Queen Mikko sat atop her pegasus, the swirling mist in her eyes frantic. Her head darted back and forth, searching the sky in all directions. “King Traevon is never late. This cannot be good.”
“There!” King Elon pointed to the left, his Fae-gift dancing to the side, anxious like his rider. “I see something.”
Our royal heads jerked in that direction.
“Where?” Queen Alora sat forward in her flying saddle, squinting into the molten red and orange sky. “I do not see anything.”
“I see it now,” I stated, my tone deadly quiet. I narrowed my eyes, the closer the royal flew. “It is King Traevon. Where the Fae fuck is his heir?” My jaw clenched as I focused on my Fae-spark, digging for my fucking soul mate within.
The bitch was peaceful wherever she was as if she were sleeping, though her emotions were slightly difficult to find— almost hidden. This was highly unusual for what I knew of her, and I did not like how hard it was to feel her right now. The elven heir would not put this realm at risk by sleeping in, nor would her king allow her to.
Tension built up my spine. I sat straighter on my Fae-gift.
All of my instincts screamed something was amiss.
My claws itched to release, poking at my skin.
Queen Alora’s jaw clenched. “I do not believe King Traevon will have good news about Princess Trixie’s absence.”
“I agree.” Queen Mikko’s dark brows puckered.
“Let us not assume.” King Elon flicked his long shamrock-green braids over his shoulder, attempting to appear calm. “There may be a perfectly reasonable explanation—”
“Like what?” I snapped, cutting him off. I bared my teeth and growled loudly, fury tightening my neck. “There is noreasonable explanationfor her absence!”
The other rulers and I turned our eyes back to the sky.
Right as the sun broke the horizon, the elven king landed.
King Traevon’s eyes dashed over each of us, and then he twisted on his flying saddle to peer behind him. His attention raced over every inch that he could see in front of my castle before he turned back around. His features cleared of all emotion, except for his eyes. His elven, emerald gaze held death within them.
“Where is Princess Trixie?” I snarled, my claws unsheathing.
King Traevon stated—in the quietest of voices, “My daughter did not come home yesterday. My people have been searching for her, but they cannot find her. Princess Trixie is now officially missing, as she would not miss this.”
I sucked in a harsh breath, my thoughts blazing in rage.
The bitch had not made it home? She wasmissing?
What in the Fae fuck had she gotten herself into this time?
“Oh my Fae,” Queen Alora whispered, horrified shock widening her white sparkled, solid blue eyes.
King Elonhissed. “What in the realm is going on!”
Queen Mikko lowered her head and shook it in anger, glaring at her lap. “We needall of usto find the artifact. We need Princess Trixie to be with us.”
“Quite so.” King Traevon’s lethal gaze turned in my direction. “King Athon, tell me more about the dark Fae you met yesterday. I find it extremely suspicious that he showed up right before this quest began. If he is still alive, I would like to question him.”
“He was disposed of,” I answered, my tiger fangs bared. They would not disappear, my silent wrath showing for one and all. My muscles fairly fucking trembled. I needed to hunt, to maim. I needed blood damn well soaking my hands. “You believe the Fae are behind your missing heir?”
“My heir would have been able to kill anyone else. And she would have if they tried to stop her from arriving on time.” King Traevon gazed straight ahead, staring deep into his thoughts. “Has anyone been able to capture a Fae yet?”
The other rulers shook their heads in the negative.
Igrowled, a nasty sneer turning my lips up at the corners. “I can hunt one down.” My claws twitched. I liked that idea.
Someone had what wasmine. They would be dead soon.
