The taste of vanilla and cinnamon coats my tongue with every sweep of her lips as she grinds into me. My fingers thread through dark, heavy hair as she purrs beneath my touch. I slide the thin straps of her slip down her shoulders and angle my lips to the crook of her neck, planting soft kisses all the way down the perfect slope of her chest. She pins me on my back, and I marvel up at her.
My strong, beautiful warrior. My little witch.
Her slip slinks lower, pooling around her waist, leaving her perfection exposed, and I heave a groan of frustration, unable to stop myself from bucking against her weight on my lap. Her violet eyes flash, the pupils narrowing to slits before they drift shut, and her head tilts back in pleasure. My hands run downthe length of her body as she leans down to offer her lips to me. Fusing her face to my own, I open my mouth, desperate to devour her, only to be met with thin air.
My eyes fly open.
I’m alone, twisted in bed sheets, rock hard, hips grinding against nothing.
She isn’t here.
She never was.
I sit up, running my hands over my face, shaking the torturous mirage from my head. These dreams have haunted me ever since she was taken.
I spotted her wide eyes through the frantic crowd just long enough to see a name form on her lips.
Myname.
I tried to fight my way through the thicket of bodies. I shoved and pressed and did all I could short of cutting down innocents to get to her. I raged against the sea of fae and monsters, but it was futile.
Blinding horror washed over me as blood ore chains were clamped around her wrists, and she dropped like a ragdoll into the waiting arms of one of those vile creatures. Then they vanished into thin air.
I wasn’t fast enough.
I failed her.
Kylian, the queen, and Mal disappeared along with Serena and Kai. That was no mere coincidence.
Kylian’s arrival at court was timed too perfectly to be happenstance. The attacks on the castle started the day after he stepped foot on the grounds. He knew of Serena’s identity. And I suspect he knew of it before he even touched down on Aegean soil.
Kylian had an informant—someone privy to the truthabout Serena’s identity. I’m willing to bet my life that person was Ilspeth or Mal. Or both.
This entire thing was an elaborate ruse. A plan to take Serena. What better way to throw us off Vod’s scent than by pinning the attacks on a rogue pack of foreign monsters? By turning Kylian and his mother into innocent victims?
Those creatures are just puppets. And Kylian and Ilspeth are holding the strings.
I’ve spent every waking moment going over and over it in my head. Drilling it with the king and coming up with a suitable course of action.
I haven’t eaten and I’ve barely slept. Each time I do, she haunts my dreams. A cruel taunt to trick me into believing she’s safe in my arms, only to wake to an empty bed and remember she’s out of reach, hurt or dead, being tortured or gods only know what else.
I bound out of bed, shameful dreams forgotten, as I quickly dress and arm myself to the teeth with weapons. Minutes later, I’m knocking on the door to the king’s council room.
“Come,” he commands.
I storm in to find him alone, bent over a map, his face a mask of tense concern.
“I’m going to Vod. Today. I can’t wait another minute,” I snap.
“Jace.” Derek comes around the table to take my shoulders.
“Zadyn is already on his way there. Following her scent like a crazed hound.” I heave a deep sigh, shaking my head.
“He’ll be there any day and will report what he finds.” His tone is soothing. I envy his level-headed nature. “In the meantime, I have men searching for leads all over Aegar, to be certain.”
I insisted on going with Zadyn, but Derek was adamant about me staying behind in case of another attack. I don’tforesee that happening now that they’ve got what they want. Serena.
“Is this what being Hand means? Sitting on the sidelines like a coward while others fight the battle? I’m being wasted here.” I toss a hand in the air, haphazardly.
