Emperor Lloyd’s brows were raised as he watched our interaction, but he nodded. “I’ll speak with the rest of the shield, Silas. You’re excused.”
I nodded once, rushing out of the dining hall toward our room.
I wasn’t ever one to leave my duties when it came to the shield and Emperor Lloyd, but they had to wait because Fawn was more important to me.
This all-consuming desire to ensure Fawn was taken care of in every way possible was why I didn't want to fall in love, but being around her made it impossible not to.
It wasn't as painful as I expected, but it didn't mean that being in love didn't cause me the strife I knew it would because my heart physicallyachedknowing that Fawn was hurting.
I cracked the door open to where we were staying and found Fawn cross-legged on the bed with Declan's projected, yet oddly fuzzy, face in front of her.
“I’m better,” Declan told her, shaking his head with a wince that indicated he was indeednot better.“Ash and I have been trying to contact you. We couldn't get a hold of you, and it scared us. We thought the worst…” Tears sprung in Declan's good eye and trickled down his cheek.
Fawn swallowed with an audible gulp as she forced her fingers through her blue hair. “I was captured, so there wasn't anything I could do. My powers were nullified, and there wasn't any way for me to contact either of you.”
“Captured?Bless, I'm so sorry.” His eye widened. “Who would dare capture you?”
“It’s not important,” she snapped. “I’m okay now.”
“I wish we could've helped you…I wishIcould’ve helped you. Are you sure you're feeling okay now?”
“I’mfine,” she snapped again. “Where’sAsh?”
“She's on a mission. I've basically taken over managing the guild members since thatterrifyingmonster destroyed our guild.” Declan shivered. “Have you called her?”
“I tried. Where are you guys at now?” Fawn tilted her head as the projection of Declan flickered in and out for a few seconds.
“We’ve set up a base inside of Blossom Grove,” he answered, his voice distorted for a few moments.
“Why there?” Her brows furrowed.
Blossom Grove had always been a known territory for glidatons and grocketts. It was strange to hear that a guild had taken base inside a monster habitat.
“Monsters haven't really been in here lately. They've been going out toward people. A horde of them and the largest, most deadly, monster I’ve ever seen destroyed the guild. Populated mage territories have become more dangerous. Those monsters killed our members one by one, Fawn. We almost lost all of our members, but, thankfully, more than half of our members were out on missions when it happened. Ash and I were there, but we were the only two that escaped.”
I could feel the pain funneling through the bond as Fawn rubbed her chest and shook her head. “Can you just have Ash get a hold of me as soon as possible?”
Declan nodded. “Of course I will. She's been so worried about you, Fawn. We both have been.”
“Thank you. Spirits of Hexarium bless,” she stated, and her lip quivered.
“Spirits of Hexarium bless, Master Fawn,” he murmured as the call abruptly ended.
The anguish that washed over the bond caused me to take a stumbled step back.
Her face fell into her hands as she sucked in a shaky breath. “Just leave,” she croaked as her body wracked with sobs.
I pushed the door open further and stepped in, shutting it softly behind me. “I’m not leaving, muse.”
“I don't want you here.”
I winced but kept walking forward. “I just want you to be okay.”
“I’ll be okay if you just leave me alone to process.” The sobs and her hands muffled her voice.
“It's hard to process when you're alone, Fawn. You've been alone for a long time. Just…let me help you through this.”
“How can you possibly help me through this?How could anyone?” she exploded, throwing her hands down and staring at me with tears soaking her face. “My guild was completely demolished by Matthieu, who has somehow transformed himself into a ragingmonster,and I don't even know how my family died after he stole me from them!”
