Page 125 of Valpar

Her eyebrows turned downward, and a wicked smile crossed her face. “Slow, crushing, painful deaths have always been my favorite.” The vines grew tighter, and I screamed, just as two deafening roars came from overhead.

Chapter Forty

Valpar

It wasn’t here. Theparchment was nowhere to be found, and I didn’t know how to tell my miresa. What will she say? She was going to read it, prepare herself for what was yet to come, and I had lost it!

I wiped my sweaty hand across my clammy face, feeling the dampness on my skin. My brows furrowed, creating deep lines of worry on my forehead, as the drums pounded harder in my chest; the rhythmic thumping echoed in my ears. The weight of my failure settled heavily upon me, suffocating any ounce ofconfidence I had at being a good male for her. I had always prided myself on my strength, on being a shield to protect her from the harsh world outside. But now, I found myself utterly powerless, losing the one thing that could prepare her.

All I could do was hold her when the time came for her to remember. I still didn’t know what she would decide: To know it after I had claimed her or know it little by little, but whatever she did, I would support her. She was mine, branding her or not.

Even if it killed us both.

I balled my hands into fists and leaned on the table. I waited for my miresa to say something. She would have by now, she was not normally this quiet.

Bassza.

I whipped my head to the bed to find the leash that I had her tied to still wrapped around the bedpost, but instead of her waist being tied, it was a bundle of pillows.

What?

I yanked the pillows off the bed, desperately searching for any sign of her. The sharp edges of my claws tore through the fabric, sending a flurry of feathers swirling through the air, filling the room with a cloud of downy chaos. As I tore through the layers, a surge of heat welled up in my chest.

“Calliope!” I roared and it echoed throughout the cave. “Come out, now!”

There was no answer, so I darted into the bathroom, the closet, and even checked the back of the cave to see if she went to the heavy door.

She wasn’t here!

I turned my back for a moment, not even long enough for the dust to settle and my female had evaded me!

“Calliope!” I roared again and gathered my weapons. I strapped my sword to my back while I ran down the passage. I didn’t care if I was making noise. I wanted all the fuckingkingdom to know that I was coming, and I was going to retrieve my female.

I stepped out into the light sources and covered my eyes. I took a large breath, searching for her scent. She couldn’t have gone far. I did not have my back turned for long, but when I took in the air around me, I could only find remnants of her calming aroma.

I tilted my head back, seeing if she had climbed the boulder behind, trying to toy with me, but when I gazed upward I saw something far in the sky. I squinted, covering my eyes from the glare of the light sources and what I saw, I could hardly believe.

A fairy—or a fae holding onto a rope and a person hanging below it.

I didn’t think I’d ever seen that before.

My eyes widened.

She wouldn’t.

She would.

If it was to find her companion she would do anything. Even if it meant putting her life in danger.

Fuck!

“Calliope!” I screamed, but she didn’t turn her head, I cannot even tell if she was able to turn her head or not. They were so far away, and each second was a waste of time.

With a burst of adrenaline, I sprinted recklessly through the dense forest, disregarding any notion of stealth. My sole focus was on speed, determined to prevent her escape, refusing to let her slip from my sight. My pace quickened, propelling me towards the Golden Light Palace. As I crested a hill, a breathtaking sight unfolded before me: a vast pasture dotted with horses, leisurely grazing. The sight of these magnificent creatures filled me with a surge of exhilaration, spurring me onward.

I pursed my lips and let out a sharp whistle, the sound slicing through the air. Squinting my eyes, I scanned the scene filled with the horses, hoping to catch a glimpse of my horse, Ulam. Suddenly, a deafening rumble reverberated through the air, growing louder with each passing second. My heart leapt with anticipation as I turned around and my eyes widened at the sight of Ulam galloping towards me. As I soared over the last barrier of the courtyard, a rush of wind hit my face, accompanied by the unmistakable warmth of Ulam’s breath on my neck.

He raced alongside me once he caught up. I grabbed his mane and jumped, pulling myself onto his back. I was grateful that Osirus gave us the largest breed of horses because I would need his strength to get us to my mate.

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