So I once again feigned feeling tired and told the lady’s attendant to inform my parents that I wouldn’t be joining them for any meals today either.
I nibbled on my lip and began to pace again.Two days.
Kole had been gone fortwo dayswith no word as to why.
The agony of that cut through me, but I also knew I couldn’t keep up my isolation. One day of avoiding others likely wouldn’t raise suspicions. Two days would likely cause some to start worrying, especially my mother. And I didn’t want to think what three days would do if Kole still hadn’t returned.
By the time evening arrived on my second day in which I’d been locked alone within my chambers, I knew that I needed to contact him, even if he didn’t wish to see me or speak with me.
Closing my eyes, I let my magic rise until it spiraled through the realm, seeking the Imperial Warrior that I feared no longer loved me.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Kole was gone.
My magic searched and searched and searched for the warrior. I should have been able to locate him immediately, no matter how far away he was. Even if he’d mistphased to the Nolus continent or a distant Lochen island or the enchanted ice cliffs on the Solis continent, my magic would have found him. We were linked, irrevocably, yet...he wasn’t anywhere.
I was in a state of panic by the time I sprinted across my chambers to the hall and flung the door open to a very startled warrior.
Royden’s eyebrows rose, and he scanned my appearance. Like yesterday, I’d dressed for the day in the morning, letting Betsee do my hair, but I’d also been running my hands through it repeatedly. I probably looked like a mess.
“Princess, is everything all right?” Royden asked.
I was so worried that I didn’t stop to think about my dead heart. I lunged toward him, curled my fingers around his tunic, and screeched, “Kole’s gone.”
He carefully pried my fingers off him, frowning when his warm skin met my cold. “Yes. That’s why I’m here.” His tone waspatient, if slightly condescending, and I howled in frustration that he wasn’t understanding.
“No, he’sgone. As in entirely vanished. Kole’s not anywhere in the realm.” My stomach felt as though it’d dropped to my feet. I stumbled back, my spine slamming into the hallway’s wall. “Oh Gods, Royden, he’sdead. He has to be dead.That’swhy I can’t find him!”
Royden held his hands up and approached me slowly. “Hold on a minute and calm down. Why in the realm would you think Kole’s dead?
“BecauseI can’t find him mentally. Aren’t you listening to me? Oh Stars. We have to find him.” I slapped a hand to my forehead. “Maybe, just maybe, he’s still alive. Maybe he’s close to death, and his magic is too weak. Maybe that’s why I can’t locate him. I need to find my father!”
I took off at a run down the hall, and the warrior called out from behind me.
But I didn’t slow. I ran so fast, blindingly so, and it was only when my uncle’s magic began to rear, about to command me to either stop or manipulate all of the minds around me who could see my speed, that I slowed. But only enough to mimic fae.
I was about to make the final turn to my father’s study, the one he often occupied during the day, when a hand gripped my biceps.
Royden stopped me mid-run. “Princess Primelle. Calm down. I can find Kole for you. We don’t need to disturb the king about that.”
“But you said?—”
“It’s all right. Deep breaths.”
It hit me like lightning that my heart should be thundering and my breaths ragged. I forced my chest to rise unsteadily, the movement entirely awkward, but my panic thankfully seemed tobe distracting Royden enough that he wasn’t paying attention to my lack of bodily functions.
“I’ll contact the Council and get answers for you, but I need you to return to your wing and stay behind your wards. If I’m not with you, you must stay there. Understood?”
I nodded shakily and then followed the warrior back to my chambers. My stomach kept tumbling, but at least, for the first time, my vampire urges weren’t overtaking me. Royden’s heart was thudding steadily, but I couldn’t have cared less.
All I wanted was to find Kole.
Once I was behind my wards, Royden left. The entire time he was away, I paced from one end of my room to the other. I continually tried to find Kole as well, my mental magic constantly seeking him, but to no avail, and I berated myself over and over again that I hadn’t checked on him earlier.
It felt like hours before a knock came on my door, and Royden entered. I flew to him, eyes wide, and he gave me a pacifying smile. “Kole’s fine. He asked the Council for a few days off, but he’s all right.”
“He is?” For a moment, I stared at him, dumbfounded, but then added, “How do you know?”
