Page 120 of Inked in Bloom
Fate tucks her long, colorful strands behind her rose-gold ears and clasps her hands in front of her. “There’s a delicate situation I need you two Rescue Riders to handle.”
My brows pull together. “And the other Radixes can’t know about it?”
“There’s one in particular who can’t.” Her prismatic focus flits between Dani and me. “This is where your discretion is imperative.”
“You have our word,” Dani says.
I nod in agreement. “What do you need us to do?”
“We haven’t been able to locate one of our harbingers. Her assigned partner for the season hasn’t seen her in three days.”
“That is pretty usual if they split up to cover a larger region.” I slip my hands into my pockets. “Where is she working?”
“Patagonia. She hasn’t checked in with any of the other Blooms. No one has seen her.”
Patagonia is spread across the southern part of South America and includes parts of Argentina and Chile. It’s beautiful in the spring, a place I usually look forward to visiting after having served there a handful of times. But going there for a rescue, not so much. With mountainous terrain and a vast landscape to cover, it’s easy to get lost if you don’t know your way around.
“Is she mated?” I ask, running through the simplest solutions I can come up with. “Couldn’t they find her?”
“Unfortunately, it’s not that simple.” Fate purses her lips. “Which is why I need your promise to keep this contained, at least for the time being.” After hesitating a moment, she finally speaks, tone low. “The missing harbinger is Skylar.”
Dani’s hand comes to their mouth. “Oh shit.”
With Corrigan rejecting and pushing away the bond for years, it wouldn’t be as strong. I was able to get to Monroe relatively quickly, but we still had frequent contact. Corrigan, on the other hand, chose not to visit the mortal world this spring. Having to monitor new Blooms in an official capacity last season helped, but when the Conservatory asked her to do it again—she’d refused, claiming it would be too hard. I still don’t understand why she’s so hellbent on resisting the bond. Skylar seems kind, at least as a student, and she’s a full-fledged Bloom now.
“Do you have any idea where she’d go or why?” I ask.
“Do you think she was taken? Like the others?” Dani’s hands twitch at their sides.
“I’m not sure…” Fate’s gaze drifts off, like she’s forgotten we’re in the room with her anymore. “If she was…I don’t know if we’ll see her again.”
Whatever she is thinking about or seeing, she’s clearly not as in control as I thought. She’s always moved through the world with such ease. Something I admired about her, envied even. But right now, she’s rattled, and that concerns me.
I drum up my resolve. “Then we better find her.”
“If the Storms took her, we’ll make them pay,” Dani adds.
“No, you won’t,” she replies simply, finally returning to the present.
“Why not?” Dani’s hands clench into fists. “Isn’t there something you can do to stop them?”
They’re pissed and I understand why. Having to missseasons and go back to the basics, that would be humiliating for any Bloom, especially a Radix who’s put in so many years of work. Now, our sister’s mate is in potential danger.
“If I could, I would.”
I don’t understand the defeat in Fate’s tone. We’re taught she’s the most powerful being among the harbingers. She creates us, fills us with purpose, tethers our mate bonds. While I know logically she was once a mortal like the rest of us, I never truly believed it. Not until now. “Why can’t you?”
Fate’s chin lifts, that ethereal role rising to the surface. “You may be a Radix, but there are things that still go above your purview.”
“When do we leave?” Dani asks.
“I’m going to give our Blooms that are already out there another three days to search, but if nothing turns up, you’ll have to go.”
Dani shifts uncomfortably on their heels. “What happens if we don’t find her before season’s end?”
“You’ll return without her.”
“Daddy!”My girls shout from the kitchen table the moment I walk through the door. Their hands are caked in gray. Standing over Millie—arms wrapped around her and guiding her small hands—is Monroe. She smiles at me, laughing as Juni hops out of her chair and runs to throw herself around me.
