Page 65 of Beneath the Cursed Veil

“Meera!” I yelled, storming through the empty chamber to the bathroom attached. There was no sign of her. No nothing. It was like she disappeared into thin air, or through a portal.

I paced, taking in the scene around me. Nothing seemed out of place. Her food was barely touched, but other than that . . .

“Vareck.” Kaia stepped into the room. She did a quick sweep of the room and frowned. “Doesn’t seem like there was a struggle.”

I lifted the stew to my face. The aroma was strong and slightly pungent. Almost like it was disguising something.

“Valerian root,” I spat. “She was drugged.”

Her lips parted to form an ‘O’. “You said you could feel where she was though, right?”

I focused on that feeling in my chest. The thread that was distinctly her. I felt a pull somewhere to the north, but that was it.

“It’s not exact. I can sense the direction she was taken, but Faerie isn’t small, and they could move her at any point. If they take her out of the realm . . .” I shook my head. There was no way that was happening. I wouldn’t let it. There had to be another way.

I’d never heard of anyone being able to track the way that Meera could, but even with her ability, it could take months. A lot of Faerie was inhospitable. Even a draft horse would struggle with the deep snow. No. I needed something that could find her and take me to her now.

I made for the door and was halfway down the hallway when Kaia called, “Where are you going?”

“To find a witch.”

Chapter 22

Vareck

“There are no witches in the castle,” Kaia said, eating up the distance between us with long strides.

“There is at The Witching Hour,” I replied, taking the steps down two at a time.

“Most aren’t powerful enough to create a portal between realms, let alone one that can find her across the veil. You’re better off finding someone on this side.” My mouth twisted. She had a point, much as I loathed it. The portal to The Witching Hour was in the palace gardens. Finding someone in Faerie would take longer and every second she was missing, my anxiety mounted. I wasn’t this torn up over my nephew’s capture. Not even a fraction. Not sure what that said about me.

“I need one quickly. If I have to drag them through the portal to Faerie first, so be it.”

Kaia sighed, keeping pace with me. “You’re asking for help by pissing off a witch? Not a great way to go about it.”

I growled under my breath. “If they won’t bargain, I’ll compel them.”

Kaia cursed. “You’re just asking to get cursed. No, Iknow of one here. She’s not too far from the castle. Only half a day’s ride.”

I paused at the first floor. “Half a day? That’s too long.” I shook my head. “She could be anywhere by then.” Kaia stepped in front of me. My jaw pressed together, teeth grinding. “Move.”

“No,” she said without hesitation. “I’m not going to let you be stupid about this. If you try to force a witch, they will retaliate. That’s assuming you even can. We both know they ward themselves to prevent persuasion. You want her back. I get it. Be smart about it . You can’t help her if a witch subdues you.”

My chest tightened. I didn’t like it, but Kaia was right and not just because she couldn’t lie. “Fine.”

I turned for the stables without another word. Kaia followed, slightly behind as we traversed the grounds in silence.

“Belfor!” I called out to the stable master. He stood outside the structure, grooming one of the mares.

“My King,” he answered in greeting. “What brings you here?”

“Ready Dealanach and Toirneach. Quickly, please.”

“Of course.” He tossed the brush he was using aside and stepped away from the mare. Kaia and I stopped just outside the stable. The scent of hay and horses might have calmed me under different circumstances. Instead I paced, biting back my impatience when it threatened to snap.

It felt like hours but was likely minutes before Dealanach was guided out to me. His thick white coat had spots of dappling gray, making him blend in with the snow. Both he and Toirneach were Vetr Horses, named for the north-most city in Faerie. Before the winter, we’d had manykinds of horses, but once the realm froze only a few breeds remained.

I mounted my steed as Belfor appeared with Kaia’s. The two were brothers, but where Dealanach was mostly white, Toirneach was grayer.

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