My eyes widen, and I spin in the direction of the cabin.
A strain tugs on the bond.
As though Isabel is scared or in pain.
She needs me. I can sense it.
Yet I can’t hear her thoughts.
I sheath my sword and summon my wings, but as I’m preparing to launch into the sky, Helena rushes out of the forest.
“Commander Ashvale!” she screams, running in my direction.
King Theron flashes to her side in an instant. He grasps her by her shoulders, looking her up and down. When he spots an injury to her head, he holds his hand over it as healing light emanates from his palm.
Frantic with worry, I rush over to Helena.
“What happened?” I demand.
“There was an explosion at the cabin,” she gasps. “It threw me into the forest. When I got up, I saw a highborn fae male who looked almost like you. I couldn’t hear what he was saying, but he hurt Isabel. He kicked her and grabbed her roughly, then he carried her into the sky before I could reach them.”
A highborn fae male who looks almost like me…
For a moment, I feel as though I’m plunging into an abyss.
Surely it’s not Lachlan.
Surely my own brother wouldn’t hurt Isabel.
And yet… many times, people have mistaken us for twins.
He’s likely grieving the loss of his mate. Surely he knows about Maelissa by now. What if he was so consumed by grief that he directed his rage at my mate?
Oh, my gods.
The night tears around me as I surge upward, snow lashing my face and wings. Wind roars in my ears, but it cannot drown out the frantic pounding of my heart.
As I fly even faster, I lean into the bond I share with Isabel, searching for her, trying to sense her location.
I let instinct guide me as I soar beyond the cabin and several mountains. The bond becomes stronger, more certain, and I fly closer to the trees, scanning the darkness below.
Though I don’t see anything yet, my instincts tell me she’s close. So close. And she’s in pain. Rage flashes through me. Brother or not, I will kill Lachlan for this.
But first, I must save my little moth.
She’s what matters most.
She’s my heart, my soul, my very reason for breathing.
I can’t imagine life without her. I think of our plans to build a house in the snowy mountainside nearby, a cozy cabin with frost-apple trees planted all around, and I send up a thousand silent prayers for her well-being.
I land quietly in the middle of the dark, snowy forest. With slow, careful steps, I follow the bond, and at last, Isabel’s thoughts enter my head.
Gideon, Gideon, Gideon, she says my name repeatedly, a desperate plea for help.
I’m here, little moth, I tell her.Where are you? Describe the location.
A very narrow cave, she says.Look for a light. He lit a single torch. It’s… Lachlan. It’s your brother.
