Page 37 of Beauty

Rachel Harper takes a long breath. “What do you mean? Youcan really see her? Hear what’s happening to her?”

I nod. “It can be confusing, but I know what I heard. Therewas a man there. He was dressed in rich clothes. He was older. Bron didn’t likehim. She was disgusted by him. He called her a witch, and then the connectionwas gone. I think she’s unconscious.”

I don’t like the thought of how that happened. I felt herone minute, and she was gone the next.

Paige Harper paled a bit. “Witches are considered bad here.At least for the last few years. Anyone with psychic ability is labeled awitch, and Torin deals with them the same way he does non-sidhe.”

Rachel puts an arm around her daughter, obviously lendingher strength. “He’s taken bondmates, especially the strong ones, and theydisappear. We don’t know if they’re dead or if he’s got them held somewhere.We’ve been safe here because we’re so isolated, but we’ve lost a few when weleave the village.”

Dellacourt speaks up. “According to the sluagh, he’s traineda number of consorts to turn on their masters. He’s turning over a hundredconsorts to the vampire ambassadors. They’re set to go off somewhere down theline, like bombs he’s planted.”

Paige puts a hand to her mouth, stifling a sob. She turnsand runs back into the house. Rachel sends me an apologetic glance and thenhurries after her daughter.

Rye sighs. “Paige’s best friend is a boy named Charlie. He’sthe sheriff’s son. Well, Nathan was the sheriff until Torin took over. He sentanother sheriff in. We killed that asshole, but Torin doesn’t know it. Twoyears ago, Charlie disappeared. Nathan and his partner Zane and their wifeCalliope have been searching for their son ever since. He could bond. He wasvery strong. They tracked him to the palace, but they haven’t been able to getclose.”

I don’t know what to say. I know what Torin will have to doto transform the bondmates into his own personal timebombs. He will torturethem. He will use pain to warp.

We can’t get Bronwyn out of here fast enough.

“Do you think they’ll kill her?” Lach asks, his eyestightening.

“She’s not dead.” I would feel it.

Rye leans forward, his weight on the porch railing. Hewatches his children play with a dead dog. “Did she take your power? I’ve heardit can happen with very strong broadcasters. Paige is a receiver. She’s the onewho sent Charlie’s parents to the palace. She can still hear him every day. Itsounds as though your Bron is a broadcaster. If she took your power and turnedit on someone, then they could think she’s a witch. There will be a trial, ifshe’s lucky. If not, they’ll hold a public execution at sunset tomorrow.”

I close my eyes, searching for the connection to Bron.

“Can you feel her?” Lach asks, desperation creeping into histone.

I shake my head. “No. She’s gone. She’s not conscious, andshe’s not naturally asleep.”

“Most likely we can make it to her province by afternoon,”Roan offers. “If she’s being held in the town center, then at least we’ll knowwhere she is.”

Lach shakes his head. “We need to go now.”

Roan sighs. “No, Your Highness. We still have to wait untildark. It’s far too dangerous.”

I look to my brother. This is a game we played a hundredtimes before. Despite being princes of the realm, we deal with the fact thateveryone thinks we’re damaged goods. This isn’t the first time we’re overruledby a well-meaning protector. The truth is a prince’s life is rigid, and thereisn’t much freedom to it all. What freedom we had, we’d taken.

Lach nods, obviously reading my mind.

I turn to Roan. “I understand. Just try to make it soon.”

Lach plays the part we designated for him long ago. “Whatare you talking about, Shim? We need to go now. She’s in danger.”

Roan watches us, his dark eyes taking in our argument.“Prince Lachlan, your brother is being reasonable.”

Dante gets in on the action. “We can’t risk the two of youby running around in broad daylight. We all agreed to this plan.”

He means our father agreed to this plan, and the Unseelieportion of this particular revolution depends on Lach’s and my survival. Ifthey decide it’s too dangerous, I’m pretty sure Roan is ready to lock me andLachlan up and they’ll go after Bronwyn without us. It would all be for our owngood, but I’m not having it. I won’t trust anyone else with our mate.

I let my face fall into the perfectly amenable expression Iwear every day. “They’re right, Lach. We would put Bron in more danger.”

Lach shakes his head. “You’re such a coward, Shim. When shedies, when we end up holding her corpse instead of her warm, living body, it’sgoing to be on you.”

Lach storms out, his boots ringing across the wood floor ofthe porch. He stalks toward the barn.

Dellacourt starts to go after him.