Page 108 of Brutal Birthright

“No. I don’t fucking care. Either we move now, or I’ll be going alone with or without the help of any of you pricks.”

The tense standoff was broken by the arrival of three more bodies in the room. Nelloix and the two vampires, Ace and Hunter, mysted into the room. The vampiress was already talking before they’d even materialised.

“Ruby, I’m so sorry.” She rushed to hug the other woman, while her two vampires nodded solemnly at the rest of them gathered in the room.

“That’s the blade we found.” Ruby broke away from the hug, but nodded towards the bloodied knife laid out on the table.

Rowan ground his teeth with impatience. This was taking too fucking long. But the vampire, Hunter, was reputed to be the most highly skilled at his craft in tracking anything or anyone across realms.

He examined the blade where it lay on the table before picking it up and holding it at eye level. Studying the surface and then pausing to take a series of deep inhales along the length of the surface.

The entire room watched on with bated breath. Only the sounds of a distant hum of wind against the glass windowpanes disturbed the silence enveloping them all.

If he had any hope of finding her, this was a necessary torment he’d have to temporarily endure. Otherwise, the prospect of tracing her location to an unknown realm was going to require time. Something he wasn’t prepared to waste in the search for her.

And whatever this sensation was that threatened to tear right through his chest at any moment, he had never encountered this sort of feeling before. One that had him on edge, ready to slice his way through an army to get to her if necessary, while also wanting nothing more than to find her and disappear with her forever.

“Well?” He’d about reached the limit of his patience with whatever sniffing and licking of the blade this vampire was taking his time with.

Bright violet eyes shot up to narrow on him with distrust. Just enough of a hint of fang appeared below the vampire’s curled lip as he studied Rowan from head to toe.

“It reeks of the Seal of Elharean.” Hunter tossed the blade back down onto the table. Immediately moving across to stand beside Nelloix, he crossed his arms and surveyed the room, where they all waited for him to continue. “Whatever sorcery was involved in taking her came from or has been in contact with that portal. The dark magic is unmistakable.”

Someone hissed in a sharp intake of breath.

“So that is where we head.” Ruby was already nodding and bristling to move.

Rowan’s fingers flexed. His swords already affixed to his back and ready in their holsters.

“You think she’s been taken through the portal?” Lachie stood from his seat. A heavy furrow in his brow as he watched the vampire closely. The entire room had begun to shift restlessly with their impending departure.

About fucking time.

“No doubt.” Hunter nodded at both of his fated mates in turn. “I’d know that magic anywhere. We were there the very moment that portal opened.” He stroked at Nelloix’s hair to brush a curl behind her ear and murmured something to her softly. The strain on her face was clear to see, knowing her own involvement and the way the House of Elharean had abused her. The dark sorcerers had forced her to open the portal that fateful day.

“And what if it is truly Fiadh?” Niall spoke for the first time since they’d gathered.

The room fell quiet again, the shock still evident among them at the seemingly impossible thought.

“It doesn’t fucking matter.” Rowan’s jaw clenched as he growled in Niall’s direction. “Whoever that is, it is not our sister any more. And they won’t be spared any mercy from my sword.”

He fixed each of them around the room with a dark stare.

They’d better be prepared for bloodshed because he was going to single-handedly destroy anything and anyone that stood in his way to get to Oriana.

“I don’t care who it is. Their head will roll for this.”

Chapter 34

Staring down at her feet—well, not her own feet, the slightly longer and more pointed boots than she’d ever owned or worn herself—Ri watched on as her steps took her along a darkened corridor.

Her body felt as though it was floating somewhere between the dusty flagstones and the cold air of the ceiling above her head. The location was unfamiliar, as was the sensation running through her veins.

Freedom? Was that this feeling?

Deep rumbling noises and booms echoed from somewhere that sounded far below where she currently stood. The kind of noise that made it feel as if the very ground itself was splitting in two and tearing itself apart.

The kind of ominous energy that one might feel if they stood on top of a volcano about to spew forth violence all over the landscape.

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