“Read it out loud,” Fawn croaked her request.
“I’m going to fucking kill him,” Jasper spat before reading the contents of the letter. “My sweet mage, in the darkest depths, a creature rests, with burning passion, he causes pain, a monstrous potion, his actions some deem insane. But with love he was consumed, yet he terrorized. Harm befalls all who dare fall for her, his heart's desire, his greatest leer. Butwhydestroy and maim? To force her love, to win his claim. Until she yields, her spirit must bend, their twisted tale, a tragic end. What is this creature, so dark and wild? A monster's heart, his rampage stops, the moment she yields, true love born in a battlefield. What am I? Here’s a hint, sweet mage, I’m yours. If you want this to stop, bond our souls. I’m coming for you.”
Rage flooded my veins and through the bond of all of us.
Fawn dropped to her knees and reached out a trembling hand as her fingers touched Ash’s braid. “Not again,” she cried out. “I can't have this happen again. Not because of me. I took her in to save her! I saved her to give her a better life, and now she's beenmurderedbecause ofme!”
Immediately, she sent out a call, and Declan's face popped up with concern etched into it. “Fawn, what happened? What’s going on? You look so upset…talk to me.”
“Ash?” she asked, trying to pull herself together as she took a deep, shaky breath that rattled her lungs. “Have you seen her?”
“No, I haven't seen her. She was supposed to be back yesterday. She was fighting a glidaton in the southern part of our empire.” His voice faded out, and his appearance turned fuzzy before clearing.
I could feel her heart breaking in her chest through the bond, the phantom pain not really feeling so phantom.
Fawn held up her braid, tears streaming down her face. “This has her magical signature on it, but I can't tell if it's live or not. Declan, this is all my fault.”
“No, it's not your fault,” the twins said.
Jasper and Casper dropped next to her and wrapped her in an embrace between the two of them.
Declan's eye softened, but there was a sharp glint that remained. “They’re right, Fawn. I don't know the whole story, but I know that you're being targeted by something big. Ash has been so worried about you. She knew that something was after you. She wanted to try to confront it. If she died, she did so knowing what would happen. She did it for you.” Tears filled his eye, and he shook his head. “I will keep you updated on everything with the guild…I’m sorry, Fawn.”
My brows bunched together. Something was off with Declan. He’d accepted Ash’s death too easily.
“Spirits of Hexarium bless.” Fawn tossed her hand up, and Declan's face faded. She turned into Casper, reaching out and clutching Jasper's robe to pull him against her too. “I’ve lost too many companions this way. When Matthieu had impersonated the emperor, the true emperor, he would do thisall the timeto anyone that I befriended.”
“Goddess…” Jasper held her tight.
She shook her head. “But Ash, I didn't befriend. I practically raised her. Shecan'tbe dead, but I know all too well of what Matthieu is capable of. I may not have known the true emperor, but I know Matthieu. He wouldn't have gotten this close to her without killing her.” Her voice broke, and so did her resolve.
“Sunshine, we’re here.”
She sobbed in the twins’ arms.
Bastian, Silas, and I locked eyes for a moment, sharing our heartache for her that was clearly displayed down our bond.
“Come on, bug.” I kneeled down beside them. “We have to do something. All of this emotional stress is killing you, and you haven't been eating.”
“I have no appetite.” Her voice was hoarse as she sniffled.
Both of the twins used their magic wisps to wipe her tears before kissing her cheeks.
“Why don't you go with Aimon and cook something to eat?” Casper suggested, glancing at me, and I smiled.
“That is a wonderful idea, brother,” Jasper murmured.
“We still have to come up with a game plan before getting all of these ingredients,” Silas told her, glancing at Bastian.
“And after we're done, we would love to eat something sweet,” Bastian finished.
She sighed, pulling back and locking eyes with me. “Okay.” She reached her hand out to me.
I took it, pulling her to her feet and wrapping my arms around her waist before glancing back at the guys. “We’ll have something baked up shortly.”
“You know we could just have the cooks make something,” Emperor Lloyd stated as we walked away.
“You know how Aimon likes to cook,” Silas told him.
