Page 12 of The Dark Rises
“He’s hiding something, and until I know what it is, I’m going to track his every move,” Cormal murmurs. He leans down and gives me a hard kiss. “I’ll call you if I hear anything.” Then he, too, leaves.
Pacing back and forth, I try to get the image of Rivan hurt and needing help out of my head, but it’s almost impossible. Pivoting, I grab my phone and send a text. A second later, the answer comes and I’m out the door.
Arden’s in the training room fighting with Vargas when I enter. Theron and Fallon are watching from the sidelines, fists clenched, as if they hate the sight. I slide up next to them.
Theron’s eyes never move from the two fighters, but he murmurs a quiet greeting.
Fallon bends over and gives me an awkward hug before resuming his tense position. “Good to see you, Meri.”
Astonished, I stare up at the tall Elven prince. “We’re hugging now?”
The corner of Fallon’s mouth curls in a half-smile. “Apparently. Arden says that’s what family does. I mean, mine never did, but my father was an asshole.” He shrugs as if it doesn’t bother him.
“Arden likes to hug. Solandis, Vargas, and Callyx too,” I murmur. “Guess it runs in the family.” Besides Cormal and the occasional child, I can’t remember hugging anyone before Arden. It still feels odd to me.
Clanging swords and swearing brings my gaze back to the fight. Or the end of it, as Vargas stands there scowling at Arden, his hands empty of the sword he held a moment ago.
Arden’s shaking her head at him. “Being a chameleon has made you slow. Or maybe it was living in the Light Fae Kingdom doing nothing but bossing Meri’s guards around. You needpractice.” She tosses his sword to him, then turns to Fallon. “You’re up.”
An evil grin replaces the smile on Fallon’s lips, and he rubs his hands together in anticipation. “Get ready, old man. I’ve been waiting months to wipe the floor with you.” A regal-looking silver sword appears in his large hand, and he springs forward.
Vargas’ cups his hand and eggs him forward. “Bring it on, pup.”
The two immediately start whirling and slashing until they’re a blur to the rest of us.
Arden chuckles. “This is definitely helping to take his mind off Solandis and the baby for a little while. It’s not good for them to be holed up in their room.”
Remembering her tiredness at the palace, I share my thoughts with Arden. “It’s more than caution or fear for her safety. This baby is taking a lot out of her. Physically. She’s been exhausted since the moment she became pregnant. All the rest hasn’t helped, but I think there’s more to it. Has she seen a doctor yet?”
Surprised, Arden stares at me for a second. “She never told me this has been going on for a while. I’ll get one here to check her out.”
As she calls the doctor, she raises an eyebrow and asks, “Why did you need to see me so urgently? For Solandis?”
I look at the rune on my hand but close my fingers around it. The spell can wait. “Rivan’s gone missing. Cormal and Madoc are looking for him, but we think he might have tried to go after Brixton.”
Theron turns to face me. “The leader of the Phoenix?”
I forgot he was dark Fae as well as light Fae. “Yes, that’s his father.” I explain to them both what happened to the original Kaius, Fisk’s grandson, and Brixton’s role in his death. “Youwouldn’t know of anyone who could help us search the Dark Fae Kingdom, do you?”
“Search, no, but I know someone who lives in the palace who might be able to pass us information,” Theron tells me.
“I don’t want Denir to find out we’re searching for Rivan,” I reply with a frown.
Theron dips his chin in acknowledgement. “My brother, Oryn, owes his allegiance to me, not the king. I’ll see if he’s heard of anything.”
I didn’t know Theron had a dark Fae brother. “Thanks, I’d appreciate it.”
Theron’s hand brushes lightly against Arden’s back as he leaves to make the call.
Arden’s staring at her feet with a frown on her face when I turn back to her.
“The doctor’s on her way. I can’t believe I didn’t have her checked out when she got here,” she says to me. “I did heal all her cuts and bruises, but that’s all I could do. She let me think she was just a little tired because of her ordeal.”
“She may not realize it’s more than that,” I say in return. The sounds of fighting ease. “They’ll be done soon. Let’s get her checked out before they finish.”
We head to the lobby to meet the doctor and bring her up to Solandis’ room.
Surprisingly, Solandis quickly agrees to let the doctor examine her. When they come back into the room, Vargas is striding through the door. He abruptly halts.
