21. Amon
21
AMON
I search the castle endlessly, looking for any sign of Elora. Panic blooms within me when my search comes up empty. Stalking from room to room, I throw open doors, upending tables and chairs in my anger.
I fling open another door, stopping instantly as the scent of jasmine infiltrates my senses.
She had been here.
I stalk through the door, flinging furniture and tapestries.
Another scent mingles with Elora’s, and my nose crinkles. It smelled of sulfur and burned wood. Snarling, I throw my head back, bellowing my anger.
Something had my mate.
This was no accident.
I had a feeling I knew exactly who was behind this.
My castle was warded to lesser save for the few in my employment.
There was only one way in, and one way out.
Balail.
I bare my teeth as the demonesses name enters my mind. I would find her, and then I would kill her…with pleasure.
“ Amon…”
Elora’s voice enters my mind like a whisper, and I hold a hand to my head as dizziness assaults me.
“ Help me.”
I reach out to seek purchase against the doorframe as I am briefly transported in my mind to her location.
It smells of Earth and rot. I can sense Elora’s fear, and I can sense the intention of the demon that has her. I’m granted a brief image of her curled in the corner of a room, and then it’s gone.
Stumbling slightly, I right myself before stalking out of the room and towards the gilded door in the North wing.
I stand in front of the door, the roses and vines moving in welcome to my presence. I wave a hand in front it, and the roses and vines recede.
Reaching out for the latch, I open it, walking through it smoothly.
As I pass the threshold, I grit my teeth as time tilts around me. I step through into another corridor, only this one isn’t in my home anymore.
I knew there was only one demon who had the ability to locate my mate.
I stalk down the corridor, my strides long, my hands clenched.
“Allocer!”
I bellow the name of my brother, heading in the direction of where I knew I’d find him.
“Allocer!”
I bellow again, rounding a corner into his library.
“I’m here.” Allocer responds. “No need to shout.” My brother lounges in a high-backed chair, his boots propped on an ottoman, book in hand.
He looks up as I enter, snapping the book shut. Setting it aside, he reaches up to push the frame of his rimless glasses onto this nose.
“I need your help.” I growl, pacing the floor.
Allocer tsks, standing to place his book back in its spot before leaning against the bookshelf casually.
He crosses his arms over his chest, regarding me with a smirk. “What is it this time? You know I can’t spare any men right now, so whatever you’re trying to-.”
I raise a hand to cut him off.
“This has nothing to do with your army. Something of mine has been taken and I need you to help me find her.”
I cringe when I realize my slip.
Allocer steps away from the bookshelf, a look of interest replacing his smirk. I turn away, growling and shoving a hand through my hair.
“No, no, brother. Come now, don’t hold out on me now.” He walks to a small table, pulling a chair and gesturing for me to sit. “Do tell.”
I plop into the offered chair heavily, immediately placing my head in my hands. “I don’t have time for this, brother, she could be in danger at this very moment.” Allocer steps up next to me, sticking his hands in his pockets.
“I will help you. But first you must tell me who she is.”
I look up at him, my eyes trying to convey what I can’t bring myself to say.
“The…female?” He asks, reading my expression and frowning. “Well why should that matter consider it a blessing.” He waves me away, walking to stand near the fireplace.
“She’s my mate.” I growl out.
Allocer pauses, removing his hands from his pockets as he turns to gape at me. He reaches up to pull his glasses from his face, walking to me again.
“You mean to tell me… that human-.” I glare at him, warning him to tread carefully. “Elora…” He corrects himself, “Is your mate?”
I nod, my jaw ticking with impatience.
“I-Is she demon blood?” he asks, sinking into a chair opposite mine.
I shake my head, leaning forward to place my elbows on my knees. “She’s human. I’m sure of it.”
A few long moments of silence pass between us before Allocer clears his throat. “Are you sure?” he asks softly.
I nod, regarding him quietly.
“I’m sure.”
Allocer sighs, sitting back against the high back of the chair. He runs a hand through his curls, shaking his head in disbelief.
“She trapped me into a blood bond, but the bond has only strengthened. If I don’t seal it soon…” I trail off. I don’t need to finish the sentence. I know my brother already knows how this will end if I fail to complete the mate bond.
Allocer scrubs a hand over his face, sighing. “I can’t believe it.”
I nod my agreement.
“Help me.” I plead, my voice a deep whisper.
Allocer jumps up, walking to me. “Of course.” He hovers a palm over my forehead. “Think of her. Clear your mind of all else. Your bond will lead me to her.”
I lean back, placing my hands on my thighs and closing my eyes as I attempt to clear my mind of everything but Elora.
Visions of her dance in my mind’s eye and pain lances through my chest at the thought that she could be in danger and afraid at this very moment.
“Focus, Amon.” Allocer warns.
I shake the unpleasant thoughts from my mind and focus instead on her eyes. The lavender depths and the way they catch the candlelight. The way her nose crinkles when she looks at me. Her hair, its softness and the way I like to tuck loose strands away simply to have an excuse to touch her…
“Good, good. Keep it coming.”
I let myself be consumed by her, and visions of her flit in my mind, one after another.
The air starts to buzz, shifting slightly. Dizziness assaults my senses, and I frown.
“Almost!” Allocer hisses.
I grit my teeth, keeping my focus on Elora, and suddenly, I’m yanked backwards through space and time.
The sensation never gets easier, and I clench my fists against it. A second later the sensation passes, and I am standing in a cavern. I lift a hand to steady my swimming head, looking around the space.
It’s dark, save for a few candles scattered through the dank space. The smell of rot and decaying Earth assaults my senses, and I know I’m in the right place. Crinkling my nose, I stalk forward, clenching my fists.
I can hear Elora’s muffled voice, and it spurs me into action. I run to the end of the corridor I’m in, stopping at a broken wooden door. My heart thunders in my chest as Elora’s voice filters through the cracks.
“Don’t touch me!”
Her panicked statement is all I need to act.
Lifting a leg, I kick outwards against the brittle wood, and the entire door splinters apart. I walk past the threshold as I turn to face the horror before me.
Pure, unadulterated anger fills every single cell of my being as I take in the sight of a very large lesser leaning over my mate.
His claws work at making their way under her nightgown, and I snap.
I wave my hand over the beast, and he and I are sucked out of this space and into another. There is no light here. No life.
Nothing.
It just simply is.
The beast hovers in front of me, clawing at his throat as though the air is being choked out of it.
I sneer, regarding the disgusting creature.
This thing took my mate. It touched her. Tried to mate her.
I raise my hand and clench my fist closed with a growl.
The creature explodes in a hail of blood, guts and bones, the squelching sound music to my ears.
The remains of the lesser seemingly float for a moment before fizzling into nothing.
It will never breath, never walk the Earth or beyond, never live again.
Satisfied, I return to the small cavern, my heart shattering when I see my tiny human female huddled in the corner, trembling.
Her eyes are so wide with fear, and when she looks at me, she doesn’t truly see me at first. I go to her immediately, reaching out to pull her into my arms. She fights, slapping at my hands as I sit next to her, scooping her up.
Realization clears her vision, and she looks up at me. “Elora! Elora, it’s me, it’s ok. You’re safe.”
She lets out a sob, fisting her trembling hands into my shirt and burying her face into my chest. My heart breaks, and I wrap my arms around her, rocking her gently.
“You’re safe, my dove. I’m here.”
I hold her while she cries, running my hands over her back and arms. Eventually she quiets, and her trembling slows.
Her grip on me doesn’t let up, though, and I reach up to lay a hand over one of hers.
What can I say that would make this ok?
After a few moments, I wrap a hand around her upper arms, pulling her away from me to look down at her. “Elora, we can’t stay here. We have to leave.”
Wiping her eyes, she looks up at me through wet lashes, and my heart breaks all over again.
“Get me out of here.”