"We found these wherever a portal opened," Valentine explained. "They weren't placed in random spots, but in areas where there would have been a lot of vulnerable people. None near any platforms or warrior barracks. They were markets and residential places. High volume areas in order to cause maximum damage and panic before help could get to them. Whoever did it knew the city well."
"Fucking bastard," Taranis growled. His magic curled like red flames as he held it out over the tokens. The air charged. The top of Valentine's head tingled with the magic around them, and then the tokens melted under the force of Taranis's power. "We need to find out who is responsible for bringing these into the city."
There was a knock at the door, and Vidar poked his head in. "Apologies for the interruption, my king, but I have news."
Taranis's magic disappeared back into his skin, and he nodded. "Come in and tell me what you found."
"I went to check on the lords to ensure they were secure," Vidar said, his face going grim. "Afon and two others, Maynard and Alger, are all missing. There were no signs of a struggle, and some of their valuables were gone. I found these in their rooms." Vidar held out a handkerchief to reveal three more tokens. Taranis quickly snatched them up and melted them with the others.
"You should have let me kill Afon yesterday," Valentine grumbled. "Fucking traitors."
"I don't understand." Taranis sat down on a wooden stool. "Afon was the one who reported Midir's movements in his lands to begin with."
"And you probably never suspected him because of that," Yelena said, her eyes shimmering with magic.
"We don't know if Midir got in their heads somehow," Vidar said, not sounding convinced.
"I doubt it," Taranis said, looking tired and heartbroken. "Both Maynard and Alger were the loudest in protesting about Quinn being my mate. They never accepted her, and Afon has always chafed under my decisions. He hated Yelena, and when I went to help the human world with magic. I knew they were angry, but I didn't expect them to betray their own people like this."
Valentine didn't know what to do. He wasn't good at comforting people. "We will find Midir and the lords and get justice against the fuckers. How dare they resent your mate and chosen queen," he said, and picked up the cooled remains of a token. "I'm going to take this and think of a way to find them."
Taranis didn't argue. He looked like he was torn between wanting to rage out and cry. The door opened, and Quinn came in. Her hair was tied back under a cloth, and she was wearing a blood-stained apron over her clothes.
"Get out, you three. Go and get some rest," Quinn said, pulling the apron off and dropping it on the floor. They didn't argue, just headed for the door. Quinn put her arms around Taranis, and he rested his head on her chest. "I'm here. It's going to be okay, love."
Valentine quickly shut the door before he heard anything else. Yelena looked hollow-eyed and angry, so Valentine decided to follow Quinn's example. Yelena might not officially be his mate yet, but she was hurting, and he hated it. He put an arm around her.
"Let's do what the queen says. We all need some sleep so we can think clearly," he said, and Yelena leaned into him. Hepressed his lips to her temple. "We will find them, baby girl, and we will make them pay for all of this."
32
The following evening, Valentine woke to the sound of heavy thumping on Yelena's bedroom door. He was going to add in his own layer to her wards if the knights kept waking him up when he wasn't ready.
"I am going to murder you if you don't go away!" he grumbled.
"Get your ass up, bro. I need attention," came Apollo's voice, jolting the rest of Valentine into wakefulness.
Yelena yawned and gave him a slight shove. "We had better get up and see who else arrived while we were in bed."
"No one is important enough to warrant me moving while you are naked," Valentine replied and placed a pillow over his head.
"You have twenty minutes to shower off whatever the fuck you two have been up to and come down to eat dinner, or I'll be back," Apollo threatened with a final bang on the door. "Some things are more important than shagging."
"Says the man who mauls his mate whenever he gets close enough," Valentine complained into his pillow.
Yelena shifted on the bed, her mouth finding his nipple.
"That's not helping," he grunted.
Yelena's teeth fastened on his chest, and he jumped in surprise. "Come on, Val, you know he'll come in if we ignore him."
"Whose side are you on?" he said, pushing off the pillow and sitting up.
"I'm on the side of going to eat and then coming back as soon as we can so you can give me orgasms," Yelena replied. She looked him over and bit her lip. "You getting any orgasms in return will depend entirely on how much you complain about getting up."
"Wicked little dragon," Valentine said, stroking a hand up her bare thigh and teasing her pussy. She let out a little whimper, and he moved his hand away. Her eyes narrowed. "Now we are both horny."
"You're assuming I'm not always horny when I'm around you," she said and got out of bed. She headed for the bathroom. "Are you coming to help wash my back, or are you going to just sit there?" Valentine had never moved so quickly.
