Page 27 of Tangled Fates

“What if there are too many people there? What if you can’t get in?” Ryder asked.

“I could possibly climb the tower. I’m assuming each level has a few rooms or a room on it,” I said remembering the windows. “I could crawl into one of those and scout to see if I hear or see anyone.”

“Those gems only last one hour, you're going to have to keep a timer,” he said looking thoughtful. “If you can’t find him by the time your gems wear out, come back out. We can regroup with the information you have, I can go in or we can figure out something different.”

“What if I run into someone?” I rolled the gems in my hand. “Are we killing?”

“If it's only one, knock him out and if you can’t find Gray, we can always interrogate him.” Ryder ran his hand down his beard.

“Ok, that could work,” I said, feeling better with a plan in place.

“Now go, before we waste any more time,” he said, moving out of my way. “Don’t make rash decisions and for the love of the goddess don’t think with your dick.”

I chuckled thinking about the beautiful woman, wondering if she was willing to possibly come with us. She probably tasted amazing based on how she smelled. I would be disappointed if she wasn’t tasty, but Addie's words came back to me.

I had a mate.

“I promise I won’t think with my dick unless my brother is safe,” I said, trying to keep the smirk off my face from thinking about the beautiful woman.

“Good luck.” Ryder saluted before I ran into the wall, hoping I wasn’t just going to run into a wall.

I shut my eyes waiting for impact but when I went right through, I was relieved. As soon as I crossed the magical barrier, I felt Gray. My body relaxed immediately and now all I had to do was save him, get Oria and get the fuck out of here, maybe with the beautiful woman.

You have a mate, you idiot.

I mentally rolled my eyes at myself, taking a breath.

I activated the gems before moving along the edge of the mountain. It was just as empty the last time I was here, but I knew looks could be deceiving. The total silence was unnerving as I ran the perimeter. I didn’t hear anything alarming, but when I passed a window that was at the top of the tower, I noticed a few shadows were in the room. I figured there were at least three people up here.

Three people weren't that bad, let's hope Gray was one of those three and I’d only have to worry about two people. I crossed to the nearest tree, listening for anyone patrolling before I moved towards the door, but all I was met with was silence. As much as I wanted to walk up to the door because it seemed like everyone was inside, I didn’t want to be caught off guard.

Running the last hundred yards, I pressed myself against the wall looking around, listening to see if anyone had seen me. This was too easy, something was not right. It didn’t seem like the type of situation that Gray would be captured in, unless the beautiful woman was a powerful witch.

Slowly opening the door, I quickly moved inside as I was met with more silence. The stairway was dark, so I used it to my advantage. I climbed to the storage room I had walked into previously. The room was empty with no sign of Gray anywhere. I did a quick look around to see if any Oria was placed down here since the last time, but found nothing.

The lack of sound was unnerving me. A whole barrage of bad thoughts entered my mind, making me think that one, they already knew I was here and two, I was about to be handed my ass. I just needed to find my twin so I could run us out of here.

The stairs were the worst place to be in as I continued going up. Any moment someone could be coming down with a silencing gem and then I would be fucked. Thankfully the next two floors were met with no issues. I didn’t find my brother or the Oria.

On the next floor I could smell the mysterious woman and my brother. The room on this floor was filled with her scent. It made my mouth water even though I was not hungry, but I definitely wanted a taste. This room also smelled like Oria as if the woman’s scent and the Oria were mixed together.

Moonstones, jugs of water that had labels of moon water on them, along with a variety of other things, were on shelves in this room. Empty vials sat in boxes, but when I walked closer to a bowl of water, it smelled like Oria. I had just hit the jackpot, we had found a gold mine. This could change everything in our business, once I found my brother and we took over this place.

That’s when I found a box of vials.

I fucking found the Oria, and once I got Gray out of here, things were going to change. My mind was in such disbelief that I didn’t hear anyone enter the room and I wasn’t ready for the hit to the head. Something broke against me, the smell immediately made me snarl. It was the same potion we were hit with outside of the magic shop, immediately reducing me to just a man.

Another hit to the head almost made me drop the vials, I had swiped, in my hand. Turning around I only saw one person dressed all in black with the lower half of their face covered. My vision was spotty from the consecutive hits, but I was able to push them away and head for the door. I didn’t have a choice but to leave.

They grabbed my arm, swinging for me again, but I pushed them against the wall and heard their breath come out in a woosh. They punched me in the face, but I got a couple body hits in before they swung something at me. I pushed them back forcefully, not wanting to let go of the vials of Oria and deciding I really needed to leave.

I ran down the stairs feeling the tendrils of magic on the stairs wondering how I missed these traps. Whoever set these must have put a concealing spell on them and I didn’t feel them. Reaching the door, something else was hurled at me, a thundering sound came down the stairs and it sounded like more than one person.

Running out of the door quickly, I barely missed whatever was thrown at me before slipping on a rock. I caught myself before I could really tumble, heading for the cover of trees. They didn’t follow me outside, but I knew they must be looking for me from the protection of the tower.

Minutes passed by as I decided what I wanted to do before the door opened and I caught a glimpse of my attacker. The person was still dressed in all black holding two round objects in their hand.

Was that a frying pan?

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