Page 25 of Heart Cradle
“Don’t,” Eiran growled. “She’ll punch you if you try.”
“Mated females don’t like touchy-touchy,” Fenric added with a wink.
Taelin’s voice cut through. “And if it’s an ambush?”
Orilan’s eyes glittered. “Then they will handle it, and if not, Melrathen will be ready.”
Eiran turned back to the map, fingers trembling as he traced the sweep of forest south of the border. Yendel, ever methodical, adjusted the living map with a precise flick of his fingers, the green and blue threads shimmered. He didn’t speak, just watched the pulse of the projection, lips pressed tight and Branfil returned to his scrolls, brow furrowed. His quill scratched faintly, the only sound in the chamber. He was already recalculating possibilities, gaze flicking to Eiran, unreadable.
“I can’t wait,” Eiran said softly. “I can’t wait any longer.”
Taelin had pulled the three youngest aside, voice firm. Soren stood straight-backed and attentive, Calen tilted slightly sideways with a smirk he was trying to suppress, and Fenric looked half like he might salute and half like he might fall asleep.
“You’re not children,” Taelin muttered, “but gods know you test my faith and my fucking patience. You go in, you get her, and you get out. No theatrics, and Fenric, if I hear one whisper of you trying to summon that storm rune indoors again…”
“I didn’t summon it indoors,” Fenric interrupted mildly. “Just... close to the wall. The wind did the rest.”
Taelin pinched the bridge of his nose, muttering, “Gods fucking save me from these hellers. I asked for girls and got a feral pack of barghests.”
Calen snorted. “Barghests are untameable, vicious little bastards.”
Orilan gave him a dry look. “Yes, the comparison still holds.”
Fenric glanced at Soren, then smirked. “Well, to be fair, Soren does look stunning in a dress.”
Branfil cleared his throat. “There’s something bothering me.”
Eiran turned. “What Bran?”
“The Chain,” Branfil said. “It hasn’t flared again since the night she vanished.”
“So?” Taelin muttered.
“If Avelan had it,” Branfil said slowly, “they’d flaunt it, try to handle it. Bargain with it, but they haven’t. Not a whisper, no activation signs.”
Eiran’s heart slammed in his chest.
“They’re supressing it.” Branfil said. “Or they don’t know she has it.”
Eiran straightened, energy crackling through him. “Then they’re unaware and we still have time.”
“We do,” Branfil said. “And we have an advantage.”
“You’re bonded, she’s your mate.” Branfil met Eiran’s gaze. “Which means you can find her.”
Taelin scoffed. “That’s not a strategy, that’s a fucking wish.”
“It’s not,” Eiran said. “The bond is real. Stronger than I expected. I can feel she’s alive and if I’m close, I can find her. I did in Lisbon.”
Branfil stepped forwards. “We’ll go with the boys.”
Taelin thundered. “Absolutely not!”
Branfil didn’t blink. “If we send just the boys, we might find her. If Eiran and I go, we will.”
“I will not risk the heir of this realm for a human!” Taelin roared.
“She is not just a human,” Eiran snarled. “She is my mate, she is ours.”
