Page 162 of Destiny of a King

Snow covered the castle grounds and continued to fall beyond the windows of Dravic’s solar. The fire burned high in the hearth, but he barely noticed its warmth.

“She has been gone nearly two months,” Dravic said.

Kaelan sat across from him. “You searched for her. We all did.”

“Not nearly long enough.”

Until snow had made the roads nearly impassable and reports from Caerith could no longer be ignored. Scotara had needed its king, and Dravic had been forced to make the choice he had hated most.

He had returned home without Adira.

Fiora had stayed behind, insisting she would continue the search, which had given him some hope. But he had yet to hear from her.

“Tharne warned me I was wasting my time,” Dravic said. “He claims I will never find her unless she wishes to be found.”

“He is probably right.”

Dravic’s eyes narrowed.

Kaelan laughed. “You may be my king, but that does not make you pleasant company when someone tells you something you do not wish to hear.”

“I did not ask for your opinion.”

“Nay, but you are getting it anyway.”

Dravic leaned back in his chair. He had learned quickly that having family came with liberties he had never permitted others. Strangely, he did not dislike it.

“She should have remained with me,” Dravic said, the thought of why she didn’t continuing to haunt him.

“Perhaps.”

“Perhaps you say?”

Kaelan shrugged. “Bria believes Adira needed to leave.”

“Bria is wrong.”

“Tell her that.”

Dravic scowled.

Kaelan grinned. “I thought not.”

Dravic stood and walked to the window.

Somewhere beyond the falling snow was the woman he loved. He had awakened that morning at Morvane Castle and reached for her. The bed had been empty. He had known immediately. She was gone.

He had searched the castle, then the woods, Tharne and his men having joined in the hunt.

Nothing was found. Not a single footprint despite the snow-covered ground. Not even the hint of a trail.

It was as though Adira had simply disappeared and perhaps she had.

He had argued with Feena/Faith, whatever her name was, and Tharne, demanding they use their magic to find her, especially Tharne. He was from the most powerful clan in Driochmor. How was it he could not simply find Adira with his magic?

Tharne argued that it was not that easy until Dravic had battered him with questions that he finally admitted that Adira, his daughter, was more powerful than he was.

Magic.