Chapter 38 Blood Briar #2
Asterious meditated on her words. It was no secret that Wyran wasn’t fond of Caramyn, but surely, he wouldn’t have done something to her, especially behind his back.
He thought back to how calm he’d seemed the morning she’d gone missing.
He’d even pretended to be the first to notice—and perhaps that’s exactly why he’d offered to bring her breakfast. Something simmered inside the prince.
“I’ll talk to him. It must be a misunderstanding. ”
But then, just as he turned to go, his eyes snagged on something bright red in the darkest corner of the corridor, just at the base of the doors to his room—crushed, broken petals from a flower he’d only seen once before. Blood Briar.
Without another word or second wasted, clutching the blood-specked shirt, he stormed back into the castle towards Wryan’s chambers, leaving the raven and the maid behind.
He slammed a fist on the door, second guessing why he wasn’t tearing it down instead. And if Wryan didn’t answer it within the next minute, that was exactly what he was going to do.
Wryan opened the door just a crack and poked his head through. “Everything alright, Your Highness? What brings you—”
Asterious pushed past him and forced his way into the room. “Do you know anything about Caramyn’s disappearance?"
Wryan stood still, frozen in place, his eyes wide as though he was offended by the question. “Of course not, Asterious,” he finally said. “You were there when I went up to her tower and she was gone. I was just as shocked as you.”
“Is that so?” Asterious took out the shirt and tossed it at Wryan, who was backing up into a corner. “Is that why you look so astonished that I would ask? Is that why there’s blood on this shirt? Tell me, whose blood is it?”
Wryan clenched the shirt in his hands, glancing between it and the prince as his lips stammered. “I—I know it might be difficult to accept, Your Highness, but the girl left of her own accord. She had every reason to leave once you discovered who she was. Her plans to kill you were probably ruined.”
“If she wanted to harm me, don’t you think she would’ve tried it much sooner?” A smoldering burn rose in Asterious’ chest as he spat the words through a tensed jaw. “Now answer the question. Whose. Blood. Is. It?”
Wryan laughed nervously, crumpling the shirt into a bundle and tossing it on the floor. “My own, of course. We’re soldiers, for gods’ sake. Is it so unbelievable that we bloody up a few tunics?”
“Enough of your shit, Wryan. You hated her. You made that clear.” Asterious prowled toward Wryan, closing in around him like a lion on its prey. “What did you do to her?”
Wryan’s sly eyes narrowed like a viper. “I did what you couldn’t do, Asterious. She would’ve been your ruin. Like your father.” Wryan cocked his head. “You refused to see it. So someone had to see it for you. Someone had to protect you from yourself. You should be thanking me.”
A rush of rage flooded Asterious. Fury flashed before his eyes like steel lightning and in an instant, he had pinned Wryan to the wall, rattling the torches on their hooks.
“What did you do to her?” He growled, pressing his thumbs around Wyran’s throat.
“Easy now...Your Highness...” Wyran choked. Asterious eased up his grip to let the man talk. “Watch that temper. You’re risking a lot right now. I found her snooping in the West Wing. She had nothing good planned, I assure you.”
“Did she see me? Did she see what I am?”
“That’s what you’re worried about? Asterious, I trained you. I thought you were stronger than this. She’s poisoned your mind.”
Asterious closed his grip on Wryan again, fighting every urge within him to squeeze the last breath from his lungs.
“You think I can’t think for myself? You knew my plans to make sure she was safe.
You defied me!” he seethed through his teeth.
“You had no damn right to go behind my back! Now tell me what you’ve done with her!
” He slammed Wyran against the wall once more, the blaze in him searing like wildfire, the beast one wrong word away from taking over.
“My sincere apologies, Prince…” Wryan coughed, his fingers prying at the prince’s grasp in desperation.
“Where is she now? I won’t ask again!” The prince roared.
“She’s....” Wryan rasped. “She’s probably on the other side of the ocean by now. I took her...I took her to Magoth.”
“Magoth?” Asterious released Wyran at the word, because if he knew if he didn’t let go, he was going to kill him. “It’s taking every bit of strength I possess to keep from tearing you apart right now.”
Wryan huddled on the floor, grasping at his neck as he wheezed out the words. “Now remember, Asterious, that’s not you talking.”
“Oh, but it is. This time, it is very much me. Push me one inch further, Wryan, and I’ll end you here.” Asterious leaned down to grab Wryan by the shirt collar and pulled his face to his. “When did her ship leave? And to where?”
Wyran croaked out the words between coughs, his fearful gaze cutting into Asterious.
“I…I don’t know. I didn’t ask. The ship was preparing to leave as I got there.
They were just some smugglers. Said something about taking women for the Spires?
I don’t know for sure, I just took the money and left. ”
“The money? You sold her, you fucking bastard?” His breath was shaking.
He yearned for the weight of a sword in his hand so that he could run it through Wryan right there.
It’d be much cleaner that way. But his bare hands would still do the job just fine.
“My curse is your mercy. Because without it, I would kill you right now.”
He could scarcely believe the words coming out of his own mouth.
But he would have to deal with Wryan later.
Because he couldn’t afford to lose control now.
Because now, only one thing was worth pursuing, no matter what it may cost him.
He couldn’t let a moment more pass without knowing she was safe.
He flung Wyran down, ripped the door from its hinges, and departed into the shadows without looking back. “To hell with you, and to hell with this kingdom! I’ll stop at nothing until I find her.”