I hadn’t realized King Taja’s cooperation had been so involved. I guess the corrupt viper saw the partnership as beneficial. With The Order stealing magic wielding citizens, it took heat off the Windguardian Army and perception of reducing public executions painted a more benevolent ruler. Providing The Order with medicinal products would allow them to continue magic eradication, and with our camp being so far north, Taja probably finally envisioned the magic extermination he’d always sought.
Too bad he didn’t comprehend how his own actions only strengthened the one group who already wielded the most powerful magic on Myelle. Nothing about The Order’s camp indicated they intended remaining sequestered in the north. When they did decide to move, they’d rain down utterdestruction, possibly on the same scale as Argora Vale one hundred years ago.
Within hours, I would hold everyone dear to my heart, and we could escape this vicious place. Part of me wanted to go ahead, to shift and run so I could return to Ro sooner. Kaval sensed my impatience and reminded me that word of a tiger running through the more dense populous would certainly bring unwanted attention. It might even force The Order to return for my capture.
Ro already had enough heat on her. I wouldn’t bring more. I let my impatience transform into content excitement. This was the last leg of our journey. In a matter of hours, she would be in my arms, and my brothers at my side. Convincing Kaval to evacuate The Kraanti to Highcrest was sure to be a lengthy conversation, but freedom was so close I could taste it.
For the first time in years, I harbored not only hope, but love in my heart. The part of me kept locked up for too long in order to survive amongst the heartless, Ro had found. Stolen was more like it, given her skill set.
Precious little thief.
Eventually we arrived in the town I’d left her. I sprinted to the lodgings Kasia paid for on credit. I knocked on the door, but couldn’t wait. The fact that it was unlocked bothered me, but in seconds I would gaze upon that gorgeous woman and introduce her to my family. I had endless thanks and kisses I wished to bestow upon every part of her freckled skin for encouraging me to find them.
Yet, when the door opened, only Kasia sat on the bed, her face grave. She stood abruptly, facing me. “Dae.”
From the sorrowful way she said my name, a fissure ran through my chest. The bathroom door was open, revealing no one else inside. Anger and grief staked me in place. “Where isshe?” The demand in my voice choked out the air out of the room.
Kasia wrung her fingers together. “We went to the castle—”
“Youwhat?”
“Ro wanted to. We made a plan—”
“A plan for what!”
Jai’s soft laughter grew until he and Kaval approached the door. “She’s really got him wrapped around her finger. Did you see him run here?” Jai chuckled. When they stepped inside the doorframe, they were silent.
“She wanted me to retrieve this.” Kasia bent over, pulling out a drawer from the nightstand and removed a blanket wrapped object. Delicately, she lifted the tucked corners, peeling back the cottony layers.
Aged bronze, darkened by burns, shone dimly from the glowing sun beating against the tattered curtains. Ornate details were carved into the horn, Kasia’s hand barely big enough to grip the thing.
I didn’t give a fuck about that meaningless object. “Where is Ro? Where is she?” The room began to spin. Kasia held a horn, but Ro wasn’t here. She’d gone to the castle, walked straight into the lion’s den of the man who’d blackmailed her, who slaughtered half her people.
I wondered if in her vacant rage she’d attempted to kill him. The ground swayed beneath my boots. She had to know she wouldn’t be successful. It’d be a suicide mission.
She’d been so withdrawn and forlorn for days since she’d heard the news of her camp, so maybe that was exactly why she went.
That fissure in my chest split, the widening cavern filling with immediate despair. “Where is she?” I asked again, this time through tears spilling from my eyes.
Kasia frowned. “She didn’t come out.”
My knees hit the floor with a cracking sound. I didn’t care. The pain was secondary to the breaking in my chest.
“Dae!” Jai sprinted, hand clasping my shoulder as he knelt by my side. “What’s going on?” he asked Kasia.
“Taja has Ro. She sent me in to retrieve this item, but she never met me at our meet up spot.”
“When was this?” Jai probed.
“Two days ago,” she whispered.
“Kav,” Jai snapped.
“On it.” Kaval’s steps retreated hastily.
At some point, my brothers moved me to the bed.
Ro and I barely had any time together. I hadn’t been able to take her on a proper date, hadn’t stayed up with her all night making love until we watched a peaceful sunrise. We never cooked our favorite meals or fought over a messy house. All the things I’d seen my parents do, all the things I’d wanted to share with her, gone like dust in the wind.
