Page 84 of The Ice Prince's Fated Mate
Why had she come to the alley entrance? And why did her scent leaddeeper, not back to the rug shop where I had left her?
“What are you doing, mate?” I rumbled to the open air, setting off after her and turning left down a very tight alley.
My eyes immediately spied the signs of a scuffle at the next intersection—marks on the stone, a wet spot where ice had been used for one reason or another, and some blood. Not Ella’s. Over there, someone’s spit. Also not hers.
She had fought back. A flicker of pride was immediately doused by worry. Ella should have had noneedto fight.
I should have done it for her.
The jasmine and amber that belonged to Ella was threaded through all the scents mixing at the intersection.
Fear stitched itself to the darkness lurking in my mind, dragging it forward like a sheet unfurling behind it and coating me in its emotions. Adrenaline churned in time with my blood, reaching every corner of my body as I hurried down alley after alley, following Ella’s scent.
I hoped I wasn’t too late.
Had she been in the market? Had whoever it was realized she was a Grounded and tossed her in there? If I had to go back inside to rescue Ella, I would not be doing so peacefully.
Not this time.
Although I was fairly familiar with the streets of Kylma, the maze I followed my nose through left me fully confused as to exactly where I ended up. The only thing I knew was Ella was here, behind the reinforced door.
I was out front of a building that looked like it might be someone’s estate. I fully expected there to be an open area, another courtyard, on the far side of the solid wood door. The only question was, what else was in there?
Standing out front of the door, I listened, waiting impatiently. There was every chance it was a trap for me.
And every chance I didn’t give a fuck.
My mate was in there. When I was done, she would be out here. It was as simple as that.
Time to let go.
My dragon slithered forward as the darkness came forth, and this time I let its hooks sink in deep. I let the cold lizard-brain ride shotgun instead of be under my control.
There would be no holding back the dark, because the people on the other side of the gate had taken my light.
The air in the alleyway rapidly cooled, ice in the air reflecting the little orblight that made it this far. The temperature dropped further and the droplets fell as snow.
Around the corners of the gate, ice took hold, finding its way in through the grains of wood and pushing deeper and deeper, like roots seeking water. Heat fled the area as cold poured from my body, turning my skin blue.
My face was blank. No emotion. Only the mission.
The door froze solid with ice, the stone walls it was attached to groaning from the added weight. The ground cracked under my feet.
It was time.
Leaning back I slammed my booted foot into the door with every ounce of strength I possessed. Hinges gave way, and the heavy block of wood and ice slammed down flat. Blood came pouring out the sides only to freeze solid as I stepped onto the fallen block and inside.
“Where is she?” I snarled as two more dragons charged me, their eyes only briefly darting to the door and whoever was under it.
I stepped left, ducked under the blow, and drove my shoulder up into the nearest shifter. As I rose, ice spikes six inches long burst from my shoulder. I drove them deep into the attacker, punching holes through his skin.
Blood poured down the ice, but I snapped them free with a violent twist, using the moment to kick out. The second attacker leapt aside and then came back in, driving a fist into my back.
I turned my topple into a dive roll, pushing off for added distance and coming to my feet twenty feet away.
A pair of Weres sporting red heart scales came charging out of a side room while the ice dragon still standing gathered himself to attack again.
I thrust out my hands as the heart-scale wearing wolves attacked. Fire and ice collided, filling the room with steam. I kept an eye on the ice dragon, twisting sideways to get him right at the angle I wanted. Right on the opposite side of me from the Weres.
