But his heart lifted, ever so slightly, when he saw not his mother, but Erik standing in the doorway dressed in a similar Brachian uniform. His brother’s unruly hair was slicked back and he wore a weary frown.
“Fuck.” Erik aimed the curse at the floor. “I had hoped maybe you were gone again. Escaped with your pretty human.”
Cael rubbed at his temples. “That had been the plan until Father…” He couldn’t even finish the sentence.
“He’s been more smugly evil than usual today,” Erik ground out, stepping up behind Cael in the mirror. “Not to mention the servants have been working around the clock to set everything up for the wedding.”
“Where were you last night?” Cael ground out.
Erik shrugged, rubbing at what looked suspiciously like a bite mark on his neck. “Constance arrived.”
“Tomas’s fiancée?”
Erik had the good sense to look apologetic. Not about Constance, certainly. “I’m sorry, Cael. I was distracted. I had no idea you’d come back. What happened?”
“He’s got her,” Cael said, rage a thunderous echo in his chest. “He found us and he…he took her. Said if I didn’t marry Elodie, he’d give her to Tomas.”
Erik shuddered, his wings rustling. “Where is she?”
“I have no fucking idea!” Cael roared. Erik didn’t even flinch, just let his brother release his anger.
Erik perked up, his dark brown eyes widening. “I’ll help. I can help now.”
“It’s too late,” Cael whispered. “I made a blood vow. Promised I would marry Elodie and never interact with Xenia again. And he promised to send her safely back to the colonies after.”
“And you trust he’ll do it?”
“Even Arran Zephyrus can’t break a blood vow.” Cael’s nerves flared. “Can he?”
Erik’s brows furrowed. “He’s capable of many things that normal males aren’t.” He canted his head to the side. “But I have an idea of where he may be keeping her.”
Cael sagged with relief, then pried the cuff from his wrist and handed it to his brother. “Then I need you to get her out of here. Give her this and tell her to portal to Akti. A town called Lebaedia. Tell her to find the Teles Chrysos and Trophonios and give him this name—” Cael whispered the dragon’s name into Erik’s ear “—and they will protect her.”
“What is this?” Erik ran his fingers along the silver cuff.
“Something I got from the rebels. Don’t worry about it. Just…” He dipped his head. “Tell her I’m sorry. And that I love her.”
Erik grabbed Cael’s shoulder. “You can tell her yourself. Just get through this farce today, say your vows to Elodie and then leave her. Not like you’d be the first male in history to step out on his marriage.”
“And what? Spend the rest of my life running from him? If I leave Elodie, I break my part of the blood vow which will release Father from his. He’ll hunt Xenia for the rest of her life. Even if I’m there to protect her. I’m not going to do that to her. She deserves better than that. Better thanme. I’ve known it sinceI met her.” Erik stared at him, concern twisting his features. “Please.”
“Okay,” Erik breathed out. “Do you want to come with me? See her one last time?”
Cael looked upward, tears blurring his vision, and whispered, “If I see her, I’ll never let her go. And I’ll end up getting her killed.” He steeled his gaze. “Go.Go. The ceremony begins in less than a half hour. You need to be back by then, or Father might suspect something.”
Erik kept his mouth shut, though he looked like he wanted to shout at Cael. Not that Cael could blame him. But his little brother merely nodded, slipped the cuff into his pocket, and left Cael alone in his suite.
Hoping against all odds that Erik would find Xenia and get her as far away from here as possible.
Xenia paced aroundthe claustrophobic room, frantic.
She wracked her brain as she stalked from corner to corner, trying to piece Lizbeth’s motives together. Why marry Cael? Perhaps she was trying to acquire his last name? If she married Cael, became a Zephyrus, then murdered him and his family, that would give her dominion over Brachos.
Is that what she wanted? And once she had Brachos, what would she do next? HighGods, if Lizbeth got a hold of the dragon… Did she know its name? She didn’t have the flute, thankfully. That was still laying against Xenia’s sternum, tucked safely within her dress.
She needed to get out of here. Needed to warn everyone. How many hours, minutes, were left until the ceremony started?
She pulled at her curls, her anxiety a swirling tempest, when a door appeared in the wall to her left.
