Chapter Ten
Dashiel
The ringing seemed to last forever. Each second stretched painfully long while I stood alone on the abandoned office floor.
Every instinct I possessed screamed that I should be moving or searching or burning through the city until I found him.
“Dashiel,” my father answered.
I did not waste time. “My fated mate is missing.” I continued immediately, explaining, “I attempted telepathic contact and found nothing. His mind is inaccessible.”
“When did this occur?” he demanded.
“Within the past hour.” I turned slowly, scanning the dark office again, despite already knowing Landon was not there.
“He remained after work at the request of his employer. When he did not emerge, I investigated. His floor is empty.” Fear clawed its way into my voice.
“Without the bond being finalized, I cannot tell if he is unconscious or…”
“You would know if he were dead, my son.”
The certainty in my father’s voice hit me like a physical force.
I stopped pacing. “Are you sure?”
“Completely. When I lost your mother, it left a gaping black hole in my chest. You would feel it, even though the bond was not complete.”
Hope flared violently and painfully. “Father—”
“Fate has already connected you. You feel the slight pulse in the mark. In the ink. His death would not pass unnoticed. Close your eyes and feel, Dashiel. Sink into the ink and sense your partial connection.”
Air finally reached my lungs. I did exactly as he said and closed my eyes, searching for the mark that linked us as fated. It was deep under the skin, but I felt the slight hum.
Landon lived.
He was unconscious, possibly injured, and taken.
But he was very much alive.
The realization steadied me enough to think.
“My son,” Father said quietly. “I am coming to assist.”
Relief hit hard enough to nearly stagger me.
The king of the elves did not make promises lightly, so if Father said he was coming, he would.
The call ended immediately afterward without a goodbye.
A sharp crack split the air moments later, and then power surged through the office floor.
The portal that tore open before me dwarfed the one I had created earlier. Silver light spilled across the darkish room.
And through it stepped my father.
King Theradiel was tall, broad, and had power rolling from him so heavily, the air itself seemed to bend.
His silver hair fell past his shoulders with a few gold strands that were a telltale sign of his age.
Armored royal guards followed immediately behind him.
Then two familiar figures.
My brothers.
Relief struck so suddenly, it almost hurt.
“Sashiel. Remiel.”
Sashiel was the first to cross the distance, and unlike me, this brother rarely stood still. Even now, energy practically radiated from him. His long, dark hair had been tied back hastily.
He immediately pulled me into a hug, only to then push me back by his hands on my shoulders and grin. “You found your mate.”
I nodded. “I did.”
His gaze softened. “And now we will get him back.”
My throat tightened unexpectedly, but before I could respond, Remiel stepped forward and clasped my shoulder firmly. My eldest brother was always steady and calm.
“You felt the link?” he asked.
“Yes. Slightly.”
“Then he lives.” The certainty in his voice matched Father’s.
And somehow, hearing it twice made it easier to believe.
Remiel squeezed once. “We are here to help.”
I nodded sharply. If I tried to speak, I wasn’t entirely certain my voice would cooperate.
Sashiel stepped closer. “I need his scent.”
My brother had the ability to shift into any animal of his choice, and I already knew his wolf possessed the strongest tracking skill.
I stepped forward.
My brother inhaled deeply before his eyes brightened. “Human, male, coffee, and soap.”
The description hit me directly in the chest.
Landon.
My beloved.
The urge to smile and break something simultaneously was becoming increasingly familiar.
Sashiel inhaled again before he turned and focused on the floor. His gaze seemed to have locked onto something none of us could see.
In a blink, he went from man to beast and started following a trail only he knew was there. Some of the royal guards stayed close to him. They would watch to protect the prince and make sure no harm came to him while Father, Remiel, and I stayed where we were and waited.
Sashiel stopped over in the far corner where the emergency stairwell sat. His head tilted, nostrils flaring, and suddenly, his voice echoed directly inside my mind. “Found where they took him out.”
Optimism exploded through me. “Anything else?” I asked as I relayed the message to everyone else aloud.
“No. Sorry. But his scent is still strong here. It means it wasn’t that long ago.”
“Follow it.”
Sashiel nodded once. “The moment I know where he is, I will contact you.”
A destination was all we needed, and then a portal could take us directly to him. I hadn’t been able to open one for Riker and the others, as I would have needed to be with them. Only the fae and their fated mates could create and move through them.
Sashiel glanced toward Father after I told them what Sashiel said, and the king nodded once.
Permission granted.
Instantly, my brother moved into the stairwell with five guards. The rest stayed with their king.
I hated that there wasn’t anything I could do to assist.
Every second felt unbearable. Every moment spent waiting was another moment Landon remained alone, wherever they had taken him.
Moments later, I turned away from staring at the stairwell. “This is taking too long.”
Father’s gaze settled on me. “Dashiel.”
“My mate is missing.”
“I know.”
“I should be searching.”
“We have the best tracker on it.”
“It’s not enough.” The words emerged harsher than intended.
Only Father did not react. He simply watched me.
“You have already done everything you can,” Remiel said.
I laughed sharply. “It is not enough.”
Father shifted slightly, and my gaze returned to him when he said, “You identified the danger and called for assistance as soon as you realized you needed the help.” He stepped closer. “If you lose control now, you help no one.”
I absolutely hated that he was right, especially as control was becoming increasingly difficult to keep.
“What if—”
“No,” Father clipped. “We do not listen to what-ifs. We will find him.”
“And make the ones responsible pay for taking him,” Remiel added with a dark gleam in his eyes.
Sighing, I nodded. My power wanted to surface still. Heat bubbled under my skin and in my veins, but I refused to allow it out.
Not yet.
Not until I had those who took him in front of me, and then I would let everything burn.
When the elevator chimed, everyone turned and watched the doors slide open.
“My friends,” I told my family and the guards before any of them could react violently.
Riker practically exploded out first. The fox shifter looked ready to start a war. His fated, Razor, followed immediately behind him.
Then came Soren and Spade.
And behind them was Monkey.
The sight of Landon’s son struck me hard when I could see the clear signs of fear and worry on his face.
I strode toward them, my father and brother following.
But before I could say anything, Riker said, “Soren took care of the receptionist; she won’t remember a thing. Lucky she was still here, hiding under her desk. Nox and Deacon are downstairs handling things.”
“Any sign of Landon?” Razor asked.
I shook my head and said softly, “No.” I told them of my brother, how he was onto Landon’s scent, and that as soon as he found the end of the trail, we would portal there.
When Monkey thinned his lips, I moved toward him, and without hesitation, I bowed.
“What are you doin’?” he asked, shock touching his tone.
“I failed to protect your father.” The words scraped my throat raw as guilt settled heavily inside my chest.
“Stand up,” Monkey ordered, and as I straightened, he told me, “You didn’t fail. Hell, he wasn’t even with you when he was taken.”
“I should have been by his side.”
“You may be magical, but you can’t be everywhere. Don’t take this on. We’ll get him back.”
The conviction in his voice mirrored Landon’s stubbornness so strongly, it almost hurt.
“Thank you, Monkey. When he is with us again soon, I will make sure they pay for ever taking him.”
Monkey tipped his chin up. “Fry them, Dashiel.”
I grinned, unpleasantly. “I will.”
Riker cackled. “Oh, I want to be there for it. Let me watch.”
“You may all come when we travel,” I told him.
He clapped and laughed gleefully.
Movement beside me drew my attention as Father stepped forward. He then struck his fist firmly against his chest while facing Monkey, who froze in turn.
My father was offering a formal royal greeting and his respect. He inclined his head and said, “My son’s fated mate has already become important to our family.”
Monkey’s eyes widened. “He has?”
The king smiled softly. “Without question.”
“Well, Pops is pretty awesome,” Monkey replied.
The fox shifter looked suspiciously sly before he blurted, “This your daddy, Dash? He’s handsome for—”
“Sunshine,” Razor warned.
Riker winked at his mate. “No one is ever as good as you, Daddy Sir.”
Razor sighed.
Father and Remiel clearly found Riker funny, since they were both chuckling.
Looking at them, I waved a hand toward my friends. “This is Riker, the fox shifter. His fated, Razor. Soren and Spade are fated vampires. Then this is Monkey, Landon’s son.”
Father smiled. “I had gathered who… Monkey is.”
Monkey chuckled. “Yeah, the name is weird. It’s a club name. I’m a member of a motorcycle club.”
Remiel gasped. “I have read many stories about those. I have always wanted to meet a biker.”
Riker hugged Razor’s arm. “My mate is the president of the club. But you can’t touch or look too long, or I’ll kill you.”
The guards drew their swords.
Father raised a hand, and they settled. “We understand the possessiveness of a fated. Do not fear, young one. No one will touch him.”
Riker beamed. “Thanks.”
I cleared my throat and finished the introduction. “This is my father, King Theradiel.” Then I gestured toward Remiel. “Remiel is my oldest brother and next in line to the crown.”
Remiel inclined his head politely.
Monkey blinked once, then twice, before his gaze swung back to look at me. “Wait.” His eyes widened dramatically. “Holy shit, you really are royalty?”
I nodded. “Yes.”
“Goddamn. That’s—”
“Brother.”
I stilled and then lifted my hand. “My brother, Sashiel, has contacted me.”
Monkey quieted instantly.
“Yes, Sashiel?”
“I have found him. Ready everyone and portal to my side.”
Elation filled me, but worry for Landon’s well-being drowned it out slightly.
“We are on our way, brother.”