35. CHAPTER 35
Sorin
My brothers followed closely on my heels as I took to the streets of Southgate, my wings open and ready at my back.
“They aren’t entirely undefended, Sorin. Rensford has an entire army of Vireth at his back in Gothryn! The king’s army! There simply aren’t any dragons. In no realm would the Ashbournes ever be able to sneak an entire army through Scaldrithor or the mountains of Ravenwood undetected,” Emrys said.
For once, I agreed with him.
“Then what?” Valerian asked. “What was their intention when they drew us away from the castle?”
Godsdammit.
Realization hit me like a brick and threatened to drag me to my knees. Only a few fae could have made it into Gothryn unnoticed. They would not be sending a contingent of Veytari to take down Gothryn or kill its king.
But rather, they had been sent to take something back.
Something nobody would notice was missing, except the three of us.
Aveline.
I thanked the old gods for Rensford’s presence at the castle, though Aveline wasn’t his favorite person. Knowing that she was my fated, he would do anything in his power to protect her.
Rensford’s letter to Myros must have arrived. Kallias must have finally found out about what Queen Dyata had done. He must have sent his men to bring her back to Myros.
I needed to get back to the castle. Now.
Sweat licked at my brow as I took to the sky without preamble, morphing into my dragon form as soon as I had cleared the rooftops of Southgate. We were hours from the castle, and the thought made me sick with anger.
I beat my wings as hard as I could, uncaring if I was too exhausted to truly fight when I finally arrived back at the castle.
Slow down, Brother, Emrys urged down the bond. It could be nothing…a deception of another nature.
There is no way we were lured out of the castle for nothing. She is my mate, Emrys. I will protect her at all costs, I barked.
I understand—
You understand nothing! My anger flowed down the bond and Emrys cowed beneath it, allowing himself to fall behind me as I made haste toward Castle Gothryn.
We will protect her, Sorin. The bond is sacred, whether it has been accepted or not, Valerian assured from leagues behind.
I only pushed harder.
Faster.
I reached my physical limit when the rain began to pour down, sliding off my scales and pelting me as I traversed the tempestuous winds of the storm.
I needed to ensure everyone I loved was safe.
Do you? Emrys asked. Love her?
Godsdammit. I hadn’t meant to send that down the bond, either.
I don’t know.
How could I separate the feelings of the mating bond from how I felt about her? Was that even possible? I shook my head, clearing it. I didn’t have time for this. I needed to stay focused on pushing myself harder. Flying faster.
Dragons didn’t sweat, but as soon as we approached Gothryn and I turned into my Vireth form, I was coated in it.
My breath was coming in short and rapid pants, never filling my lungs enough to offer relief as they burned endlessly.
I landed on the balcony of the south wing and was already off running down the corridor.
I could hear Emrys land behind me, knowing Valerian would be along at some point. I sprinted straight for her room in the dormitory wing. I burst through only to find that she wasn’t there, and neither was her little fox. Her things were still strewn about.
I took that as a good sign.
I tried Enora’s room next, but I found that empty, too.
“Any luck?” Emrys called as he caught up to me.
I tore back down the corridor. “No,” I ground out as I passed him.
He followed quickly on my heels. I spread my wings, dropping off the balcony and landing on my feet in the main hall—which incidentally was buzzing with those who lingered at court after the masquerade ball.
“Sorin! Sorin!” It was Rensford calling out my name, but I didn’t have time for anything else right now.
I needed to locate Aveline.
The library—she could be with Enora. I tore down the corridor. Rensford was standing beside Enora, her face paler than I had ever seen. Her white hair was disheveled as if she had been running her hands through it mercilessly.
Voirel stood at Rensford’s side, too. Her hands were clasped before her, head bowed. My eyes were wild as I skidded to a stop before them. I could read their faces, but I didn’t want to hear it. I couldn’t—
“She’s gone.” It was Voirel’s soft voice that spoke first, a tear tracking down her pale cheek.
My mouth opened to speak, but nothing came forth. I was frozen in shock beneath the weight of the realization that I was too late.
“She saw him take her, Sorin. Kallias was here,” Rensford said.
I shook my head, disbelieving. “What—”
“I saw him,” Voirel said. “He put a cloth over her mouth, and she sank to the ground. He picked her up, and two other men joined him. He took her. She did not go willingly.”
I shook my head, already making for the front entrance of the main hall.
“Sorin, wait—” Rensford called at my back.
He managed to grip my arm and hold me back. I attempted to shake him off, but Emrys grabbed my other arm, holding me firmly in place.
Rensford was out of breath from anchoring me where I stood. “We already scoured the coast, Sorin. They’re gone.”
“No,” I replied through my teeth. “I will find her—”
“Are you listening? We sent every man out searching for her. They made it to their getaway boat before we could capture them. She’s gone, Sorin. Kallias has her.”
Rensford gripped my arm with one hand, his eyes sorrowful as his other hand came up to capture my chin, forcing my gaze to meet his. My eyes were wild as I tried to escape his hold, but with Emrys’s help they were able to detain me. I growled at them, the sound emanating from deep within my chest.
Kallias has her.
“You need to calm down,” Ren urged.
“Calm down?!” A mirthless laugh escaped my throat. “How am I to calm down when they have my mate!”
“Quiet!” Rensford commanded. “The more you broadcast that, the more danger she will be in. There is only a small group of us who know. We will get her back, but not if everyone in this godsdamned kingdom and the next knows about your link to her!”
I couldn’t calm down, couldn’t leash my temper as it tore through me.
My panic and rage were swirling wild as a tornado while I struggled against their bindings.
I needed to speak with King Mavros. I needed to fly for Myros immediately and turn their boat to ash.
They would find Kallias at the bottom of the Saltale Sea.
A prick in the side of my neck drew my attention. I saw Voirel withdraw from me, a syringe in her careful, delicate hand.
Had she…had she just drugged me?
Did no one understand?
Aveline was my mate. And she was in the hands of the enemy!
Voirel’s was the last face I saw before I hit the tiled floor of the main hall face first, and night descended.