“Look,” he says, running a hand through his hair, “I’m not exactly on great terms with the new High Prince of Spring right now. If my mother even suspects I’m interested in finding Rosalina, she might just kill her to spite me. You don’t understand how careful I have to be.”
Anger rises in my chest, but I know it’s not directed toward Caspian. Not all of it, at least. He’s been trying to help, in his own way. Though I still don’t understand why he’s so fascinated with Rosalina. Is it just because she’s my mate, or is there something more?
I stayed only briefly in Castletree before returning to Winter, trying to see if there was any way to make Kairyn answer for his crimes. With more and more monsters pouring out of the chasm, and my already tenuous hold on my realm, there had been no other solution but to come to Winter.
Caspian was able to assure me there were rumors of Daytonand Farron in the Summer Realm, and I have no doubt they are looking for Rosalina as well, as neither has returned to Castletree.
“I can’t evenfeelher, Cas.” I shake my head. “Do you have any idea what that’s like, to know she’s out there, but not be able to reach her?”
“I can imagine.”
“I don’t know if she’s scared or hurt or—”
“She’s alive,” he says. “I know. You’d feel it otherwise. No magic suppressant could block out that pain.”
A deep growl rumbles in my chest. I tried to count on others, but again I am left on my own. I cross the room to the window.
“Kel, I know that look,” Caspian says. “What are you thinking?”
“That I need to do what I should have done a long time ago. I’ll go to Summer and find her myself.”
Caspian is in front of me in an instant, his brow furrowed. “You can’t. You don’t even know she’s there.”
“Then I’ll tear Kairyn apart piece by piece until he tells me where she is.”
“Oh yes,” Caspian snarls, “I’m sure it’ll go exactly like that. Do you remember what he was like in the throne room? His power has only grown since then.”
“I tried to wait for you. I tried to rally my realm. No more waiting. I’ll have to run as the beast.” The enchanted doorway between Castletree and Keep Soltide is closed, and since Kairyn stole my token, I have no way to use the mirror in Castletree.
Caspian stops me with a palm on my chest. “I can take you to the briars bordering the Summer Realm.”
Thorns break through the wood, tangling around us. Drawing me closer to him, his fingers clutch in my shirt. “Say you could beat Kairyn with his unconstrained Blessing of Spring. How do you intend to escape the three armies he has in Hadria?”
My chest presses against his as the thorns and shadows draw us under. My lips end up by his ear, then I lower them to his neck. “Then you better be close by.”
“I can’t,” he says, voice as silky as the shadows caressing us.
“Can’t?” Without meaning to, my teeth nip at his neck, hard enough to bruise. “Or won’t?”
“Kel,” he whispers, and the sound is so desperate, so full of want, it almost consumes me. His voice is dangerous, and it’s dangerous to trust him. But for Rosalina, I will do anything.
I let his shadows and thorns pull us through the Vale. We’ll find her.
Ifhedoesn’t find her first.
Even though he hates me, even though he lost his power, I know there is no length Ezryn will not go to in order to rescue our mate.
CHAPTER 4
Ezryn
Crack.
The man’s screams drown out the sound of his next two fingers breaking. I drop his limp hand and stand above him patiently. I’ll wait for him to stop screaming.
It doesn’t take long. He’s already learned that I’m not a patient man.
The filth raises his watery gaze to me. He’s collapsed on the ground, his other hand tied tight to his torso with rope, his ankles bound. He doesn’t look like a member of the former Queen’s Army. Now, he looks exactly like what he is. A raider. A rat. A traitor.
