Erik sits quietly beside me, nursing his glass with a grim expression. He hasn't said a word since we left the deck, but I can feel the tension radiating off him.
Gideon clears his throat, explaining the significance of Blood Reef and how it's notorious as a hub for illegal trade and underhanded dealings. The perfect place for a traitorous fuck like Bloodbane to offload valuable merchandise.
Like my mate—My Angel.
I tighten my grip on the glass, "She's gone," I grit out, the words tasting like ash. "Dani. She... she went through some portal. I felt it, felt her agony as it ripped through me like a knife to the heart."
Gideon's brow furrows in confusion. "A portal?" he echoes, leaning forward. "To where? And why?"
I shake my head, frustration and helplessness warring in my chest. "I don't know," I admit bitterly. "All I know is that she's not on his ship anymore or in this realm. She's... somewhere else entirely."
Gideon sits back, stroking his beard. "Well, that certainly complicates matters," he muses. "If the lass isn't even in Aquaria anymore, chasing after Bloodbane might be naught but a wild goose chase."
I nod stiffly. As much as it galls me to admit it, the captain is right. We could waste precious time and resources pursuing a dead end without knowing where Dani is or how to get to her.
But the thought of just sitting on my ass and waiting, of doing nothing while my mate is out there somewhere, alone and in pain... it's enough to make my blood boil.
Erik must sense my growing agitation because he leans forward and places a calming hand on my shoulder. "Brother," he says softly. "I know it's hard, but we must be smart about this. We can't help Danica if we go off half-cocked and get ourselves killed."
I take a deep breath, forcing myself to unclench my jaw and loosen my grip on the glass. He's right, damn him. As much as every fiber of my being is screaming at me to act, I know that rushing in blind is a surefire way to get us all killed.
And that won't do Dani any good at all.
I take another swig of rum, letting the burn ground me in the present. I turn to Gideon, "We wait," I say, the words tasting like bile. "As much as it kills me to say it... we wait. Dani is strong, and our bond is unbreakable. She'll find her way back to me, one way or another. And when she does..."
I let the sentence hang, the unspoken promise of violence and retribution heavy in the air.
Gideon nods, his eyes glinting with understanding and approval. "Aye," he says, raising his glass in a silent toast. "We wait. And we make damn sure we're ready for whatever storm is brewing on the horizon."
I nod, clinking my glass against his before downing the contents in one long, burning swallow. The rum sears a fiery path down my throat, but it's nothing compared to the inferno raging in my heart.
I can't lose myself this time. I have to stay strong and keep my head on straight.
Come back to me, baby, I think fiercely, my eyes slipping closed as I send the thought out into the ether across the vast expanse of realms and dimensions that separate us.
Danica
21
Islam onto the hard floor like a sack of potatoes, the impact reverberating through my bones. Pain radiates through every inch of my body, and for a moment, I'm sure I've broken something important, like my spine or my dignity.
I lay there, gasping for air, trying to will the world to stop spinning.
What the hell was that?
One minute I'm on Captain Douchbag's ship, the next, I'm being sucked through a portal like Alice down the rabbit hole, only instead of Wonderland, I've ended up in hell.
Nausea rolls through me in waves, and I swallow hard, fighting the urge to puke.
Once my breathing is under control, I look around, trying to get my bearings.
Holy shit, I'm in my apartment.
How did I get here? I slowly stand, my head spinning. I'm about to start questioning my sanity when I hear the front door open, and in walks Lucian, carrying groceries like he's just returned from a Sunday stroll.
I stand there, stunned, my mouth hanging open. It takes me a moment to remember how to speak. "Lucian?"
Even to my own ears, I sound unsure, like I'm not entirely convinced he's really there.
