Page 60 of A Crown of Fates

I grimace. He’s once again disappointed his people, this time because I was missing. We’re going to have plenty of damage control to do later, but until tonight’s pack meeting, I’m going to focus on the things I can do something about.

The phone operator connects me to Polaris castle, then to Isla and Asher’s room. When the voice on the other end of the line isn’t either of them, my stomach drops.

“The royal suite, how may I help you?” a woman says.

“This is Princess Estee,” I tell her. “I’m looking for Queen Isla.”

She clears her throat. “Of course, Your Highness. She and the king are in the observatory and have asked not to be disturbed.”

“Oh.” Part of me wants to have them interrupted, but if anything with Isla has worsened and she’s finally having a moment of peace…

“Unless you called,” the woman quickly adds. “If you don’t mind holding, I’ll make sure to let them know you’re waiting.”

“Thank you.” I grip the phone. “I’ll hold as long as it takes.”

Suddenly, I realize how much I miss my sister and how worried I should’ve been about her these last few days. There’s no telling if the person sending the threats is someone right under their noses. Someone who could’ve been on the ship with them or anywhere within the castle the day they got back.

I nibble on the inside of my cheek and pick at my manicured nails as I wait for someone to come back to the phone. Minutes tick painfully by, and I regret not putting an urgency on the handmaiden that answered to get Isla on the line.

At least until I hear my sister’s giggle and the deep timber of Asher’s murmurings just before she says, “Hello, my dearest sister. Were you too busy plotting a war yesterday to care about my safe return to Polaris when I called in the morning?”

That’s why she’s not worried about my previous silence. I didn’t consider the time it would take them to get home. She has no idea anything happened to me, and hesitation chokes me. She sounds happy, a far cry from when she left Selaris several days ago, but when she ultimately finds out, she’ll be furious with me if I keep it from her.

“I was, well, unconscious for a decent part of yesterday and didn’t know you called,” I say sheepishly, while trying to make light of the situation.

“What?” The sharpness in her voice snaps through the line. “Explain. Now.”

I glance at the door separating me from Theo, drawing strength from his proximity before I answer, my words coming out rapid fire once they start. “Orix kidnapped me the day you headed home, and I was in the shadow realm with him for over twelve hours before Theo rescued me, but by the time he got to me, I was in a bad way. Elyn fixed me up, and after a couple days,I woke up, accepted my bond with Theo, and everything’s on its way to being okay again. So, nothing to worry about here.”

Asher groans in the background as Isla snaps at him. “I told you we should’ve gone back. Leaving her alone was a mistake. Get the ship ready to sail again.”

“Don’t you dare put yourself at risk,” I tell her with more authority. “By the time you get here, this will likely already be over. Plus, we have plenty of help. Queen Sloane showed up today and according to Theo, when Aurora made her brief appearance, she gifted Elyn with so much energy that the elder wolf looks like she’s in her thirties, instead of on her deathbed.”

Asher mutters, “That goddess shouldn’t be messing with our wolves,” but that seems to be the least of Isla’s worries.

“You were kidnapped, andnobodycalled me?” Her snarls echo through the phone so loudly that Theo must hear because he’s at my side by the time she finishes her next sentence. “I’m your sister and the queen of Polaris. How dare they keep this from me? I’m going to be there in two days, and when I arrive, I expect?—”

Theo takes the phone from me. “I owe you an apology, Isla. I meant no disrespect. I was so out of my mind with fury that I wasn’t thinking clearly. Then, when I got her back and she didn’t wake right away, I was scared to leave her side for any reason. I should’ve asked someone else to notify you. There’s no excuse, but it wasn’t the least bit intentional.”

I listen carefully for Isla’s response, but it seems my mate has rendered her speechless, which isn’t something that happens very often and has me grinning.

“What’s most important,” I say, “is that Theo did bring me home, I’m okay, and at some point today, we’re going to be officially bonded.”

This isn’t something I’ve actually discussed with Theo yet, and the shock on his face makes me laugh, which only gets louder as my sister stumbles over her words.

“You’re…the two of you…how did this…what now?”

“If it makes you feel better, Theo didn’t know until just now either.” I reach for him, holding his hand tightly as I speak to my sister. “Everything is clear now. I know being kidnapped by an insane god shouldn’t be a good thing, but I can feel the bond with Theo, and I know what I want now. What I’ll always want, and that’s him.”

I’m saying the words to him as much as to Isla. I need them both to know that I’m all in and there are no doubts in my mind any longer. This is where I was always supposed to be. Where I’ll stay.

Asher cuts in. “What your sister means to say is that she’s happy for you and wishes we could be there, but we understand your urgency and know that everything’s going to be perfect for the two of you.”

“Yeah, that,” Isla adds with a bit more enthusiasm. Though she doesn’t let us completely off the hook. “But I’m still pissed, and I expect a two- week visit from the two of you when this mess with Orix is dealt with.”

“Consider it done,” Theo says, still keeping his bright stare on me. “Have the threats there been dealt with?”

Isla sighs heavily. “I think so. We have a lead on who might’ve sent the notes. If we’re right, there’s nothing to worry about, but we’re being cautious until we’re sure.”

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