Page 79 of Maleen

Aemon turns me toward him, cupping my face and forcing me to look at him. “We will get him back. We go in, find his location, and then we come back here and make a plan. Do not be rash, Rav. Promise me.”

My fists clench. “I won’t make a promise I can’t keep,” I tell him honestly.

He searches my face, his jaw clenching. “Then I’ll be right on your ass if you do anything stupid. Don’t make me have to paint walls in blood unless you want to see a masterpiece. You are our priority to keep safe.”

“And you, Jesp and the entire realm are mine. Are we doing this or not?” I shouldn’t be turned on by his promise of blood to protect me, but listening to my greedy vagina is what got us into this mess in the first place, and I will kill anyone who hurts what’s mine.

Nero lands on a branch beside me. “I smell fresh eyeballs on the horizon.”

I nod at him. “You can have all the eyeballs you want.”

SKUGGI MAGICK WASHES over me as I use the shadow magick to propel me into the realm of dreams. When I open my eyes, I’m in our clearing. Snowdrop flowers cover the field next to the mountainside. The sky is blue and there isn’t a cloud in sight—it’s peaceful.

A breath later, Aemon is next to me as himself and not in the dragon form of Evisdor he would usually take when we first started coming here.

I blow out a breath. “Are you ready?”

“I’m always ready. I’d follow you into the deepest pits of the realm if it meant I got to stay with you. Now, close your eyes and follow the bond. I’ll be right behind you,” Aemon states, brushing a lock of my hair behind the point of my ear.

My heart aches in the best way at his words, but it’s difficult to feel anything but worry as I fall deeper down the bond. I sense all of them, even our beasts that are bonded to us. All of them filled with concern and frustration. Except for Tisur who is thrashing in rage at not being able to locate his rider.

I continue through the dream realm, searching for Jesper’s subconscious so I can fall into it, but just as I think I found it, it’s as if I’m blocked, unable to enter his dreams, which only happens when someone is awake. But that can’t be possible.

Aemon’s mind brushes against mine. “I wonder if this is something similar to what they did to Talyn. He didn’t have access to the bonds or his magick until whatever tonic they used was out of his system.”

I ponder over his words but the anger only continues to brew, and I don’t know how long it will take until it boils over completely. Because if they used what they did on Talyn, then they were definitely after him again, which means his father is behind this.

My magick crackles at my fingertips and the shadows of the dream realm begin to pulse with my heartbeat.

“Little Dream, I need you to breathe. Let’s wake up and come up with a plan.”

The bonds in my chest begin pulsing in beat with the shadows, Jesper’s in the center of my mind. I level a look at my mate. “I’m done with waiting and planning. I’m bringing Jesper home.” My voice doesn’t sound like me—it sounds like primal, ancient rage.

The shadows pulse again and I’m flung back into my waking body just as my shadows can finally engulf me. Worried cries of my friends and males barely reach my ears before I’m blinking across the realm, following the bond that’s embedded deep inside my soul.

THE SHADOWS HOLD me in their embrace as I open my eyes. I feel my mates panicking through the bond, but all I feel is relief. Tied to the chair in front of me is Jesper, so far unharmed and awake, although having a staring contest with the male who took him.

​“I’m okay. I found Jesper. Just give me a moment to get him and I’ll be back in a blink.”

Killian’s voice thunders through the connection. “You will wait until Aemon reaches you. Do not reveal yourself, Ravina Pendroko, or I swear to the Fates I’ll let Talyn tan your pale ass.”

“Promises, promises. But fine, I’ll—” I stop mid sentence as the door to the room opens and none other than Evera strides into the space.

“Are you fucking kidding me? I told you to grab Talyn. Not this waste of space bastard. I want my mate!” she screeches, and my eye twitches.

The traitor Skuggi shrugs his shoulders. “This one jumped in the way. You said to grab the son of the fae Lord—you didn’t specify which one.”

“I did and you know it. I won’t be paying you for this,” she hisses. “Lord Craven won’t be happy either. Especially when my father finds out that their deal is taking too long to happen.”

Jesper laughs, and I just know he’s wearing a manic smile that promises death. “And what little deal would that be? The one where Tal knocks you up so your daddy can feel powerful knowing his daughter will be lady of Allondë? You know that will never happen, right? Talyn’s cock shrivels at the very sight of you.” He cackles and I have the urge to knock him upside the head. Why in the Fates is he taunting her?

She cocks her fist back and slams it into the side of his face. He laughs again, spitting blood onto the floor. “Is that the best you got? I mean, you think you would have a lot more anger considering Talyn is fated to the Queen of the realm, and you’re nothing but horse shit on the bottom of her boot.”

“You fucking—”

“No I’m not currently fucking. Are you blind or did Nero already steal your eyeballs? And no I don’t want to fuck you. My dick is reserved for my beautiful and deadly mate. Maybe you’ve heard of her? Her name is Ravina?”

She grabs his throat and summons flames to her hand. My magick pulses in rage, which makes her pause before turning to the Skuggi fae behind her.