Page 16 of Heir

“West,” I said weakly. “Somewhere west.”

“Well, sit with the pilots and tell them when she feels close. They’ll get you to her.” He wrapped an arm around me and helped me outside, where his driver, Alvo, waited with the limo. “Drak has been struck with lightning,” he told Alvo. Alvo’s pale face lit up. Everyone in the Realm knew what that meant. “Take him to the airstrip. The jet is being fueled. He needs to get to his mate ASAP.”

Alvo nodded. “Right away, Your Majesty.”

I slid into the back of the limo, but rolled over onto my side, clutching at my chest. Nobody ever told me about the Mate’s Ache. I felt like I was having a heart attack. I closed my eyes, envisioning what she might look like. Was her lightning strike as intense? Did she feel the Mate’s Ache too?

It was tradition that the female mate waited, and the male came to her. Otherwise, if they both set off in search of each other, it could be a disaster.

Pain scrunched my face. But it wasn’t just the pain in my chest, it was the pain of wondering if she was going through the ache too. If she was in as much agony as I was.

I’m coming, my mate. I’m coming.

I arrived in Chase City in the morning, but I was weak.

The pilot had to help me climb down the stairs of the plane to the limo Howar arranged for me.

I was barely able to tell the limo driver where to go, but I rallied, holding onto my mate’s scent and giving him directions as best I could.

It was still early—most shops weren’t even open yet— when we pulled up in front of a hospital.

This couldn’t be right. Why was my mate at a human hospital?

If she was injured during the lightning strike, wouldn’t she go to a realm hospital? Our physicians were far better and knew how to treat the maladies of all species.

But this was where her scent was strongest. She was here.

Panic ran rampant through me as the limo driver helped me out. Hospital staff saw how frail I was and someone ran out with a wheelchair. “Sir. Sir, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” I grunted, batting them off. “I need to find her.”

“Who?”

These were humans. If I said, “my mate,” they’d call for a psych consult.

But I didn’t know my mate’s name.

“I’ll know her when I see her.” I also couldn’t tell them that I’d know her when I smelled her.

“Sir, let us check you out. You’re very pale and seem dehydrated.” A firm hand landed on my shoulder, pushing me into the wheelchair,

I’m pale and dehydrated because I’m a vampire.

But I was too weak to argue. The hollow ache in my chest made it difficult to speak, let alone fight. They wheeled me into the hospital, and as soon as I was in the same space as my mate, I grew stronger. She was here. There was no doubt about it now.

They wheeled me to the E.R. and helped me climb up onto a bed, pulling the curtains around me. “A doctor will be by to see you shortly,” said the green-scrub clad orderly.

My nostrils flared, but I waited for him to pull the curtains and leave before I slid off the bed, allowing my nose to do the work for me.

She was here. Somewhere in this hospital.

Was her strength returning too? Did she know I was close?

I poked my head into various rooms, sniffing.

“You are a lucky woman, Ms. Playfair. A lightning strike like that and zero burns, no burst eardrums, respiratory complications.” Disbelief colored his tone. “Frankly, it’s a miracle. You’re very fortunate.” I paused at the corner beside a nurse’s station in the E.R. My mate was behind curtains, just like I’d been. I still couldn’t understand why she was in a human hospital. But at least she was okay. That was what mattered.

“Can I go home then, please? This has been the weirdest day. I just want pizza and my own bed.” My mate’s voice was beautiful. Strong and assertive.

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