Page 8 of Dark Prince's Captive

I’m… not empty anymore.

My skin prickles all over, as if lightning shot through my veins.

No.

It can’t be.

I can’t have found my mate.

She’s dead.

They told me so, and I knew the truth of it when I looked for her.She was nowhere to be found on this world, our connection severed, destroyed.

But like the scrolls say, the soul doesn’t lie—and mine has just recognized hers.

She’s here, somewhere nearby.I can feel the pull of her being.It’s like a dragon’s claw has hooked itself deep into my chest, but instead of pain, there’s an ache, equal parts sweet and terrible, an exquisite longing that permeates everything I am.

I’m not cognizant of my body moving, of my feet taking me to the wall of water guarding the entrance to the palace, but somehow, I’m there.The water particles dissolve before me, and I pass through the waterfall and stride into the Great Hall.

“Gaia!”My shout shakes the palace walls as I turn in a circle, looking for my sister through the thick layers of wood and stone.“Gaia!”

I don’t know if my sister hears me, or if someone tells her that I’m looking for her, but a swirl of purple lights appears in front of me.Regally, she steps out of the portal, flicking her dark braid over her shoulder with an impatient gesture.

“Yes, brother?”she drawls.“How may I be of help?”

I grip her slender hand.“Come with me.Now.”

It won’t help much, of course.The rumors are already flying like embers on the eastern winds, but I need to maintain at least a semblance of secrecy for now.To that end, I shepherd her into my quarters and seal the entrance behind us before activating the shields.

By the time I turn to Gaia, she’s tapping her foot on the floor, looking irritated.“Well?”

“I need you to find someone for me.”

She blinks at me.“Who?”

“A woman.I can sense her, but I don’t know where she is.”

She frowns.“What woman?And what do you mean, sense her?”

I stare at her, stone faced.

She gasps.“No!Aruan, that’s impossible.”

“Is it?”I reach out and take her hand.“Here, feel it.”

Her eyes go wide as I feed her the sensations in my mind.She gasps again and yanks her hand away, then covers her mouth with her palm as she stares at me, shock and fear battling with disbelief on her face.

“Aruan… That’s—” She takes a step back.“I don’t know what to say.”

“Don’t say anything.Just help me find her.”

“I…” Her gaze darts to the sealed entrance, and I know what she’s thinking.

This is too big to keep to herself.This affects not just me, but the entire royal family.The entire kingdom, in fact.Maybe even the whole of Zerra.

Too bad I don’t give a dragon’s ass about that.

“Father and Mother aren’t to know about this,” I tell her bluntly.“Nobody except you and I is to know until she’s safely in my arms.You understand why, don’t you?”

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