“What?” Bladin shakes his head. “What does that even mean?”
I meet her black gaze. “You may accompany us, but my warriors will keep a close watch. You’d do well not to upset them.”
“Yeah.” Charen sends a tendril of darkness curling around the unicorn’s feet. “You wouldn’t like it if I get upset.”
“I might.” She licks her lips, then bares her fangs.
“Enough.” I spur my mount to a trot, leaving Brock and my throne behind. I don’t have any more time to waste. I’ve already let too much pass. My link to Emma fades with every moment, and I won’t let her go.
The nobles gather outside the palace gates, their eyes on me as we ride past. I gave no formal public proclamation of my absence, but they know of it, all the same. The king doesn’t ride to the night realm without reason, and the recent events weigh heavily on the entire realm.
War. I see it in their gazes, hear it in the eerie quiet only punctuated by the sound of hooves. The town beyond the wall is much the same, my people in the streets, their faces upturned with questions and disquiet writ large in their eyes. But I have no answers, no way to quell their fears. Perhaps because my worry is just as great, my fear for my mate spurring me on faster.
It will take time to reach the border, especially with my cohort, but going alone wasn’t an option. Brock truly would’ve cracked if I’d even suggested it. But my warriors know we won’t stop until we reach the border—and not even then. Not until my mate is safely back in my arms.
Picking up more speed, I hurtle toward the border with night and toward my consort-turned-queen. My mate awaits me there, and I will bring her home.
13
Emma
“Something wrong?” Eraldon strokes my hair from my face as we stare down at the Nightkeep.
“When will Lex be ready?” The barrier still stands between our legions of seekers and the stone Nightkeep.
“It’s almost time. I intend to fetch her once the moon is overhead.” He wraps his arm around my waist and pulls me against him. “Why are you so agitated at the moment? Do you need to feed?” He strokes my hip.
I don’t cringe. In fact, I’ve become adept at pretending to enjoy his touches. They’re fleeting, after all. He never truly has affection for me. I don’t know if he’s capable of it. There’s only room in his dark heart for conquest, not love. Never love.
“Your thoughts stray somewhere else.” He grabs my chin and yanks my head around to him. “Where?”
“Nowhere.” I control my fear. No one else can make me feel this creeping dread. Only Eraldon. The other seekers here fear me and serve me, but Eraldon makes clear he’s the prince of night. As he should, I remind myself.
“I can find you, my pet. No matter where you go, I’ll find you.” He releases my chin, but then I feel his fingers in my mind, prying and searching.
I try to resist him, but I’m helpless, no defenses against his all-consuming will. He pushes deeper, invading my thoughts until all I can do is hide. I find the darkest corner of my mother’s home in Moonhollow and make myself small, folded down in a corner where even the firelight doesn’t reach.
“I’ll find you,” Eraldon calls, his voice splintering through me.
The door bursts open and he strides in—just as the day soldiers had when Solano came to claim me. Solano, the day king. My enemy. But I remember the touch of his hand, the warmth of his eyes. My enemy. No, he’s something else to me. Something even closer than an enemy. He’s my … A bright flash of day bursts behind Eraldon, and he growls.
“Still thinking ofhim?” He rushes to the corner and yanks me up, his grip on my arm like ice. “How many times must I hurt you, pet?” He drags me from my mother’s house and throws me out into the night.
I snap back to myself, my eyes opening as I stare into his malevolent gaze.
“Iam your king. Your mate.”
“Yes.” I blink hard, the odd sensation of light fading away.
“Solano killed your mother.” He stares down at me, and his presence is a weight. One that reminds me of the truth. Solano is a monster. “He would’ve killed you if I hadn’t stopped him.” He strokes my cheek again as I nod.
“It must’ve been the witch. Lex’s daughter. She’s tangled everything up in my mind.” I press my fingers to my temple.
“Yes.” He nods. “That’s exactly right. Fight it, my pet. Fight those tendrils of lies. That’s what the light is. A lie made to look beautiful. But it is death. Death to seekers, death to anyone from night realm. Light is a lie.”
He’s right. I take a deep, calming breath, and let it out. His voice floats through my mind, soothing me.
I shake out my wings and step back.
