This is it. They’ve found me—
Tristan is frozen in front of me. I don’t think he’s even breathing, and my hand rises of its own volition, settling against his back.
“Tristan?” I whisper. “Who is it?”
His hand snakes back, and he wraps his fingers around mine. “It’s alright, Bonded.”
At his nudge, I step out from behind him, peering around his frame to the person standing in the bar doorway.
And then I blink. Because it’s probably the last person I would have expected to be standing in Emmett’s little bar in the forests of Herrith.
Tristan lets out a raw breath, his fingers tightening around mine. “Dad.”
34
TRISTAN
“Tristan.” My dad looks around at the bar, taking in the surroundings. His eyes dart to Sienna when she steps out next to me, and he sucks in a breath.
“Sienna Michaels,” he says, his eyebrows drawing together. “I’m glad to see you. You’re unharmed?”
My Soul Bonded is frozen next to me, but I can feel her hesitation. I take a small step, sheltering her. “That’s relative,” I say quietly. “What are you doing here, Dad?”
Not that it’s not good to see him. Truthfully, I wasn’t sure that I’d ever see him again when we left Navarre.
“All is well,” he assures me quickly. “Well, as well as it can be, given the circumstances.”
He looks around, and my pack give him nods, all of us framing ourselves around Sienna where she still lingers uncertainly behind me.
“Is Jessalyn Rogers here?” Dad asks. “Your parents reported her missing, Sienna. They received a note saying she was leaving Navarre to come after you.”
Sienna nods. “She’s upstairs.”
My dad’s shoulders relax, and he swipes a hand over his face. He looks exhausted. “Thank goodness for that. Shall we sit? I have some news for you.”
Sienna’s hand is still in mine, and I keep it in mine as we move towards the table, everyone settling in. My dad looks older than I’ve ever seen him, like he’s aged a decade or more in the days since the Bonding Ceremony.
He clears his throat, and Jax jumps up, returning with a soda that my dad takes gratefully. “Thanks. It took me a few days to find you. Followed another trail.”
I lean forward. “Dad, what’s happening? Did you find Erikkson?”
Sienna is still and silent next to me, and I pick up a tremble in her fingers as my dad shakes his head. “There’s no sign of him. I’m sorry, son. We’re still trying to work out if he’s crossed the wall, but that seems the most likely option. Alicia Erikkson is still in custody.”
“My parents,” Sienna whispers, and we all turn to her. “How are they, Councillor?”
“Please call me David.” My dad smiles at her, but it’s tinged with sadness. “They’re very angry, Sienna. Your father wanted to come with me today, but he couldn’t leave your mother.”
I catch the tremble of Sienna’s lip as she drops her head, and it tugs at my chest. “I understand.”
Leaning forward, I draw my dad’s attention. “You mentioned news.”
My dad clears his throat. “I did. Through some rather complicated research by Justice Milo, we found a way to remove Erikkson from his position as Beta representative in his absence.”
Jax snorts. “About damn time.”
Dad gives him a chastising look. “It’s caused us some issues, but it helps that Erikkson wasn’t a popular beta leader. It does mean that whilst the Council does not have the authority to change the laws, we have created some… gray areas. The Trials have been suspended.”
“What?” Sienna sits up straighter. “Suspended?”
