Page 49 of Protected By the Elf Prince

The air around me heated instantly.

Streetlights flickered.

Glass trembled.

A nearby human paused and glanced around in confusion before continuing on.

I barely noticed, too focused on the fact that something had happened to my mate.

Someone had touched what belonged to me.

And suddenly, every restraint I possessed felt very thin.

I strode to the entryway. The building doors opened before I reached them, a departing employee stepped out, and I slipped through without slowing.

The lobby stood mostly empty.

Only a single receptionist remained behind the front desk.

She looked up. “Sorry, we’re—” As soon as she saw me, she froze, eyes widening as the glamour struggled against my rising emotions.

I ignored her.

“Landon?”

My hands curled into fists when I got nothing in return.

The elevators sat at the far end of the lobby.

That would be too slow.

Far too slow.

I knew what floor he worked on.

He had told me only this morning on the way to work. At the time, I’d simply been pleased he was sharing details about his life. Now the information was invaluable.

Magic surged beneath my skin.

The air split open.

A portal tore through reality with a sharp crack.

With a gasp, the receptionist stood so quickly her chair fell over.

I stepped through without hesitation.

The world folded.

Shifted.

Then reformed.

I emerged on the top floor, but only silence greeted me.

Only a few of the office lights had been left on.

Rows of empty desks stretched across the room, on which computer monitors sat black and lifeless.