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I’m with you, brother.
Ian picked up speed, his blood tattoos throbbing hot now.
He’d covered over fifty miles from the time his mind had connected the dots.
When he reached the granite outcrop, he zeroed in on the opposite side of the gorge where he knew Regan and his two Guardsmen had flown.
He crossed, landing at the edge of the trees, then moved inside.
He could smell death before he reached the bodies.
Two good men lay with chests and internals fried, the skin blackened around the edges from a powerful battle blast.
“Damn all the elf lords to hell,” Stone said. “What happened here?”
In a monotone, Ian told him everything he’d just figured out.
Stone listened. “But if Margetta could get to Ben … ”
“She didn’t. I’m convinced Ben went to her and offered himself up. In fact, I’m sure of it. He’s been aligned with her since before Raven’s Overlook.”
“You believe he was responsible for the massacre.”
“Yes. He needed to make sure his brother died.”
Stone scowled. “I don’t get it. Why would he do that?”
“His brother had more essential power. If something happened to me, Ben’s brother would have ruled.”
“The devil is in this.”
Ian blinked, a slow painful dip of his lids. “He separated me from Regan. She was too powerful as well. She was a threat to his plans, especially being fae. She’d picked up on something earlier tonight at the midnight meal. Ben had been there and she’d said something was off. I paid no attention. It was a fae thing, which I can’t relate to, so I discounted it. But this … ”
He glanced around as though looking for something, but didn’t know what.
“Ian.” Stone’s voice sounded a mile distant.
“What?”
“Where’s Regan?”
The full reality hit Ian like a heavy blow to his chest. Once more he roared into the night air, rising swiftly and shouting his rage.
Ben had Regan and there was no doubt in his mind he had one intention, to force the blood rose bond.
Worse, he didn’t even know where to begin the hunt.
~ ~ ~
Regan woke up with her arms on fire.
Pain.
So much pain.
“There you are.” She recognized Margetta’s voice, the lovely melodic sound that hid the woman’s venom. “I guess this must hurt.”
Regan opened her eyes and tried to lift her right arm. But she was bound to the side of the bed. Margetta had both her hands over the blood tattoos, working to remove them.
