Page 56 of Dreams of Ash and Smoke

“How did she even get past the guards?” I question and it’s as if a light pops up over her head, her eyes wide as she looks over at me.

“Her brother… Draven. He’s one of our royal guards. Damnit! I knew something was off with him the past couple of days.” She speaks, mostly to herself.

“Who’s Draven?” I ask her, trying to think of all the guards I have names to.

“The guard who waited with you after Dryston attacked you in the forest.” She sounds breathless and I suddenly realize she wasn’t just beat up, she was losing blood continuously.

“Ruelle, I am going to get us out of here.” I tell her with conviction lacing my voice.

“I should’ve taken those training lessons Esmeray pushed me for.” She laughs lightly, her body slumping against the cave wall.

“Hey! No. You will not die here. Ruelle, stay awake for me, okay?” I start rubbing my hands against the cave, ignoring the shooting pains in my wrists and arms from the rocky substance scraping me and the rope.

I try to assess our situation. The cave is cold and damp, with only a few weak rays of light entering through the far entrance. My heart races with the fear of the unknown as I think of the woman who betrayed my family.

I begin to form a plan in my mind, focusing on our surroundings and the tools at our disposal. The rope that binds us can become an advantage, but it will require me to remain calm and focused. I start to silently chant a calming mantra to maintain control of the situation.

Inside the cave, my mind races with ideas on how to free Ruelle and myself. My hands ache from being tied up, but I know I had to stay focused.

My eyes dart around the cave, searching for any weaknesses I can exploit.

I assume Eryx has scouts out looking for us, but if Mya is clearly smarter than I gave her credit for, she likely spelled the cave to be hidden and soundproof.

* **

Eryx

“Where the fuck are they!” I exclaim, throwing things off the desk in the war room. My shadows shoot from me, just as irritable and angry. I growl in frustration before facing both my number twos.

Esmeray and Hadeon are quiet, letting me get my temper tantrum out of the way.

“We’ve looked everywhere. Wherever he has them, it’s spelled. We can’t find them, Eryx.” Esmeray gives it to me straight. She always has.

“Yet.” Hadeon gives her a look, to which she shrugs. “We are still looking profusely. We will find them.” He’s adamant. “There was nothing you could have done to prevent this, Eryx.” He reasons but I can’t convince myself to listen. Of course this was my fault. This is my castle, my country, myfamily.

Dryston got in under my watch and tried to kidnap my mate twice! Succeeding once now. He will not get away with this. With any of it. I’ll make sure of that.

“They could have left Khyrel already, Hadeon. Do not give him false hope.” She points out in a hushed scold.

“I know that but he doesn’t need extra stress either.” They argue back and forth, getting in each others faces until they get heated.

“Will you two shut it?” I yell, breaking their attention away from one another.

“We need something different. We need-” I cut myself off remembering the one being in the forest who knows everything. “We need the witch.”

“No. Deals with her never go correctly, you know this.” Hadeon tries to stress to me.

“I’m with Hadeon on this one, big brother. We don’t need added complications to an already stressful complicated situation.”

Esmeray agrees with Hadeon, “We just…we need to focus on finding them without causing any more drama than necessary.”

“Enough,” I say, my voice echoing through the space, my eyes blazing with determination. “We will find them, with or without her help. We will bring them back home, safe and sound.”

I turn back to my shadows, they shimmer and shift to their ethereal state, disappearing into the night air as I will them to look for Verena.

I look at my trusted generals, pacing the room. The war room has always been my sanctuary and power, but now, it feels more like a prison. My heart aches for my mate, and I can’t shake the feeling of helplessness. I know that I must remain strong, I must continue to fight, but the fear gnawing at me won’t let me.

“Ruelle is our baby sister, Esme. Our mother will not survive her death. Verena is my fated mate and without her, the entirety of Khyrel can be destroyed yet none of it will matter if she is gone.” My body collapses into my chair behind me and I slump in it, desperate to find them.

---