Now I get why Myko was terrified of that combination.
My breath hitches. She’s not just unstable. She’s a walking catalyst.
“Did I say something wrong? Why are you both looking at me like—”
“Wait!”
I cut her off, slamming the door open and sprinting toward a gleam of sunlight.
A broken heel.
Pink. And blood.
Roran’s.
Bay and Onyx aren’t far behind—they run out of the car after me, leaving the doors wide open in their rush. We all stare down at the only confirmation I didn’t want.
She was taken.
I inhale deeply, trying not to lose it, and quickly text Pedro, tell him to get Matteo. We need to find who took her. The French. The Russians. Fuck. She could be anywhere.
I kick the heel away and drag my fingers through my hair like I’m about to rip it out.
“Someone took her.” I turn to Bay.
Her gaze softens. “Malec, I’m sorry, we did what we could. But she’s not our priority right now, we need to get to the Red Dock. Free the merfolk. Then we figure out the rune thing and Onyx—”
“No.” My voice could split steel.
“We’re finding her. Now.”
Rage thrums in my veins, pumping with every breath.
“She’s not yours, Malec. You’re losing it at the worst time. I care about her too, but we can’t save everyone—”
“No. You don’t get to give me that bullshit, Bay.” I jab my finger toward her chest.
“You collect poor strays like they’re your trophy collection—bringing them home, treating them like lost children. But when it really matters, when it costs you something, you set them aside because they’re inconvenient?”
The words fly out faster than I can filter them.
“That’s not fair,” she snaps, glaring like a storm’s about to break behind her eyes.
“I don’t care what’s fair. Roranismine—whether you like it or not, she belongs with us. So either help me find her, or move out of my way.”
Her mouth opens like she wants to fight, then closes again. She breathes out hard.
“…Alright. Let’s go find her.”
“Can I speak now?” Onyx steps between us with a deep sigh.
We both turn to her, surprised at her approach.
“I know I shouldn’t have done it… but I carvedAsh’a—the fire rune—into Roran’s neck. I was going to use it to kill her—”
“Onyx…” I growl, fists clenching. “Get to the point.”
“I can feel her. I tried earlier in the car. She’s alive. I think I can track her through my rune—but it’s going to burn. A lot.”
