorry. Don’t worry about me here. I can handle a pesky god. Everything will be just fine.”
She nods over my shoulder but doesn’t speak out loud. “I want to be here for you, I swear. I wouldn’t have come all this way to tease you, but the pictures…there were private ones, ones nobody should’ve been able to take.”
I shudder, trying to imagine how she feels having her privacy violated like that, but the more I let my imagination run wild, the more worked up I get on her behalf.
“Go home, find the bastard, and cut his balls off.” I pull back, forcing a smile before I glance at Asher. “I’ll figure this out. Just take care of my sister.”
“Once we’re home and I’ve cleared the castle myself, I’ll reach out to Aurora as planned,” he replies. “In the meantime, lie low and stay in contact with Malimorte. He’ll relay everything to me when we return. The most important part is keeping an eye on Theo to make sure he doesn’t do something he’s not supposed to.”
“Of course.” I step back, hating that they have to leave already, but more than that, I appreciate that they’ve come all this way.
Asher’s arm wraps around Isla as she continues to stay silent. “I told Jerome that if he wasn’t sure about something, to ask me instead of Theo, assuming the king’s on board with leaving himself in the dark. I’ve also suggested that he reach out to the queen of Alcaris. Sloane might be willing to come here and assist.”
I tilt my head. “Why not King Aeson? Don’t get me wrong. I like Sloane, but doesn’t Aeson have more combat experience?”
“He does,” Asher says. “But that isn’t what we’re looking for unless Aurora says otherwise. We need someone who can think outside the box. Sloane’s kingdom has been dying for decades, but she’s somehow made her land survive much longer than any of us predicted. Plus, I trust her more than Aeson.”
“Fair point.” I go to Isla again. Her face is pale and her stare distant. I squeeze her shoulders. “I’ll come see you just as soon as things are sorted here. I love you.”
“I love you, too,” she says, but doesn’t meet my gaze.
I look up at Asher, glad to still have my pack connection to him, so she doesn’t have to hear what I’m about to say. “I know you’ll protect my sister with your life, so I won’t bother threatening you, but if anything happens to her, I will be out for blood. One tiny scratch on her, and I’ll murder this son of a bitch. And if those pictures get out? Asher…”
“I know.”
I have no doubt he does. We both love Isla more than anything else in the world. Just in different ways. If I didn’t believe that, I wouldn’t be letting her out of my sight right now.
“We’ll talk soon.” I hug Asher, grateful to have him as part of my family. “Tell Mom and Dad that I love them and I’ll see them soon.”
He nods and leads Isla out of the office.
Once the door closes behind them, I take advantage of the magic soundproofing within the room and let out a scream. My fists are clenched and my heart races as I yell into the abyss, thankful nobody can hear me. I need this moment. I need to scream and cry and plan a few murders, because if I don’t, I’m going to lose my damned mind.
My throat is raw by the time I’m done, but I feel marginally better. Time is of the essence, so that’s all the breakdown I’ll allow myself. Instead, I look around Theo’s office, hoping to find something he’s overlooked that will be helpful. Nothing holds my attention long except for his desk.
I sit in his chair and peek at the stacks of papers on the desktop. There’s nothing unusual for a king: orders for repairs, transfers, amendments, and so on, along with meeting requests from his advisory council. Interesting. That currently only includes Jerome. I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or not.
It makes me sad that there isn’t anything personal here. Not a trinket or picture or even a rock. Everything is here out of necessity, nothing to remind him of love or family or a happy time in his life.
Theo’s done unthinkable things, but hearing his story, knowing that Orix has been screwing with him since the moment he sent mercenaries to slay his pack… I can’t help feeling sorry for my mate.
I keep going through his drawers, but there’s still nothing of consequence. Maybe Jerome will have more insight for me…or maybe I should spend the rest of the afternoon with Theo, not worrying about any of this and getting to know him. He just found out that his mother was never in danger. Even without a completed bond, before he stormed out of the office, I could taste the smokiness of his despair, of the regret I’m sure will plague him for years to come.
He doesn’t deserve to be alone right now, and I should’ve realized that before.
It’s time for me to leave this office and find my mate. With that plan firmly in my sights, I’m finally looking forward to what happens next.
When I enter the hallway, it’s eerily quiet. A heaviness hangs in the air, pressing in on me to the point that I’m tempted to go back into the office for some relief. Reaching back, I twist the handle and almost step back in before someone calls my name.
“I’ve been looking for you everywhere,” Drea says with a bright smile. “Benji was jumping on the bed and…” She looks me up and down. “What’s wrong? Did Theo do something?”
Considering how much I’ve already told her, I’m tempted to divulge the latest happenings, but this is so much bigger than her. I have no doubt I can trust Drea, but there are some things she shouldn’t have to worry about. Going up against a god is one of them. At least for now.
“Theo’s actually been great,” I tell her with a genuine smile. “I’m just going to find him, but what about Benji? Did he get hurt?”
She shakes her head, still eyeing me. “No, but his hard head put a hole in the wall. He hid under the bed for nearly an hour before Jerome came and made everything better by taking one of the paintings from another wall and hanging it over the hole.”
I’ll have to thank him for being so welcoming of the children. After all they’ve been through, the more adults who show these kids love and understanding the better.
“I love that,” I tell her then frown. “Thank you for checking in on them today. It’s been busy, and I haven’t had time yet.”
“I heard your sister and King Asher are here.” I can hear the question she’s not asking.
“They were, but they’re probably back on the ship already, headed to Polaris again,” I say. “Isla is a little overprotective of me and had to see for herself that I’m okay. It was a short visit.”
Gods, I really hate not telling her the whole truth. At least I’m not technically lying to her.
“Well, okay.” She glances at the ground, avoiding my gaze. “I’ll be around if you need me.”
“How about dinner tonight?” I suggest then remember I’d just mentally committed to spending the rest of the day with Theo. “Or breakfast tomorrow morning. We could order food in, my place or yours.”
Drea’s gaze brightens. “Breakfast is perfect, and definitely in your room. Orion has a hard time going off to work when he knows I’m going to be home. A good and bad problem to have.” Her cheeks flush. “That beast of a man can’t keep his paws off me.”
My heart twinges with jealousy. While I’m happy that she seems to have this incredible mate, I won’t lie and pretend I don’t wish for the same. Not to say Theo can’t be the same given the chance, but if things could be as simple for us as they seem to be for Drea and Orion, I wouldn’t complain. At least, I’d like to think so.
“I’ll see you around seven tomorrow then?” I confirm so I can go find my mate.
“Absolutely.” She turns to walk away then pauses to look back at me. “If you need me before then, I’m here for you. Don’t forget that.”
“I won’t, I promise.”
I head toward Theo’s bedroom. I haven’t personally been there, but Jerome made sure to point out its location when I was avoiding life last week.
Turning left, I see the painting of a stunning woman in a yellow dress. She’s wearing a diamond crown and sitting on a throne with a wolf at her feet. I don’t know anything about her, but I imagine she was a powerful queen and one I’d love to know.
I continue, daydreaming about having grown wolves lie at my feet and start to chuckle…until my vision goes black. I can’t see, and then, before I know it, I can’t hear anything either. I reach out for the wall and open my mouth to call for help, but no sound comes out. At least as far as I know.
“Hello, my little queen,” a man’s raspy voice says in front of me. “I thought it was time we officially met.”
Oh, gods. This is bad. So, so bad.
“I’m Orix.”
He doesn’t need to say the words. I already know and I want to punch him in the face, but I can’t even form words, let alone lift my arm.
He’s closer now, his breath warm on my cheek. “Don’t panic, my pet. At least not yet. I’m still undecided about your future. You see, I thought about keeping you as my prize, but you’ve not done as I hoped since summoning you here. If you quit causing me so much trouble, that’s still a possibility.”
It’s probably a good thing I can’t physically vomit right now. I’ll never willingly be his prize .
He squeezes my shoulder, sending unwelcome shivers down my spine. “I’ve decided you being in Theo’s life isn’t the motivation he needs to please me. Until I say otherwise, you won’t be able to move or speak. You are mine to wield now. Just like Theo is.” He chuckles darkly. “He might think you’ve saved him from me, but that’s the furthest thing from the truth. He’ll see that once he realizes you’re gone. Hmm, yes, this is going to work out quite nicely. Now, let’s get you somewhere safe.”
“Isla?” I call for my sister, but she’s already too far away. Our connection is gone, and I’m left defenseless against this bastard.
Orix’s fingers dig deeper into my flesh, forcing me to move with what feels like chains around my body, each step moving me further from freedom. I can’t see him, can’t see anything, but his presence wraps around me, suffocating me. His power slides through my mind, rooting itself in every corner of my being, controlling my movements with effortless precision. I’m his puppet now, blind, mute, and defenseless.
I never imagined things could get worse. I thought we’d seen the darkest depths of this nightmare. But now, as I’m dragged into the unknown, I realize how wrong I was. Each step echoes in my mind, pounding with the fear that no one will ever find me, that I’ll remain trapped under Orix’s control, hidden from those I love, for as long as he allows me to live.
My heart pounds, and the dread coils tighter, sharper, with every silent scream. This isn’t just fear. This is a hollow, consuming terror—a fate that chills me to my core.
A fate worse than death.