"I don't know why you're all so invested in this," Valentine said, rubbing at the knot in his jaw.
Reeve's eyes went soft. "We care because you had a friend who understood you, Val. We all know we can only meet you halfway. Even Dad can't always keep up with you. Yelena can. Even better, she can challenge you. You haven't really been challenged in years."
Food arrived in time to save Valentine from having to reply to that. It was like Reeve's words had stuck another blade in his chest.
"Just answer us one thing," Bas said, waving a chip about. "Do you miss the letters?"
Valentine didn't look up from where he was slicing his ownchips into bite-sized pieces. "If I say yes, will you all shut up about it?"
"Probably not," Apollo said.
Valentine wasn't hungry, but he put a chip in his mouth and chewed dutifully. "Yes, I miss the letters. I thought she would have responded to my last one or given me some kind of explanation or told me off at the very least. But she hasn't."
"Owain did say she was off in the wilds with Avallach. Maybe the letter got lost," Reeve pointed out. "A million things could have happened. Write to her again."
Valentine shook his head. "The magic we used to send the letters meant they would go wherever we were. It's not like they are getting delivered by a third party."
"Maybe she's just giving you some time to cool off. She's bound to come back to England one day, and you two can start again then," Apollo replied.
Valentine hummed noncommittally and ate another mouthful of food so he didn't have to reply. They were about to order another round of pints when Taranis came into the pub with Quinn, her long red hair free and wild from the wind.
"You invited them to this intervention as well?" Valentine huffed. He didn't need a lecture from Taranis either. Yelena was one of his favorite surrogate children after all.
"We didn't tell them where we were going," Bas replied.
"Hey guys...what's up?" Apollo asked casually when they reached their table.
"What's up is you assholes are meant to stay inside the castle grounds," Quinn said before Taranis could open his mouth. She put her hands on generous hips and glared at them. "I shouldn't have to hunt you guys down like naughty teenagers."
"So why are you?" Valentine shot back. "We are fine."
Quinn's eyes narrowed. "Yeah, you'resuperfine, Val. Fucking hell, you look like a vampire who hasn't been feeding."
"What the fuck is with you guys and vampires right now?" he muttered.
"What my beloved is trying to say is you boys could have left a fucking note," Taranis said, crossing his arms over his broad chest. "Val, we need to talk."
"Sorry. Can't. Wedged in. What can you do?" Valentine said, gesturing at Apollo blocking him.
Taranis grabbed a chair from a nearby table and sat on it. "Fine, we will do it here in front of everyone."
"I'm staying too." Quinn sat on Taranis's thigh, and he dropped an arm around her without comment. Valentine had rarely seen her use a chair unless she had to since mating with Taranis.
Valentine took Reeve's half-finished pint and swapped it for his empty glass. His little brother didn't try to stop him.
"I know you have had some mixed feelings about Yelena in the last fortnight, but I need to ask you seriously: Have you heard from her?" Taranis asked, his voice steady.
"I sent her another letter after I found out the truth." Valentine had a big mouthful of his stolen Guinness. "She never replied, and before you start, it was a polite letter, all things considered. She never bothered to acknowledge that she got it."
Taranis let out a long sigh. "Fuck."
"It's going to be okay, love," Quinn said, rubbing his arm.
"Write to her yourself. I'm sure she showed you the fire magic for the messaging," Valentine replied. "It's me she doesn't want to talk to."
"I've tried writing her for weeks now," Taranis admitted. He took Apollo's pint and drained what was left. "Yelena and Avallach are missing."
3
