The other portal to High Mage Island—maybe there were more, but these two were the only ones I knew of—lay on the other side of the island, onDaybreaklands.
‘I’m sending five guards with you and Justice,’Noble pressed into my mind. ‘You’re king now. You need proper security.’
‘Fine.’Whatever. I didn’t care about protocol, security, or even my crown. My fated mate was missing, and she was the only thing I could think about right now.
* * *
Justice and I ran—fasterand harder than ever before. The silence between us was heavy and taut, my emotions roiling through me as the darkened forest blurred past. I processed my anger at the situation, trying to make sense of it—any of it.
The trees thinned, opening into a large glade in front of us. Waves crashed below a rocky overhang. Daybreak’s lands butted up against the north shore of the island. Dense forest and rocky cliffs mixed with the salty air of the sea. Trails to the beach wound through the terrain, but this was the best place on Alpha Island for cliff diving and rock climbing.
My uncle had brought me here once each year since my twelfth birthday to show me the high mage portal and discuss battle strategies. If we were to ever be attacked, Declan always said it would come from our north side.
His voice echoed in my mind, and I cringed at how much I had wanted to be like him. I’d seen him as cold and distant but a strong, calculating leader—not for the psychotic maniac he was.
‘Nai?’I tried her for the umpteenth time. The only other couple I had ever heard of being fated mates from two different worlds were Nai’s deceased parents. So I had no idea of what we were capable of. Hell, I wasn’t sure if anyone did. Not that it mattered; I wouldn’t give up.
‘Was John still at the coronation party?’I asked Noble, inquiring about the new alpha of Daybreak.
I’d killed the former alpha of Daybreak, Mallory’s dad, and traipsing onto John’s land without seeking his consent was disrespectful, but he’d understand, right? I was king, and this was Nai … I needed her back—now. He and Sara had been so nice to Nai and me when we were on his land before. I didn’t think he’d mind now.
‘I think so,’Noble said and then confirmed it a breath later.
Justice slowed his pace as his nostrils flared. Then, he bared his teeth.‘Mallory here.’
I’d already picked up on her scent, but I hoped she’d take off rather than confront us.
The five guards Noble sent trotted up behind us, huffing and puffing. Apparently, the entire royal guard needed to increase their training and conditioning. Declan had become overconfident and lax. I wasn’t stupid. A new king would always be tested—even if I didn’t know how or when. I’d need a strong guard to protect our borders and a group of trusted elites to help keep my loved ones safe.
‘They’re close,’I shot back to Justice. A breeze carried their scent nearer, and I sniffed the ground, trying to pinpoint their location.‘As in right around—’
“What the hell are you doing here, Rage?” Mallory growled, stepping out from the trees behind me.
Her sister followed her, muttering, “Come to rub salt in our wounds?”
I spun, shifting into my human form with extra caution to use magic and keep my clothing on. Mallory had tried to hook up with me my second year at Alpha Academy, and she’d been a bitch to Nai. The last thing I wanted was to be naked in front of her.
“Or are you here to finish off the rest of our family?” Mallory spat.
“I’m not here to kill you,” I huffed, rolling my eyes. I didn’t know what else to say to her without sounding like a dick.I’m sorry for your loss, but your dad was a prick and deserved it?
She stepped closer, her eyes glistening with unshed tears, and her body trembled.
Next to me, Justice, already back in his human form, snorted with derision. Even before Nai, he’d hated Mallory.
My guards stalked closer, still in their wolf forms, as Mallory stepped into my personal space.
“You could have let him live!” Her scream cut off as a sob ripped from her throat.
I sighed. There was no joy for me in her pain, but she was wrong. I couldn’t have let him live.
“Alpha fights end only with death. You know this, and so did he,” I said.
She glared at me. “Then, why are you here?” she growled through clenched teeth, stepping closer.
Justice stepped forward, chin held high, and gently pushed her back. “Have some respect foryour king.”
Mallory balked, eyes widening, and then she lowered her gaze and her chin while I flicked a gaze to my brother.
