Page 23 of Capricorn Blessed

His lips twist to the side as he thinks. Finally, he nods. “I remember reaching the train station and wanting to get food before checking into my hotel. I stopped at a local pub, thinking it would be a quick stop. A large, bald man in a trench coat came over and sat next to me. We talked about a footy game that was on over a pint or two. Then I was standing at this gate. Something made me stand here, but I don’t know what. Just that I needed to be here. Then you lot turned up.”

“And when was this trip to Paris planned?” I ask.

“For the summer holidays,” he answers.

“Beorn, it’s almost the winter solstice,” I say.

“You mean I’ve lost months?” he asks.

Kenric passes me his phone, and I glance at the article, a small gasp slipping out.

“I think you lost years.”

Chapter 11

Missing Person

“Why do you say that?!” he barks.

I toss the phone through the gate. He picks it up, his face going pale as he looks over the missing person flyer Kenric found. It shows a picture of Beorn looking the same as he does now. The last known location was Paris, France. The date of the report is what caught my attention. The report was filed two years ago when he didn’t return from his holiday.

Beorn falls to the ground, clutching the phone to his chest.

“How?” he asks quietly. “How could I lose two years?”

“We think someone was controlling you,” Kenric says. “Maybe the man at the pub did something. It couldn’t have been a drug for it to last this long, but maybe a spell.”

I feel an ache in my chest, looking at Beorn in distress. I shift forward, wanting to go to him and comfort him. The low growling warning starts up.

“Sia, don’t,” whispers Dennis. “We don’t know that it’s safe.”

“He’s my mate, and he’s hurting,” I snap back, inching forward a little more.

“Sierra,” Kenric says. “Last time he forgot what had happened after we were too close. We don’t want him to forget again.”

I sigh, defeated, but back up until the sound stops. “We will find a way to help you. There has to be a way, and I won’t stop until I find it!”

I turn and run for the car, fighting the tears that want to run down my face. A hand lands on my back, gently rubbing up and down, offering me the comfort I can’t offer Beorn.

“It’ll be okay, Sia,” Dennis says softly. “We’ll figure something out.”

I feel the other two standing behind him, watching us.

“But that’s the problem. I don’t know how. None of us have the magic to see if it’s a curse, let alone to undo it! We need a witch, not shifters or fae!” I yell before quickly lowering my voice. “And we don’t know anyone here to try to find one!” I lose the battle, and my tears slide down my cheeks.

Dennis pulls me against his chest slowly, rocking back and forth.

“We may not know people here,“ Izzy starts, “but you’re forgetting that Kenric lives in this country.”

I jerk back from Dennis and blink at Kenric. “Do you know a witch? Or a warlock? Or someone who can find us one?” My words speed up as a glimmer of hope takes root.

He scratches his chin, thinking before nodding. “Maybe. Let me make a call.” He steps away from us, pulling out his cell phone and pacing while he has a conversation too quiet for me to hear.

My teeth grind together, and my fists clench, nails digging into my palms. My fear gives way to anger. I hate being helpless and unable to help my mate. My palms start to tingle, and I have to breathe deeply to keep them from igniting with flames.

After what feels like forever, but is probably closer to fifteen minutes, Kenric lowers his phone and comes back to us.

“So...” I ask.

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