“Cadence.”
Rough hands clamped down on my shoulders, holding me still.
“Easy, Brother.”
My head jerked to the side, and my gaze clashed with eyes so familiar that I would recognize them anywhere. “Riordan. What the hell happened?”
“Mathias used his magic on you. It must have suppressed your powers until you lost consciousness.” Malesh strode into my line of sight, handing me a waterskin. I took it eagerly, bringing it to my lips and drinking deeply.
“Where is Cadence?” I asked, replacing the cork.
“They took her to the dungeons.” My gaze moved toward the voice, landing on Callum as he paced the length of the fireplace, tension written into every step. “We have to free her.”
“Why haven’t you already done so?” I was unable to keep the accusation out of my tone, and my brother bristled.
“Cadence begged me to get you out, and though I wasn’t pleased, I did as she asked.” He sighed, running his hand over his jaw. “Figured our odds were better with you on our side, anyway.”
I forced my fists to unclench as I stood from the bed and grabbed my sword. “How long have I been out?”
“Not long,” Malesh said, but the strain in his voice gave away the lie.
“How. Long?”
Time dragged on before Callum finally said, “One day.”
“An entire fucking day!”
Shadows burst free from my hold, and the air thickened as black tendrils lashed through the room, slamming into the stone walls and sending cracks crawling through the mortar.
I took a deep breath as I forced my shadows back, shoving them into submission.
A day. They’d let her rot for an entire fucking day.
If they had hurt her, if she had so much as shed a tear… I’d murder every motherfucker in this castle, starting with my father.
Eamon would feel my wrath for failing her. I glanced around the room, seeking her guard, but he was nowhere to be found.
“Where’s Eamon?”
Malesh lowered his gaze, and Riordan’s features twisted into some emotion I didn’t understand.
“Where is he?” I demanded.
“Dead,” Callum said without a hint of feeling. He was so overwhelmed by his fear for Cadence that there was no space left for anything else.
But the single word struck me like a punch to the gut. My knees trembled, and my hands shook as my mind tried to reconcile what I was hearing.
“What do you mean, dead?”
My throat felt dry, and I swallowed around the lump forming there.
“When the guards came for Cadence, he protected her with his life,” Riordan said, his voice rough. “He did his duty.”
My eyes closed, and a sharp pain erupted behind my ribcage.
Dead. Eamon was dead.
But my mate wasn’t, and I wouldn’t let Eamon’s sacrifice be in vain. My resolve strengthened, and I marched toward the door.
