Page 34 of Ruled By Magic

Hex’s voice was a background drone in my head. I ought to be ashamed. I should hate him. Whatever he’d awakened in me sexually, I shouldn’t like the man. All mages were privileged, arrogant arseholes, and he the most privileged of all with his wealth and excessive power. He would tire of me soon. I mustn’t get attached.

Six weeks after I arrived, I headed to breakfast and waved when I saw Helen speaking into a link-up. She held up a finger as I approached.

“She’s here now. Yes. I will. Goodbye.”

“What’s hap—” Helen cut me off with a shake of her head.

“Not here.” We walked in silence to her small office.

Once inside with the door shut, Helen took a deep breath and faced me. “That was the Lord Commander. I’ve got some news. It isn’t common knowledge yet.” She paused, reached out, and grasped my hand. “There’s been an escape from the prison where Hex is being held.”

My blood chilled. “What happened? Is she okay?”

“It wasn’t violent. One of the guys was some high-powered criminal. They think he might have paid off a guard to get him and his crew out.”

“So Hex is okay?”

Helen swallowed. Horror crept through my veins, and the world lost some of its color.

“She’s missing.”

“What do you mean, missing? The prison’s in the middle of the forest!” My voice rose to a shrill screech. I ran both hands through my hair.

“I’m so sorry, that’s all I know. Perhaps she escaped? Would she, do you think, if she had the chance?”

I stared at nothing. Yes. Hex would. Ten years was an eternity. Always impulsive, Hex wouldn’t worry about the predators in the forest until one snapped its jaws around her neck. The gory image robbed my legs of strength and I collapsed into Helen’s chair. My breath hitched in a sob, and tears flowed.

Helen grabbed tissues, fetched me a glass of water, and rubbed my back until I got myself under control. I sniffled, dabbing my eyes, my face hot and tender.

I hadn’t spoken to the Lord Commander yet about reducing Hex’s sentence. The perfect moment hadn’t come, or so I’d told myself. In truth, I’d been scared. Frightened to broach the topic and receive a definitive no. I’d waited, and now it was too late. A fresh wave of tears threatened, and I clamped them down.

Get it together.

“When will the Lord Commander be back?”

“He doesn’t know yet. I’m sure he’ll head back to your apartment as soon as he’s finished, so you’ll see him before I do.”

“Thanks. I’m sorry for crying.”

Helen pulled me in for a hug. “Don’t be ridiculous. Anytime you need a cry, I’m right here.”

The Lord Commander appeared late in the evening, while I stared unseeing at a vid. My heart crashed through the floor when he shook his head.

“I don’t have news. I’m sorry. I’ve had teams searching the forest all day, but Hexara and three others are still missing. We’ve called the men in for the evening, but they’ll be back out at first light.”

He sat beside me, one hand on my knee.

“Why’ve you called off the search?”

“I had to. I can’t risk my men in the forest after dark.”

“She’s out there! She’s in the forest after dark!”

“She chose to escape.” He watched me with sympathy in his eyes, voice gentle but firm. “I know you’re worried about her, but I can’t send men into danger. It’s not—”

“You don’t know she left by choice. What if someone took her? Dragged her off against her will?”

“In the morning—”

---