Page 57 of The Dark Rises
I make a mental note to find out more about his circumstances. “No, thank you. I’ve never gotten this close to finding my sister, and I wouldn’t have now if it wasn’t for your perseverance. I’ll let you know how it turns out.”
When he’s gone, Madoc turns to me with an eyebrow raised. “Where to next?”
His easy acceptance of my need to follow this through is unexpected. “You’re turning out to be better than I hoped.”
He scowls and stalks off.
Catching up, I flash him a broad grin. “We’re returning to The Abbey to check on Rivan and Meri. Then we’re going to find Theron and ask him about a man on a horse.”
Meri and Rivan are waiting for us in the room. She immediately rushes over and gives me a hug. “Sorry we had to leave.”
I smooth a hand down her platinum hair as I scan her from head to toe for any injuries. Thankfully, there are none.
Madoc inserts himself between the two of us. “Hello.” He dips his head and captures her lips in a deep kiss.
She grabs onto his shoulders and leans into him. “You don’t have to kiss me like that every time.”
He draws back. “You prefer a peck on the cheek like Cormal gives you?”
I growl in response to his asshole comment.
“I’ll take every kind of kiss from you three,” she breathes in a sultry voice.
Clearing my throat, I tilt my head and focus on Rivan. “What happened?”
“Some Red Caps were a little pissed because they lost family in the rebellion,” Rivan says nonchalantly. “I would have walked away, but they tried to take Meri as recompense.”
Meri’s turquoise eyes are brimming with laughter. “While he was ferociously fighting the Red Caps, a gnarled hand reached out from the shadows and touched my hair. Told me it was pretty, then tried to snatch it off my head. I might have gotten a little pissed and lit it on fire.”
I chuckle. “You’ve always been a little overprotective about your hair.” This little skirmish seems to have helped her and Rivan find their rhythm, too. “We followed the Fae to the stables. I think he’s a Winter Fae lord. I’m going to show Theron his picture.”
She frowns. “Theron’s brother is the only other lord in the Winter Court. His name is Oryn, and he lives in the palace with Denir. He’s the one who gave me the information about the Phoenix.”
“Full circle,” I murmur.
How the hell does Oryn know my sister?
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
MERI
Cormal thrusts his phone into Theron’s hand, then proceeds to explain everything from his sister’s initial kidnapping to this Fae’s search for her background. “Tell me you know him.”
Theron’s gaze slips to the phone and back to Cormal. “It’s Oryn, my brother. How did you know to come to me?” He passes the photo to Fallon, who’s standing beside him.
“In Aerie Wells, the rider used a wintery wind to open the doors of the stables,” I recount with a shrug. “Dark Fae territory. It was bound to either be Autumn or Winter.”
“I’m surprised he even used a disguise,” Theron notes with a shake of his head. “Oryn’s never faced hardship in his life. And to go out of his way for someone else isn’t like him. I’ll order him to Winter Court, where we can meet with him in private.” With his phone in hand, he walks away.
Minutes later, he returns. “He was waiting for my call. Told me he would meet me in Winter in an hour, then hung up. Fallon, will you go? I might need a voice of reason if it’s bad.”
Fallon brushes his long hair back from his face and tucks it behind his ear. “Of course. Don’t want you to kill your favorite brother.”
Cormal eyes Madoc, Rivan, and me. “I’ll fill you in when I return.”
“Take Madoc,” I urge him. “Oryn lives at court with Denir. He might know something that could help us.”
Cormal swoops down and gives me a deep kiss. “Good call. I’ll see you later.” He throws his elbow into Madoc’s ribs when he passes him.
