Page 60 of Broken Hearted
Haron dipped his head to me. “Of course, my lady.”
“Thank you, Haron.” Adrien took my hand and squeezed it before leading me below deck.
We entered the level where the cabins were and Adrien led me into one of them. I was in a state of shock, just following Adrien through the halls as I thought of my poor terrified sister walking through that mirror portal with zero training on the Ethereum realm.
“I’m sorry to hear about your sister,” he said when we were alone in the room.
My mind was frantic with worry for her.
I reached up and rubbed my temples and Adrien stroked my upper arms. “What do you need? How can I help?”
I was on the verge of a panic attack. My little sister was here. All alone.
“Your men wouldn’t kill her, right?” I dropped my hands and looked up at him.
He shook his head. “Not if she looks like you. Not even if she tries to kill them. They will detain her. How powerful is she?”
I swallowed hard. “Not as much as me, but … enough.”
He was being so supportive and yet this was overwhelming. The kiss we shared, the mate confirmation. It was real. He wasmy mate and even though that felt so right, it terrified me. Now that my sister was here, I had to focus on that. But I couldn’t until we’d talked over what happened back in that labyrinth.
“Adrien, about that kiss,” I hedged.
He just peered at me adoringly. “Yes, Isolde?”
I swallowed the lump in my throat. “The truth is, I went to a dark place after my parents’ divorce and I’m terrified of the idea of marriage.”
His gaze softened and he took my hand in his. “I can be a patient man if I have to. But please know that there is nothing more I want in this world than to call you my wife.”
It was the sweetest thing he could have ever said, but when he uttered the word “wife” a small spike of fear raced through me that I tried to hide, but Adrien was perceptive enough to see it.
He cupped my face in his hands. “I would never pressure you to do anything you weren’t ready for. Just being by your side is more than enough for me. But there are more important things we have to focus on. We will find your sister. Together.”
I knew then that I’d never have to be alone in anything and that was comforting. Love, marriage, it all terrified me, but I also couldn’t ignore this bond between us and having him at my side, going at my pace, brought me comfort.
After a rough night’s sleep we reached the shores of the Southern Kingdom and docked back in the same wharf we’d left from. One of Adrien’s spies was waiting for us because we’d sent a raven from the ship to alert the castle that we were on our way back. The spy was wearing a black hooded cloak that was coated in dust, from the desert area, I presumed.
I ran over to him, charging ahead of Adrien. “Do you have her? My sister?”
Please say yes.
He pulled back his head covering and a puff of sand fell to his shoulders. His face was scabbed and bruised.
“I do not, my lady.” Then he met Adrien’s gaze. “She was taken by Elisana, who isverymuch a blood witch. They went north. Robbick is dead.”
Dizziness washed over me, and Adrien caught me as I fell against his side.
“What are we going to do?” I asked Adrien.
He glanced at his spy. “The north is nearly completely taken over by the curse. Why would she go there?”
The spy spoke softly as some passersby walked near us. “Her village sits away from the curse for now. On the Midlands border. We think Elisana went to check on her mother who still lives there and once she gets her to safety, she will … do whatever she has planned with the girl.”
“No,” I whimpered.
We did our part. We unlocked the crystal and got the vial inside, and now we needed to bring it to Zane, not go on a hunt for my little sister. Yet, there was nothing that would stand in my way of rescuing Seraphina. Not even trying to save two worlds.
“My lord, there is one more thing.” The spy looked like he didn’t want to deliver the next blow. “The curse has begun to creep over the border. The date trees are dying.”
