Chapter 27
Dru stared out the window of the plane. The scenery wasn’t that of the Butterbush airport where they’d taken off one day ago. She stood and stalked to the front. The door opened with a member of the ground crew on the familiar tarmac.
“What is the meaning of this?” Dru roared.
They were to supposed have flown back to Butterbush where she could begin her search for Tomesha. She stood in the doorway and glared at the male who stood on the staircase that led down to the ground. He flew down the stairs and out of her way.
“The pilots had orders to fly you here,” Kane announced. The cocky son of a bitch had the audacity to grin. He strode forward and motioned for her to join him on the ground.
Dru bit back a curse. She hadn’t seen Kane and the warrior behind him. She’d only focused on the poor soul who’d opened the plane door. This wasn’t the time for her to have to report for another mission. Whatever it was needed to wait. Dru had something else pressing that needed her attention.
Seeking out her mate.
“I am needed back in Butterbush,” Dru bit out around her fangs.
She walked down the stairs with her warriors following close behind her. She was going to have to speak with Lethia. If there was something that was needed of her, Lethia could have Kane handle whatever it was. He may be a little deranged in the head, but he was a fine captain.
“You’ll need to take that up with the commander. She’s requesting your presence.” Kane’s smile disappeared.
It was then she realized that Lethia had sent Kane on purpose. If she chose to defy orders, he was one of the vampires who could handle her in a fight. She swore under her breath.
“Fine,” she snapped.
He nodded and waved her on past him. She eyed the vehicles waiting for her.
He walked alongside her to the SUV where a warrior held the door open.
She slid into the back seat and scowled.
The weather here was warm and fall like.
The cold back in Savadeen was bitter and had chilled her down to the bones.
The drive to the castle was done in complete silence which allowed Dru to think. The general in her was a calculating bitch. She would find her mate. It was only a matter of time. Once she found out what Lethia wanted with her, she’d be on her way.
Once at the castle, Dru strode through the main doors. She ignored Kane’s chuckle that floated through the air behind her.
“Where is she?” Dru barked over her shoulder.
Servants scattered out of the way and pressed back against the all as she passed, their eyes adverted. She growled at the simple fact that she’d been brought back to Crystal Cove. She was being treated like an unruly child and not the general she was promoted to be.
“Princess Lethia is waiting for your arrival out in the gardens,” Sterling announced, stepping out of the formal receiving room. The older vampire bowed his head.
She continued on past him, not slowing. She turned down the corridor that led to the formal gardens.
She was alone, glad of this because she was going to get some things off her chest with Lethia that she wouldn’t be able to do with an audience.
She burst through the doors and inhaled sharply.
The floral scent accosted her. Any other day she’d appreciate the beauty of the landscape around her, but now, she couldn’t care less.
She followed the stone path deeper into the gardens. Lethia waited by the fountain, her stance poised and steady. Her blonde hair bound tightly at her nape, her fighting leathers molded to her body. She was draped in plenty of weapons, and here was a gleam in her eye that Dru couldn’t read.
“General,” Lethia said. “Welcome home.”
“I won’t be long, Your Highness,” Dru said.
Lethia’s brow arched. “Oh, is that so? I distinctly remembered ordering you and the warriors home.”
“I have some important matters back in Butterbush, Your Highness.” Dru rested her hands on her waist. “Anything you need of me, Kane can do until I return.”
“General.”
“I will not be gone long. I need to leave immediately—”
“General.” Lethia’s voice whipped through the air.
Dru froze, startled by the sharpness of her old friend’s voice. It was cold—an order. “You’re not to leave the castle.”
“You dare—”
“I dare,” Lethia interjected. “Because you’re needed here.”
Dru’s chest rose and fell with restrained violence. She had to make Lethia see why she had to leave. She could not be grounded at a time like this, and if it had something to do with the lycans, she’d find her mate then join the rest in the fight against their enemy.
“Lethia. It’s my mate. She was taken. I have to—”
“She wasn’t taken.”
Dru froze. She blinked hard. Was her friend not understanding her?
“Why would you say that? You don’t know what happened back in Butterbush,” Dru began but ceased her plea at the raise of Lethia’s hand.
“You have been matched, Dru.” Lethia’s face softened.
“Now is not the time to bring up the damn draft. That test is wrong. I know who my mate is, and she was taken!” Dru shouted. Her hands trembled with her restrained anger and rage. She took a step back, and for once in her career, she’d go against everything she held dear to her.
“Listen to me, Dru.” Lethia must have recognized the change in Dru. She held up both of her hands as if trying to calm down an animal about to charge. “Your mate—the human—is here. In Crystal Cove.”
For a heartbeat, Dru couldn’t move. She couldn’t breathe. It was as if the world had paused.
“What?” Dru stared at Lethia for a moment. She struggled to understand what the princess was saying to her. Was Lethia speaking of Tomesha or another human?
“Her name is Tomesha, right? She’s here. She was brought here by the royal draft guards. It was confirmed she was your mate,” Lethia said.
“No,” Dru whispered. She shook her head and tried to swallow the lump that appeared in her throat. “But I felt her fear and anxiety.”
“I’m sure she was scared when the guards showed up and removed her from the military post. She didn’t know what was happening, but have no worries, she’s been safe here. Alima helped get her settled in while she waited for you to return home.”
For the first time since she’d discovered her mate had been taken, she faltered. Her pulse pounded in her ears. All of the rage that had been inside her dissipated, and in its place was a raw ache and need.
“My Tomesha? She’s here?” Dru whispered.
“She’s waiting for you in your quarters—”
Dru didn’t wait for permission to leave. She was already moving. She had to get to her mate. She had to see for herself that Tomesha was here and unharmed. She tore open the door and raced through the corridors.
Every instinct, every ounce of control she’d once had, dissolved into something primal.
She was going to take her mate, claim her, and keep her by her side forever.
* * *
The fire crackled softly. The air in the castle was quite chilly.
It may be fall here in Crystal Cove, but it was much cooler than what she was used to during this time of year.
The shutters on the windows had been raised not too long ago, allowing Tomesha to view the landscape that surrounded the castle.
But for now, she waited.
She sat on the edge of the bed, her fingers twisting the edge of the blanket she hadn’t realized she’d been clutching.
The last day and a half had been a whirlwind of emotions.
When the registry guards had taken her from the vampire military post, she’d thought she’d never see Dru again.
Imagine her surprise when she’d learned that her destination was Dru’s home.
Tomesha chuckled. Of course her vampire had been right. They’d been matched in the draft. The only reason they’d taken Tomesha to Crystal Cove was because Dru’s home address was here. They hadn’t known she was already with her mate.
Her smile slowly faded. She hadn’t heard much word about Dru.
The only thing she’d been informed of was that she was completing her mission.
Tomesha wasn’t sure what was going on, but she’d been experiencing emotions she was sure weren’t hers.
The amount of pain, anger, and rage that had filled her, she knew it wasn’t her.
It had to be Dru.
When she’d arrived at the castle, she’d met with Princess Lethia’s mate, Alima.
Tomesha had only ever seen the woman on television.
She was just as beautiful in person as she was on the small screen.
Alima had helped make sure Tomesha was comfortable and settled in while they waited for Dru to arrive.
She’d shared with Tomesha that she and Lethia were able to sense each other, too.
Now she was worried. She hadn’t felt anything from Dru in a while. She’d been assured that Dru was alive and well. Every sound, every echo of footsteps, every howl of the wind sent her pulse racing.
Dru was alive.
She kept reminding herself of that, but until she saw her, until she got to hold her in her arms, would she finally believe it?
Then suddenly, a pulse in her chest. A hot electric thrum that made her heart rate skyrocket. Was that Dru? Was she okay?
“Dru?” she whispered. Would her vampire hear her?
The door slammed open with such force that Tomesha whipped around at the commotion.
Dru stood staring at her with hunger and need in her eyes. Her auburn hair was pulled back away from her face, her bright-blue eyes wide as they took her in. For a moment, neither of them moved. Tomesha could barely breathe. She was completely elated and relieved that Dru was there.
“Dru,” Tomesha repeated, only this time louder.
In the blink of an eye, Dru was across the room.
Tomesha barely had time to rise before she was swept up into Dru’s strong arms. Her feet left the floor as Dru held her close.
She wrapped her arms around Dru’s neck. The scent of the outdoors and an aroma that was Dru filled her nostrils.
She breathed in deep, memorizing the smell of her vampire.