“No,” I growled and then immediately regretted it. My brother was only trying to help. Justice was now at Dark Row, trying to find any mages powerful enough to break the portal protection spells that kept shifters out of the High Mage Realm, and Noble was here, by my side as usual.
I stood and scooted around the desk, choosing to lean against it rather than take my uncle’s fancy seat. I also ignored the overstuffed chairs in front of the fireplace. Everything about this place felt like wearing someone else’s suit.
“How is it that we can’t go into their world, but they’re able to come and go here as they please?” There was more than just a hierarchy of power, and I was starting to see the imbalance more clearly now that I was king.
Noble nodded and crossed the room. “The high mages have always had their secrecy and protection.”
He said only what we all knew to be true, but I scoffed at their privilege. “While I’m lendingmymen to guard the nefarious Dark Row?”
Noble shrugged. “That’s the Dark Row our brother burned to the ground.”
“Technicality,” I said, keeping my tone light, and Noble smiled.
“I trust Nai,” Noble said. “I also trust her grandfather. He went to the Realm of the Dead to saveyouandher. He brought Honor back to life. He wouldn’t turn on us now.”
He was right, but what did that mean? I ground my teeth in frustration and then asked, “What are you saying? You think we should just wait for her to come back? Don’tdoanything more?”
Noble sighed, dropping his chin, and his black hair fell forward, the dark color highlighting the bags under his eyes.Shit. He was probably waiting until I went to sleep before he did. Guilt wormed in my gut because the last few days had been hell for Noble too.
“You can’t do anything more, Rage.” Noble met my gaze and shook his head. “And if you don’t take care of yourself, you’re going to start making bad decisions.”
I snorted, but there was no sense in arguing.
“We trust Nai,andwe trust her grandfather, so then maybe they had a good reason for leaving like they did. Maybe she’s safe, and you’ll hear from her tomorrow.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Maybe—”
“I’m not saying, ‘Give up.’ I’m saying, ‘Trust her, and take care of yourself.’”
He was right. I did trust Nai. I trusted her feelings for me and her feelings about us. She was my fated mate; she wouldn’t leave me without good reason. The old man was looking beyond ill lately—like death warmed over. Maybe she went to help heal him? Something only she could do like make the healing elixir? Maybe the old man’s blood was getting too old to make it himself, and that’s why he needed Nai! If he’d started having a heart attack or something, then Nai would’ve rushed out in a panic, without telling me. I perked up at the thought.
“Okay. Let’s get some sleep, and then, tomorrow morning, if she hasn’t shown, I’ll send a letter to the High Mage Council.”
Noble winced. “Let’s talk about next steps in the morning.”
I growled.
Noble rushed on. “She could be therein secret.The High Mage Council doesn’t like her as it is.”
I wanted to growl again, but this time, my frustration was with the mages, not my brother, so I swallowed it. “Fine.”
Noble walked over and placed a hand on each of my shoulders. “For what it’s worth, I believe Nai will be back, and … you’ll make a fine king.”
Emotion clogged my throat, and for some reason, I thought of our father and how proud he’d be to see me leading with my brothers’ support.
I forced a swallow. “Thank you for being here for me.”
He smiled and squeezed my shoulders before turning to leave.
When he reached the door, I called out. “Noble?”
Turning to glance over his shoulder, he raised his eyebrows at me, and I gestured to all the stuff in the office. “I want this redecorated, and I’m putting you in charge. Make it nice—and get rid of everything that was Declan’s.”
A slow grin worked up his mouth and he nodded. “Yes, My King.”
After he left the room, my gaze fell to the space in front of the fireplace. A memory surfaced from our childhood—one I always tried to push away—but I let it come this time. My brothers and I were eight years old, and we’d convinced our nanny at the time, a large bear shifter named Nanny Bess, to take us to the market in Mageville to buy our mother a birthday present—a memory glass so she could see memories of our father because we’d all caught her crying about him at one time or another.
I closed my eyes and let the scene play out in my mind’s eye.
