Page 71 of Broken Hearted
“I’ve been keeping tabs on her since we last met her in Stryker’s kingdom,” Zane said by way of an explanation.
“That was smart,” Zander replied.
Zane gave his brother a glare. “I’m not an idiot. She has my blood.”
I cocked my head at Zane. There was a story there, but I wasn’t sure I wanted to know it.
Glancing over at me he asked, “Do you have the Shadow Heart with you? Or at least what’s left of it?”
I nodded, and then reaching into the satchel hanging from my waist, I pulled out what had been hiding in the Shadow Heart plus the two halves.
“Is there something written on that?” Zane asked, pointing to the small vial and even smaller scroll attached to it.
I nodded and then held the vial out, so they could see the sealed rolled note with Lorelei’s name on it for themselves.I glanced at Dawn and she leaned in at the same time as Zane did. They both gasped at the same time.
“Lorelei?” Dawn said in awe.
I nodded. “I think we need to get this to her.” Then I glanced at Zane. “Have you found a way to get to Faerie?”
He nodded, but his expression remained grim. “I think I have. But it’s going to take all four of us brothers to do so. I’ve already sent a raven to Stryker letting him know that I need him. I haven’t heard back from him yet, but I’m hoping he and Aribella will be able to make the journey here soon. Once we defeat this blood witch and get Adrien back, I don’t want to waste a single moment getting to Lorelei.”
Interesting. He said getting to Lorelei rather than getting to Faerie or ending the curse. Despite the direness of this whole situation, I had to smile a little internally. Zane deserved happiness, and I was sure he was going to find it in the sweet Spring princess. Zane was truly an amazing man. Lorelei didn’t know how lucky she was.
After that, Zane left to arrange for his men to locate the blood witch who he thought might aid us, leaving Zander, Dawn and I to start planning for Adrien’s rescue after we broke the soul-tie.
“And you’re sure Elisana’s potion didn’t work this time?” Zander asked, a crease forming between his brows. “We all witnessed the power this blood witch had over my brother before. He would have done anything for her. I think we need to know, going in, what we should be prepared for. If he’s under her thrall again, it’s not just Elisana we’ll be battling, but Adrien as well. If he’s not in his right mind, he’ll defend her, even against us.”
The thought of Adrien fighting against his brother to protect Elisana made me sick to my stomach.
“I’m sure,” I said, holding my tongue against any doubts I might have.
“I wonder why it didn’t work this time,” Zander mused, running two fingers over his lower lip as he tried to work it out.
“Well, I have a theory,” I said, clearing my throat.
I was suddenly shy. I hadn’t told them Adrien and I had confirmed we were mates yet, but there was really no reason to hold the information back. I’d seen the power of our bond work when we couldn’t access our magic in the belly of the sea. If I had to guess, I’d say that’s what was keeping Adrien clear-headed right now. I only hoped that Elisana didn’t realize because I didn’t know what she would do to Adrien if she thought he would never love her again. She was clearly unhinged.
Dawn and Zander patiently waited for me to explain. “We found out we’re mates and solidified our bond, so I think the magic of the bond between us is more powerful than Elisana’s potion.”
“You’re mates?” Dawn’s eyes started to well as a huge grin appeared on her face. “I knew there was something between the two of you. It was all over your face when you called Elisana a wench. I guess ending up in front of Adrien instead of Zane meant something after all.” Reaching across the table she grabbed my hands and squeezed them quickly.
Zander glanced over at his wife with a look of such deep affection that it made my heart ache. I’d seen that look before when Adrien gazed at me. Would I ever see it again?
“I know I speak for Dawn when I say that we couldn’t be happierfor you and my brother,” Zander told me. “We’re extremely excited for your future together.”
“We’ll only have a future if we can defeat Elisana and I can get him back,” I said.
“You will,” Dawn replied with such conviction that I couldn’t do anything but believe her.
* * *
Later that night, Zane found me alone on a balcony overlooking the lights shining throughout the city of Windreum below. He cleared his throat to announce his presence and came up next to me, resting his forearms on the railing.
Zane may not have turned out to be my mate, but there was still a connection that had formed between the two of us during the time we spent together. It was similar to the connection I had with my sisters. It was comforting to have him here, even if he wasn’t saying anything.
After a few more moments of comfortable silence, Zane said, “I came out to check on you. How are you holding up?”
Truthfully, I was a wreck, but I knew I needed to stay strong for my sister and Adrien. Now wasn’t the time to fall apart, even though I felt a hair’s breadth away from shattering into a million pieces.
