Kaelen rose fully now, giving him a once-over. “You look like a man who lost a fight with a storm.”
“I’ve been on a ship for six days.”
“That explains the appearance.” Alarik came forward. “But not the reason you’re here.”
Alexander dragged a hand through his hair, damp with salt and heat. “I’m looking for my wife.”
Kaelen raised a brow, amused. “Bit late for that, cousin.Wealready married the princess.”
Alexander resisted the urge to throttle him. “Notyourwife.Mywife. A Xûen-Sarai Omega princess.”
The words dropped like an anchor. Kaelen blinked once. Alarik’s brows furrowed, arms unfolding at his sides.
“You’vemarried?”
“About a month ago.”
Kaelen had the audacity to look aghast. “And weweren’tinvited?”
Alexander’s eyes narrowed. “It was a small ceremony.”
“Too small to include your only cousin from your mother’s side?”
“You’re not my only cousin from my mother’s side.” He bit his tongue when he was so close to adding ‘distant’ cousin. If he relied on Kaelendrin helping to find JingYi, it would be poor form to offend him.
“Still,” Kaelen insisted, one hand pressed to the chest. “My presence would’ve added festivity to the celebration, I’m sure of it.”
“Why are you looking for her? Shouldn’t she be with you?” Alarik cut in. His golden eyes narrowed, scanning Alexander with the same instinctive wariness he’d use in the field. “Was she kidnapped?”
The question was enough to still Kaelen. His smile faded, spine straightening as if reminded this wasn’t just some unexpected social call.
“An Omega highborn, abducted?” Kaelen echoed, this time without jest.
Alexander shook his head. “No. Not abducted.” Not yet, at least. Every hour that passed tightened the noose around that fear. Omegas didn’t disappear without consequence. The memory of the dead woman in the lake resurfaced.
“She ran,” he said finally, forcing the words out. “Fled Blackwood-Veyrde and Tremore. I’ve been tracking her since.”
That earned him a stunned silence. Kaelen’s brows lifted. Alarik’s expression darkened, unreadable.
Then, blunt as ever, Kaelen blurted, “What did you do?”
Alexander met his cousin’s gaze head-on. He had no easy answer—only a silence heavy with guilt.
“I’ll explain on the way,” Alexander said, already turning toward the port. “There’s no time to lose. I believe she’s heading for Bashkor. You two know that city better than anyone. I need your help.”
Kaelen’s expression sobered instantly. “Of course. Whatever you need. But wait a moment. We’re expecting Reiyana back from Luneth’s temple any minute now. You might want to meet the healer she brought with her. She’s from Xûen-Sarai, too.”
Alexander stopped in his tracks. His breath caught.
“Ahealerfrom Xûen-Sarai?”
Kaelen nodded. “Reiya met her right here in the market—there, in front of the flower cart. The healer cured her pain like it was nothing.”
Alexander sucked in a breath.
Could it be her? Could he bethatlucky?
Kaelen kept talking, unaware of the storm brewing behind his eyes.
