“Can you tell me where he is? Do you know anything that will help me?” Raelle begs. Seriah stands, and I fix a bored expression on my face as I stand too and pull Raelle up with me. She keeps an eye on our hands, which are still laced together.
“Trust your instincts. Be wary, but don’t let the unknown stop you merely because it is harder. You are the leader of our people, Raelle. Even if you don’t realize it yet or have yet to announce it, your blood sings of great power—the first moon raven in averylong time. Keep your path true to the light. If you veer too far from where you are meant to go, I fear not only what it could mean for the kingdom but for the realm.” Neighboring kingdoms have been waiting for our kingdom to implode to take over our lands, but the hold Demetrey has been inching toward has held them at bay. At least with talk of a moon raven rising, we don’t have to fear an attack from beyond our kingdom, but since the dragons return… I have to wonder what Cano and Demetrey have gotten into. Whatever it is can only bring more chaos to our lands.
“We need to get back to the castle. I think I know what needs to be done.” The finality of her words sends chills down my spine, but I squeeze her hand and nod my head. If there is anything I’m ready for, it’s the rise of the moon raven, and it seems that day is finally coming. If not today, very soon.
Chapter twenty-five
Pushing my food aroundwith my fork, I look across the table at Ambriel, and then my eyes shift to my right, where Kait sits. Maki is at the head of the table, grinning into his chalice, watching me. I shift in my seat as I shove a bite of the eggs and breakfast meat into my mouth.
“What?” I ask him around, chewing the mouthful.
“Nothing…” The fucker is having a ball watching me squirm. Sitting with these two women who are clearly at each other’s throats since the confrontation in the kitchen is—well, awkward as hell. The silence and tension that fills the room is making me lose my appetite, and it’s not going to be good for anyoneif I can't eat. If I don’t, I am going to be hungry, and I get grumpy when I’m hungry. That will only add to the bad energy and to this whole mess of shit that keeps getting worse around here. Looking at the door, my brow drops in frustration. Where the hell is Raelle? She keeps missing breakfast.
Deciding I can’t handle this right now, I shovel more than enough food into my mouth, making it hard to chew. I swallow my overzealous bite, gulping down wine with my breakfast. With how things are going, I’m sure wine can only help. Ambriel narrows her eyes on me, and Kait glares at Ambriel. Yep, I need to leave now. I’ll go find Raelle.
“I’m going to see if Raelle is going to want breakfast. Do you think we can get a tray together for her?” I ask Maki.
“I think that’s a great idea. Naza, can you put together a breakfast tray for the queen?” Maki asks his handmaid. She nods, bowing slightly, before padding across the room and heading for the kitchen. It doesn’t take long for Naza to return with a tray of Raelle’s favorites, but long enough for me to finish another glass of wine. When she returns, we move to leave the tense room quickly, but as we make our way to the wing that holds her room, Miles rounds the corner.
“Trent, good. I was coming to speak with you. I wanted to ask your permission to return to Ravendene for a short while. There are Fae there I’ve received word from that need assistance with the overbearing presence of Cano’s regime.” I clap him on the shoulder, smiling close lipped. Miles is one of the best Fae I know. He is always willing to help those in need.
“You don’t have to ask permission, Miles, but thank you. Just, please—don’t go alone.” He nods, and as I move to step around him, he places a hand on my chest.
“I want to bring Kait.” My eyes snap up to meet his gray ones. “I want to make quick work of it, and I know her wolf can keep up. She is a good soldier, and she will want to help with this.” I purse my lips as I nod in agreement.
“If she wishes to go,” I lock my gaze on the man who is as much family to me as Kait is. “Take care of each other.”
“Always.” He turns away, and I watch as he fades into the distance, turning the corner and disappearing into the room I just came from. Something sinks into my stomach, telling him that they may go on this mission—the thought of one of my best friends out in the Kingdom and in danger nags at me, but I can’t think about it too closely. Kait will have Miles. They will be fine.
Refocusing, Naza and I continue to the wing of the castle that holds Raelle and Dax’s chambers. When we approach the door, all is quiet. I begin knocking at the door and after a few tries, I pry it open a crack and stick my head in. My stomach drops at what I see. Her bed is made, and a piece of parchment lays on her pillow. Shoving open the door, I storm into the space, cursing and picking up the note with my name on it.
“Naza, go get Maki.”
“Of course.” She nods before quickly scurrying off back the way we came.
“What are you up to, Raelle?” I whisper, opening the letter, and close my eyes after I read her words. Hurt settles over my bones as I realize that in all my attempts to help Raelle, I’ve pushed her away. She didn't trust me not to stop her from going out to get the answers she needed for closure. I’d kick my own ass if I could. How could I not realize how much she was still hurting? How much she needed to know.
As I exit Raelle’s room, Maki is running toward the door and slides to a stop as he reaches me. I hand the letter over to him and shake my head.
“She should have felt comfortable bringing any one of us along with her, but instead she’s alone and puts herself in danger. She doesn't even know how to control her power yet, so she’s also a danger to others.”
“Let’s go out and find her. This letter says she’s going to find a seer. It has to be Seriah. That’s who Dax saw so many times after the death of your parents. It wouldn't surprise me if he told Raelle of her.” Kait and Ambriel come running up next, both with a look of worry on their faces. For once, it does not look like they are about to battle it out against each other.
“Has anyone seen my brother?” Ambriel asks.
“No… you don’t think that Raelle took him with her, do you?” I can’t keep the dislike from my tone when I talk about Ambriel’s brother. Something about the guy just pisses me off, and I find myself wanting to kick his ass every time I’m around him.
“It’s not that…” She trails off, worry in her eyes, as a frown tugs the corners of her mouth down.
“What is it, then?” Kait asks vehemently.
“I wanted Raelle to tell everyone; I felt it was her place to decide when she let everyone know… but being as they are both missing… my brother is kind of responsible for wiping Raelle’s memories. Raelle said that she trusts him, and… well, he’s my brother. I don’t think he has any vicious intent…” Ambriel trails off again, and Kait opens her mouth to speak, but my worry and anger boil over.
“What do you mean? You don’t think that erasing someone’s fucking memory is vicious intent enough? I knew I didn’t trust the motherfucker!” My voice is beginning to riseas my temper takes over. My shift comes over me as an uncontrolled vibration racks my body. “I’m going to find them and if that motherfucker has touched her, I’m going to…” My fist pummels into the wood door to Raelle’s room. The wood cracks from the force, and Ambriel flinches as her eyes swim with unshed tears. They don’t spill, though, before they harden, and she grits her teeth, crossing her arms. Good. She can be mad. I feel responsible for keeping my brother’s mate, his wife, the queen safe. Not much time has passed at all, and I’ve already failed miserably.
“Trent?” The raspy voice pulls me from the fit of rage, and I spin around, chest heaving, to find Raelle and Alaric walking toward us down the hallway. My eyes immediately drop to their connected hands and then whip back up, narrowing to dangerous slits. I zero my anger in on the asshole who dares touch my brother’s mate.
A growl bursts from my throat as I move to tackle him, but before I take one step, my feet are pulled from under me, and I fall face-first to the stone floor, being forcefully pressed into its surface.
