Chapter 40
Chapter Forty
Imight have ridden my horse right into the palace foyer.
Perhaps I did, I don’t know.
My boots thud against the marble floors as I race through the halls, unconcerned with who might see their prince so undignified.
Fuck dignity. I want to see my wife.
I careen around a corner, thundering down the corridor that leads to our chambers—Gregoran and Freynk stand guard outside our door, exactly as they were when I last saw them. Gregoran’s lips twitch when he sees me barreling toward them, but the stocky man hides his smile with a deep nod.
“She’s well? She’s safe?” The words rush out before they can speak.
Both men nod quickly. “No trouble, sire,” Gregoran says. “We’ve been exceedingly vigilant, as you commanded. But I think—”
“What?”
Did she get hurt?
Did my father do something?
Did she fall ill? No, idiot, she would’ve healed herself.
“What happened?” I snap when Gregoran doesn’t respond immediately.
The two men share a glance, and it’s all I can do not to knock their heads together. “The princess has spent more time sequestered in your chambers. She’s seemed despondent. We think … apologies, if I overstep, sire, we think she’s missed you.”
Something sharp twists into my heart. Mayah must’ve remained in our chambers to avoid my father like I asked.
She’d called it a cage when I’d forced her to remain locked away in the early days of our marriage. Her rage had steeped within her chest until she—rightfully—fought for what she deserved.
Regret pinches my nerves at the thought of her hiding away again.
I was only gone for a week. Still, I sense a fair amount of groveling ahead of me—but I’ll gladly stay on my knees all night if she’ll let me.
“You both have my gratitude.”
Then, I fling open the door and enter our chambers.
Our empty chambers.
“Mayah?” I call out, brows furrowed.
The washroom door is ajar, but she’s not inside.
I don’t sense her energy signature on the balcony either.
The sky darkens.
I head toward the door, ready to tear into Gregoran and Freynk for losing track of Mayah yet again when my eyes catch sight of the tunnel entrance.
The edge of the tunnel door is slightly askew. It’d be barely discernible to anyone else, but to my eye, it’s a slap in the face.
My breath claws out of my chest in a sharp exhale.
Did Tormik send warriors to bring Mayah home, like Turmah’s father had done?
Did Mayah go willingly or did they force her?
Am I too late?
I nearly call for Freynk and Gregoran, ask them to bring reinforcements, but there’s no time. They may already have fled the palace. With my wife.
The hidden door gives way easily when my fist slams into it. I’m greeted by dank, stagnant air and a suffocating sense of dread. Eyes closed, I cast out my power, searching for energy signatures.
Nothing.
I’m tempted to bolt through the narrow passageway, shouting Mayah’s name until I find her, but I force myself to take silent, measured steps. If there are Tundrayni warriors within the tunnels, I need to act carefully. Logically. I can’t risk them hurting Mayah.
But what if Mayah wants to leave with them? I shove the intrusive thought away, unable to stomach that reality.
No. No, she wouldn’t leave me.
She loves me. I saw it in her eyes before I left. She was happy with me. And I told her I’d take her to Tundrayn, she wouldn’t—
My footsteps falter.
The passageway widens overhead into a large cavern, three smaller tunnels cut into the opposite wall. I pause before each one, casting out my power. Panic claws through my chest. I need to find her.
My breath catches—deeper within the third tunnel, faint electric currents pulse in the distance.
I keep going.
Skies, let her be all right. Let her be unharmed.
Let her want to stay.
I’m halfway down the tunnel when I sense it. Mayah’s energy signature thrums in the distance. The current is muffled—but even from this distance, the frantic pulsing tells me she’s agitated.
There’s a second signature near hers. Bigger.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
I thunder through the dark passageway. The sound of trickling water from the shallow waterway carved into the floor grows louder as I approach.
My heart plummets into my stomach.
Hot, crackling rage takes its place.
White sparks flicker in my vision. My breath sharpens, each draw a knife piercing my chest.
It’s the fucking captain.
And he has my wife pinned against the stone wall.
His large hand grips her thigh, holding it in place around his waist.
And he’s kissing her.
Mayah’s energy signature thrums violently in the air, as though desperately seeking escape. It’s a far cry from the relaxed, gentle hum when she’s with me.
My wife is upset—she doesn’t want this. A whisper of relief skitters down my spine even as my rage builds.
The bastard is forcing himself on Mayah.
I don’t think. Something unlocks inside my chest, and the well of my power bursts free—this is the third time now.
I know what to do.
Fury surges through me.
The captain’s signature beckons to me, ready to fulfill my commands.
And I command him to die.
This bastard who breached my palace to lay an unwelcome hand on my wife.
His electric currents turn against him. His body jerks in the air, forcing him away from Mayah.
“Wh—”
The air around him sizzles as his body begins to convulse. His limbs contort. The crackling grows louder. This time, when the stench of burning flesh permeates the air, I relish in it. The air crackles around me, fury still rushing through my veins.
The captain collapses to the floor in a heap of rigid limbs.
I can finally see Mayah’s face.
Except she doesn’t look relieved.
She doesn’t run into my arms as I’d expected.
She looks heartbroken.