Page 58 of Immortal Burden

Ryker Morgan, ever the pain in my ass, had been missing for several days.

After Lucian intervening in my father’s assault of Ryker, I’d been assured that he’d gotten there in time, and that Ryker was fine. Against my better judgment, I’d called him the next day, even knowing that he wouldn’t have relished hearing from me. In the past, when we’d been in a fight or unhappy with one another, he’d always at least contacted me to confirm he was well.

That hadn’t happened this time around.

So I’d looked into the situation, seeking him out with my magic—after it taking two days for it to regain its equilibrium following the blending magic that had been performed on me. And I’d felt nothing. I was powerful enough to seek out anyone, so it could only mean one of two things—he was off-realm again, or he was… gone.

No.

I couldn’t even entertain the latter. I couldn’t deal with it.

I wouldn’t.

I wouldn’t accept it.

I’d given up my magical search, instead heading to any place I could think of that he could be. A couple of the pubs he visited regularly, restaurants, the forest in his neighborhood where he often went to think, his actual home.

Nothing.

He was nowhere.

The Maven Coven was my second to last shot, the only other being Lucian.

Given my conversation with him the other day, it had become clear that they’d grown closer, moving from mere colleagues to actual friends. The fact that Lucian had risked going head-to-head with my father also said a great deal in that area. So, it was possible that he would have a lead.

I was hoping I could avoid going that route, though. With his connection to what was coming—to me—being in his presence was challenging. Unbeknownst to him—or anyone—I had a block up, a shield basically, that prevented me from being affected by him in the way that my father’s plans for the Covenant required me to be. But the more we were in close proximity, the more challenging it was to keep that block in place. And there was also the fact that I’d promised him answers when it came to the Covenant and I hadn’t yet provided them. I wanted to confer with my father first, about it and Jaxon. I wanted everything set straight, the whole picture, not just what he’d deigned to tell me.

After what had happened to Ryker and my encounter with Jaxon, there was no more room for secrets.

The tide had turned.

But my father was doing everything he could to do things his way. He still had a block in effect that was preventing me from either contacting him or using a tracking spell to locate him. He’d been working remotely too, so he hadn’t been up at the Guardian Compound.

I swallowed the rest down as I continued on through the Maven Coven grounds.

I headed to the right, following a stone path that led over to the Ruminat buildings. There was one in particular that Ryker had always favored when we’d trained here years ago. It was the one farthest from all others surrounded by nature on all sides. He always felt the most at peace then.

I reached the oval-shaped flagstone structure quickly. When I had to, I could cover a lot of ground exceedingly quickly even in six-inch heels. I was a pro at it. Contrary to popular belief, grace was practiced, not innate.

Only just managing to resist blasting open the door with my blue fire, I gritted my teeth to get control and knocked instead.

No answer.

I tried the handle. It was locked. Someone was in there then.

Was I interrupting a coven member’s Ruminat? That was truly frowned upon. Not to mention, rude.

But I had to. I had to know if Ryker was in there.

I knocked again, this time, using a secret knock we’d developed in our younger days here at the Coven.

Footsteps sounded and hope sparked in me.

The lock clanged and the door flew open.

Relief coursed through me as I took in Ryker standing there.

All the anxiety and fear that had been twisting me up exploded out of me and, before I could stop myself, I smashed my fist into the door frame and yelled, “What the fuck is wrong with you?”

---