Chapter 7 Where is She?
Chapter seven
Where is She?
Sorin
Panic cannot begin to describe how I felt when Lace was not in her room this morning.
I had convinced Sam we should let her sleep in a bit longer than might have been necessary.
She looked so exhausted before going to bed last night.
I figured with her world being turned upside down and the plans her father has for her, maybe a little more sleep in these early days might be helpful.
Even the strongest warriors need extra sleep sometimes.
I regretted this decision as soon as we found the room empty.
Normally, we are not ones to burst into Lace’s quarters.
Knock on a window in the middle of the night?
Sure. Steal her away when we have no business doing so?
Sure. Never a break in— we are gentlemen after all.
The circumstances we have found ourselves in, though, are not of the ordinary.
I can’t trust a single soul here and although her father is something to be feared, I have the protection of my lineage there.
I am the youngest child of the Ilksbrough family.
One of the oldest noble lineages in Tikilium.
We are the sole providers of high-quality grapes in Ptheryeth.
My own father always had the saying: Where there is alcohol, there is coin to be made.
Hence why I still have my head. The king does love his wine.
Here, though? I have no such protections.
Not that I truly care about them. Those who get in the way of my mission here will find themselves dead.
Along with anyone who dares harm my Lace.
The thing about those protections is with them comes restriction. I am now free of both of those things.
“The door!” Sam points to the door to the garden. It is cracked just slightly; someone must have forgotten to close it completely.
“Let’s hope Alaceandra is the one who forgot to shut it…
” I mumble, her full name foreign on my tongue.
It has been ages since I’ve called her by her full name, but you never know who is listening.
Sam nods although the cracked door is not a great hint at her whereabouts it is the best clue we have.
She could not have wandered too far. Her bed was still slightly warm when we checked it earlier.
We approach the door. “We need to have a talk with her about wandering by herself,” I grumble, making my way back into this cursed garden.
Sam nods his agreement, keeping quiet. The grounds feel much different today.
The magic laced within it is unsettling and rubs against my aura in an aggressive manner that makes me want to throw something.
Nature is supposed to bring me peace but instead this energy does its best to amplify my ire.
I pinch the bridge of my nose and huff out a breath, trying to keep myself calm.
I will not find Lace if I cannot control myself.
Sam tilts his head up at a noise. “I hear her; she’s in the center of the garden.”
I storm over, not caring whether I damage any greenery in my way. Although it hurts me to pain nature, right now I could not care less. I will pay my respects to the mother later and ask for forgiveness, for now I must get to Lace.
“Here come your men.” I hear a voice drawl in the distance.
As I part the trees with Sam I come upon a clearing.
On the edge of it I see what looks to be the prince leaning against a tree and a red-faced Lace across from him, shooting him a confused look.
If he has done something to her, I will deal with him accordingly. For now, though, my priority is Lace.