ELORA
“Ugggh!” I groaned as I tried to open my eyes but was blinded by the sheer opulence of the room.
The bed beneath me felt softer than anything I’d ever lain on and the castle beds were soft. I tried to open my eyes again, squinting this time till my eyes had adjusted a little bit before finally opening them.
A green linen bed canopy greeted me startling me upright which was unwise as my head spun before finally realigning itself. I felt an egg shaped lump at the back of my head and frowned confused.
Where the hell was I?
I can’t smell any other wolves or Lycans, Elora. Sigrid complained. It is silent also.
I sniffed the air again and frowned.
The walls around the room I was in was painted in a mint shade of green with silver etchings done onto the wall that glittered with eerie light. The bed lamp and lamp holders were also in a gleaming silver that pulsated.
I tried to get up but I my legs shook from disuse so I fell back onto the bed. I wanted to head to the window to see if I could pin point where I was but I was too weak to move.
I tried to remember how I’d gotten to this strange place but everything was a blur. The last thing I remembered was talking to Gael and then…
Voices sounded in the distance seemingly drawing closer pushing the last of my memories away from me.
I rushed back under the bed covers and shut my eyes just as the door to my room opened.
I sniffed and picked up hints of wolves and Lycan. There was another person but his scent kept changing like it couldn’t decide what it wanted to be.
“She’s still asleep?” A familiar voice asked. “How hard did you hit her?”
The person he was addressing didn’t answer.
“She’s still the spoilt brat I remember.” Another familiar voice sneered. “Did you do nothing to break her? I thought you said the king was a brutal beast. She looks untouched.”
“It doesn’t matter whether she’s untouched or not. What matters is her saving my son!” The first voice growled.
“Patience, Rasmus.” A cold voice that had sent ice into my spine more than once said. “All will be well. Isn’t that right, Gael?”
I couldn’t hide the gasp that escaped me.
Gael was working with Rasmus and Kain?
“Glad you could finally join us, Elora.” Lord Kain laughed pulling the bed covers off her. “Come darling. It’s time you greet our gracious hosts. I do believe you’re familiar with one of them already.”
“How are you feeling, Elora?” The traitors asked.
“Gael,” I whispered shock lancing through me.
I had thought he was my friend.
How could he have fooled me so easily?
“Come, Elora.” He said coldly. “It’s time you met my father.”
***********
ROME
“Where is Elora?” He asked feeling anxious.
“She should be in her chambers,” Skye answered smirking knowingly at him.
He nodded running a hand through his hair. He needed to see her and have her explain everything to him.
“Summon her for me.” He ordered.
Teriel nodded and headed to the door but before he could step out, Rome shot to his feet and rushed out the open door earning confused looks from his sister and advisor.
He didn’t think he could sit still for the few minutes it would take for Elora to arrive. His mind was already running wild with the number of questions he had to ask her. If he waited any longer, he wasn’t sure he’d be able to make any coherent sentences.
What would she even be doing now?
He had taken to studying her and her daily routines since he’d taken her and usually by this time she would be reading a book on her balcony seat.
He could picture her now in a frilly robe with her hair unbound, eyes firmly glued to the book. A small smile crossed his features at how studious she was. He loved that about her. Especially how her small button nose would furrow when she disagreed with the philosopher’s train of thought.
An ache started in his chest so strong that he had to stop walking to rub the ache away.
What was that?
Typically, he only felt lust when he thought of Elora but now a soft warm feeling was creeping into his heart, healing the cracks that Erika had left behind when she had cheated on him.
He shook his head and crossed into the hallway leading to their shared chambers, frowning when he didn’t see the guards he had placed outside her doors.
Had she invited them in for tea or sent them to lunch?
He walked on, knocking at her door.
There was no answer and when he put his ears to the door, there was no sound from within.
That was odd.
Could she have gone to see her siblings?
A maid stepped out of his chambers and squeaked when she saw him.
“Your majesty.” She greeted curtsying.
“Please check if Elora is with her siblings.” He ordered.
“Yes your majesty.” She answered scurrying off.
He leaned against her doors and waited till she returned.
“Your majesty, she wasn’t with them.” She reported. “Her handmaiden said she has been in her chambers all day and she hadn’t come to see her since he had asked for her to not be disturbed.”
Shite!
He cursed remembering when he had given the order.
“You may go.” He told the girl.
She curtsied and scurried away as if she were walking on hot coals.
He knocked again.
“Elora?” He called frowning when there was no answer.
Could she be sleeping?
He twisted the handle and saw the door was unlocked, stepping into her chambers and shutting the door softly behind him.
“Elo…”
His call died in his mouth when he saw the empty chambers.
Where was she?
Her bed was cold like it hadn’t been slept in and her fire place looked like it hadn’t even been lit last night.
Where could she have gone?
He stormed out of her chambers towards the library.
She wasn’t there either.
She wasn’t in the infirmary also.
A cold feeling started to settle in his stomach the more he looked.
Could she…?
“Check if the mistress’s guard I had locked in the dungeons is awake.” He ordered one of his guards when he returned to his study.
“So… how was your visit to your mate?” Skye teased when she saw him but the smile died on her face when she saw the look on his face. “She wasn’t in her chambers.”
“No and she isn’t in all the usual places she goes to.” He groaned, sitting in his now upright seat.
“What about her siblings?” Teriel asked sharing a look with Skye. “Where are they?”
“They are in their quarters with her handmaiden. Why?” He asked, looking between both of them suspiciously. “Don’t tell me you think she…”
“No that’s not what we’re saying.”
“But it’s what you’re implying.”
“Rome I…”
“Your majesty.” The guard he had sent interrupted.
“Yes?”
“He… he…”
Rome raised a brow at his stutter.
“The gates to his cell had been broken and the guards you placed to watch him were…” He stuttered at Rome’s glare.
“Were what?” Skye asked.
“Dead.”
They all sucked in a breath and turned to look at Rome.
He stood so suddenly the guard flinched back in fear.
“I want you to summon all the guards that were on duty last night.” He ordered, his voice going lower and slipping into a growl towards the end as his beast took control. “All the guards by the gate and those one patrol. I don’t care if they are asleep now. Wake them up. If they aren’t here in the next five minutes they will be joining their friends on the floor.”
“Your majesty!” Skye scolded.
The guard whimpered and ran out of the room.
The smell of fear he left behind was so distinct his beast howled for murder.
“Your majesty you must calm yourself,” Teriel advised.
His head whipped round to glare at his lifelong friend.
“You do not tell me what to do, Teriel.” He warned. “Elora is missing. Probably kidnapped by that bastard.”
“Rome isnt there a possibility that she could she have…”
“Don’t finish that statement, Skye!” He roared punching a hole in the wall that caused them to jump. “You read her letter, didn’t you? Did that sound like someone that would run away? Would she that had nearly died protecting her siblings run off and leave them behind?”
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have doubted her.” Skye nodded. “I’m just worried we might be overreacting. It’s possible she’s…”
“She’s not here!” He yelled. “I can’t smell her rose essence. I can’t feel her wolf. I feel… empty like a part of me’s gone missing. She isn’t here. That bastard has her.”
Blood lust painted his vision red at the thought of someone hurting Elora.
“But where could he have taken her?” Teriel asked looking at the map of Hanaerum.
Rome frowned as he thought of all the possible places he could have gone.
He wouldn’t go to Alkarod.
No. Elora would be easily identified there.
He couldn’t stay in Hanaerum also.
Where…?
“Skye do you still have your contact in Blackfoot?” He asked anticipation bubbling inside him as an idea burned brightly inside him.
Skye looked stunned, with her eyes wide open and mouth agape. She must have thought her affair with the leader of the Blackfoots a secret. He had found out about her dealings a long time ago but had been waiting for the perfect time to tease her with it.
“Ye… yes I do. How did you…?”
“Send a bird and ask if he’s had any strange visitors this morning.” He interrupted her, not having any patience for small talk. “Teriel.”
“Sir?”
“Send out our best trackers to look for clues around the castle.” He ordered. “If he took her last night, he would have done so on foot or the stable hands would have reported a horse missing.”
He nodded and went off.
Rome boiled in silence, his fists clenched firmly on the arm rest of his chair.
“Rome…”
“I thought I gave you an order, Skye.” He spat.
Her hot glare stung his face but he didn’t care.
“You know; you might be almost a century old but you still act like a child.”
“Skye…”
The slam of the door answered him stirring his anger more.
“Argh!” He yelled throwing his chair at the wall.
When he found that scum, he would make his last moments the most painful thing he would ever experience.