Page 59 of The Wolf and the Chimera
“She’s that powerful?” Kieran asked.
I rubbed my chin and nodded. “But the sorceress also knows the Sovereign has a drug powerful enough to knock Elle out. She wouldn’t risk being incapacitated again.”
Kieran stole the words from my mouth. “So, they would need a portal to leave.”
I didn’t bother asking if there were any portals nearby. None of the Leaders lived without an escape route.
“Do you know where the portals are?” I asked.
“Yes,” Kieran said, “but where would Elle go to if she found one?”
I swallowed. “I don’t know. She wouldn’t tell me.”
“Okay,” my brother said slowly. “Okay. We’ll just have to catch her before she gets to the portal.”
“Exactly.”
As Kieran led me toward the closest portals, I checked the paths for Elle’s scent. Though it dusted the air throughout the estate from her time living here, it wasn’t strong enough tobe fresh. We weaved through halls, then checked the portal in the garden, but all for nothing. Elle hadn’t used any of them.
“That’s the last portal I know of,” Kieran said and ran a hand through his short hair.
I released a string of curses, and Kieran winced. He opened his mouth then snapped it shut.
“What?” I demanded. “What is it?”
He cringed. “I-I was just wondering about something.”
Gods give me patience.
Kieran sighed and spoke in a rush. “It’s just that if you and Elle had claimed each other, you could use a mental link to convince her to not to leave.”
While I floundered for a reply, Kieran continued, “Why, um, haven’t you guys claimed each other yet?”
Though I didn’t appreciate his prying, it riled my wolf for anyone to think I didn’twantto claim her or that she wasn’t mine. I also didn’t want to admit the truth—that I hadn’t even told Elle about the life-altering bond out of fear of rejection.
“There hasn’t exactly been a good time to have a ceremony,” I quipped.
It wasn’t a lie. The last place I wanted to claim my mate was in Lyall’s godsdamned chateau. Where was I supposed to have the ceremony? At the creepy, magical waterfall?
As an idea struck me, my jaw unhinged.
“The waterfall,” I said and stopped.
On the cobblestone path, Kieran bumped into me, and I pushed him back. He ran into the towering hedges and cursed, but I ignored his irritation. My mind raced.
“What?” he asked.
“The waterfall,” I repeated. “What is it? I found it on my run, and the creepy twins told me to leave, but it radiated a hell of a lot of magic.”
Kieran went pale. “The waterfall is sacred. We’re not supposed to disturb it.”
“Why?” I asked.
Kieran opened his mouth then closed it.
He sighed. “I don’t know. Why do you think it has anything to do with Elle—”
“Let’s go.”
