Page 141 of A Vow of Wrath and Ruin

“It’s different when you’re young and in love,” Amolie said. “You were both soldiers in the heat of battle. Everyone knew the risks. The fact that you worry about Aelia means you care. Trinity, I worry about her, and I’ve known her for years. Although, half the time, she gets herself into messes. I’m extra worried about Baylis. If Calliope knows they’re sisters, she’ll likely take her head as payback.”

Tharan took another drag from his cigarette.

“That’s what I don’t understand. Why were they out late together?”

Amolie shrugged.

“Finneas said Baylis disappeared sometime in the middle of the night. Slipped right out under our noses.”

“Hmm… that’s curious. Has she ever done something like that before?”

“I’ve only known her for a short while. I cannot say what she would and would not do.”

Tharan stared into the fire. What was Aelia going through right now? Was she hurt? Afraid? Dead? He shook his head. He couldn’t think like that. He needed to believe she was alive, and he would save her.

“Amolie, did Aelia tell you what she saw in Baylis’s mind?”

“Yes, she thought she saw Baylis with Gideon.” Her eyes went wide. “No… you don’t think.”

A little voice in his headdidthink Baylis was behind this, but for Aelia’s sake, he didn’t want to believe it. If Baylis was a traitor, it would break her.

“I don’t know, Amolie. Calliope seems like the obvious answer. She has every reason to kidnap both Baylis and Aelia.”

“But how would she get Baylis out of the house unseen? For Trinity’s sake, the Wild Hunt is guarding the place. Would she really be that daring?”

Tharan took another drag from his cigarette.

“She’s cunning, that’s for sure. But what if…”

Amolie finished his sentence.

“What if Baylis left on her own accord?” She tapped her bottom lip. “What if she was sleepwalking and just happened to slip past the guards? Calliope could’ve had Ursula watching for just such an occasion.”

“Could she have slipped something to one of the servants? Had them drop a potion into Baylis’s drink?” He rang a bell, and Finneas came running.

“Yes, my Lord?”

“Who was on duty the night Aelia disappeared?”

“This is a small staff, my Lord. We all work every day there are house guests.”

Tharan ashed his cigarette.

“When Sumac gets back, I want them all interviewed. We need to know if they saw anything.”

“Yes, my Lord.” He bowed and left the room.

“I should have paid better attention to my senses. I should have known she was in trouble,” he said, pinching the bridge of his nose.

“Don’t beat yourself up about it. I’m sure you were busy with the elves.”

Tharan sighed.

“You’ve got that right. Found out my mother was alive shortly before I discovered she’s been sharing a bed with my grandfather for a century.”

Amolie’s mouth fell open, and her hazel eyes went wide. “I don’t even know how to respond to that. Why?”

“I had the same reaction.” Tharan took a drag off his cigarette. “The elves’ magic is fading. I think some of them are even dying. They are desperate to get their magic back. So desperate they are essentially breeding their most fertile women to their own families.”

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