Tenacitypouredthroughthebond as Rodric stepped into the gatehouse. Whatever Celina was bolstering herself to do had him wanting to break into a run. Had that same well of resolve filled her just before she’d faced the soldiers in town?
He paused to let his eyes adjust to the change in lighting and zeroed in on a shadow of movement unsteadily descending the stairs.Celina!
A large stone broke loose with a loud crack on her next step, pitching her forward.
He leapt for her, catching her around the waist and lifting her away from the stairs. Holding her tightly, he dropped his forehead to hers. “I thought I’d lost you.”
“Never.” Her voice broke on the whispered promise.
An unhealthy heat rose from her skin as he pressed his head to hers, shooting fear through him. They’d held her captive most of the day. “You’re burning up, love. What did they do to you?”
“I’m okay.” She gave a soft kiss and evaded answering. “Brenna needs you. She’s upstairs with Jed.”
Forcing down his need to question her about what she’d endured, he pressed a tender kiss at her temple and carried her a few feet outside. “Connor, take her. She’s dizzy and can barely walk.”
Setting her on her feet, Rodric transferred her to her brother and turned back to the gatehouse. Connor would protect her. He stepped carefully, not disturbing a single stone as he ascended the stairs, tuning his senses to the quiet building. No threats met him, so he continued to round the corner.
A ferocious Jed held the center of the small room, teeth and claws bared in warning.
Whipping around, he found Brenna standing to the hidden side of the doorway, back pressed to the wall in the least visible spot in the room. A large rock was raised in her shaking hands. Recognition hit just as she was about to release the weapon. She stumbled to a stop and dropped it instead.
With a wrenching sob, she jumped at him, trusting him to catch her just as he’d done a thousand times throughout her childhood. His heart exploded with emotions as he caught her, love, fear, and relief battering him as he held her safely.
“I’m sorry, Brenna. So, so sorry, sunshine.” He’d meant to sayyou’re safe, I’ve got you, it’s going to be okay.But all those reassurances transformed into murmured apologies as they passed his lips.
Her crying quieted and she released him to wipe her eyes. “Why do you keep apologizing?”
“It’s my fault. All of this. I’m so sorry, Brenna.”
“It’s not. I… I have magic. Will you still… do you hate me?”
“I love you so much, I thought I might die when I came home to find you taken. Magic or no magic, you’ll always be my sunshine. I could never, ever hate you.”
“I wanted to tell you, but Da wanted to wait.” More tears leaked from her eyes.
“It’s okay, sunshine.”
He pulled her back into a long hug, barely believing she was finally safe in his arms. Thank the stars for Celina. And Sev, Cass, Morgan, Daya, and Connor. He owed them all for putting his head on straight, forcing him to face his fears and make peace with his past.
“There’s a lot I should have told you, too,” he said. “But first, let’s get out of here.”
KeepingahandonBrenna’s shoulder, Rodric hurried their group through the fortress, cutting a straight line from the gatehouse to the stable. Whoever was left would be hiding or trying to escape, and the captain had so far evaded their body count. Determining the second was more likely, they headed to the horses.
Celina jerked to a stop as they approached. “Someone’s in there.”
“How many?” Connor asked.
“Two, at least. Maybe more.”
Straining his ears produced a bare hint of familiar sound—someone saddling a horse. “How can you hear that?” Rodric asked.
“Bonyon fruit,” Celina said.
“Oh, so youcouldhear me. That makes more sense,” Brenna said, understanding dawning on her face. She took Celina’s hand, squeezing it. Celina blinked rapidly and smiled down at her.
The rage that had faded into relief once he’d found her relit with a vengeance. Every reason his mind conjured for why they would have given the Zamyran fruit to her in its most potent form was worse than the last.
Giving Brenna to his mate for safekeeping, he looked to Connor. “This ends now.”
