Chapter 30
Caspian’s POV
The terror on my mate’s face makes me want to throttle Chase. What the hell happened to intercepting Viviane? I ask him through our link.
I’m sorry. He answers immediately, I got distracted, her friend is–
Her friend is not in danger of kidnap or a traumatic break, I cut him off. Get your shit together and start rounding up men for the search.
Yes Alpha. His submissive tone sends a stab of guilt through my middle, but I can’t dwell on that now.
“I don’t understand.” Viviane is saying beside me, her pulse hammering. “How did this happen? When did it happen?”
It takes all my focus to ensure my glare lands solely on the enforcers in front of us, and remains far from Viviane. I’m desperately trying to compartmentalize my wrath towards them and support for her, but doing so seems less and less possible as the seconds drag out. “Would one of you gentlemen like to tell Ms. Belle of your ineptitude?”
Flushed scarlet, the huddle of men hem and haw for a moment before one voice sounds above the rest. “It seems he overpowered his guard and stole the key to his cell once the man was unconscious.” The warden explains with chagrin. “It happened two weeks ago, but we only just found out because the guard in question was too embarrassed to report the incident.”
“The only reason we learned the truth is because the homeless man he hired to replace the prisoner changed his mind about the arrangement. He decided he’d rather be back on the street and confessed to the night watchmen.” An enforcer adds.
“And how is it no one noticed the switch beforehand?” I growl.
“Guard duty shifts all throughout the citadel.” The warden answers, “And the lighting is so dim that it’s not surprising a guard who only saw the prisoner once or twice wouldn’t notice a switch.”
“And the change in scent?” I hiss, almost as deeply disturbed by this level of incompetence as I am to know my mate’s rapist is on the loose.
“Sanitation isn’t exactly our strong suit.” The same enforcer mutters, “It’s difficult to smell anything underneath all that sh–”
“That’s enough.” I interrupt, petting the little mermaid trembling beneath my arm. “I need a moment with Ms. Belle.”
I pull Viviane onto the terrace once we’re alone, hating the pain in her voice. “Why is this happening?”
“I don’t know, baby.” I admit, “But I promise I’m going to make it right. I’m going to find him.”
“Maybe he left Asterion.” She suggests, “I mean if it’s been two weeks and no one’s seen or heard from him…”
“We don’t know whether that’s the case yet.” I sigh, “We only know that he hasn’t approached either of us. He may simply be biding his time.”
“I don’t understand.” Viviane clenches her eyes shut and rests her forehead against my chest, “I thought the citadel was impossible to escape.”
“It’s supposed to be.” I gripe, “you can bet there’s going to be one hell of an investigation into this.”
Pulling her head up with a deep frown, she asks, “Can we go home now?”
Smoothing back her hair with hands shaking with fury, I shake my head. “I’m going to have the enforcers take you and Kiera back to her house for the night. Unless I’m very much mistaken, he won’t know to look for you there, and I’ll assign extra guards.” I promise, “In the meantime I’m going to get the search up and running. If we’re lucky we’ll catch his scent by morning.”
Viviane’s pupils dilate with palpable fear, “Please don’t leave me tonight” She begs in a small voice. “Can’t you send your men without you?”
I gather her up against my chest, wishing for nothing more than the freedom to grant her request. The horrible truth is that until I run or fight off some of this anger, I’m not safe to be around, even for my mate. “I’m sorry, kitten.” I murmur, pressing kisses to her hair, “I need to lead the hunt. I promise you’ll be safe.”
Viviane’s lower lip quivers, and I can see she wants to argue.
Lowering my mouth to her ear, I speak in the gentlest voice I can manage under the circumstances. “You remember our rules about obeying me when the rut takes over?” I question, waiting for her nod before elaborating, “That goes for life-threatening situations too, I need you to follow my orders if there’s danger to be found. And right now, there is.”
She hiccups, “But aren’t I safest with you if there’s danger?”
“Not always.” I admit, “You have to trust me. Can you do that?”
I know exactly how significant this question is for Viviane, trust goes against her very nature. So when she nods in agreement, my heart swells three sizes in my chest. “Thank you. Sweetheart. I promise it will be okay.”
Kiera’s POV
I’ve been watching Viviane for signs of distress ever since we left the ball. Chase explained the situation and warned me to keep a close eye on her – an instruction only a man would think is necessary. As if any woman wouldn’t already be watching out for their friend’s state of mind under such trying circumstances. My lynx remarks drying.
I know, I snort, working hard to lower her hackles. Apparently men only remember we’re “too sensitive” when they want to use the idea as ammunition against us.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” I ask Viviane for the thousandth time.
“I’m alright.” She answers tightly. “But I can’t believe he left me.”
“I’m sure he had his reasons.” I placate, trying to ease her worry but secretly agreeing with her.
“He promised I would always have his protection.” Viviane shares, “Shouldn’t that include now? Especially now.”
“He wants to fix the problem.” I reason. “He can’t abide sitting by and doing what he perceives as ‘nothing.’” I might be able to understand it, but that doesn’t mean I approve. I might have told him as much if everything hadn’t happened so fast, but one moment I was flirting with Chase, and the next he was issuing marching orders like a drill sergeant.
“What happened with Chase?” Viviane asks, reading my thoughts.
We’re curled up in bed, the lights already turned off – though my cat eyes see her perfectly in the darkness. “Nothing.” I sigh, “I thought for a second… well it seems like he took some notice, but not the way I hoped.” Indeed, from all appearances Chase finally saw me as a woman, maybe even as a potential fling – but he’s far from recognized me as his mate.
“Did you ever think we’d already be struggling with mates at 18?” I ponder, “We’re not even done with high school. I always thought I’d be grown before I found him.”
“I never thought I’d have a mate at all.” Viviane yawns.
“Why not?” I prod, for the first time realizing we’ve never actually discussed this before.
My friend stiffens, some of the torpor leaving her expression. “I didn’t believe in them. Not fated mates the way you hear about in stories and in movies.”
I can’t withhold my laugh, “It’s not just in stories and movies, Viv. Where have you been? It’s like you’ve never met a pair of mates before.” Her silence is just a bit too stark, and I frown at her in the pitch black. “How is that possible?”
She makes a noncommittal gesture, wriggling slightly in an attempt to get more comfortable. “I’m really tired.” She mumbles, “can we talk about this in the morning?”
“Of course.” I assent instantly, “I’m sorry, it’s been a really long night.”
Viviane reaches for my hand, fumbling around beneath the blankets for a minute before finding it. Even though she’s stopped wearing her glasses, her vision must still be weak at night. When her fingers finally close around mine, she gives them a soft squeeze. “I’m sorry Chase is such an idiot.”
I return her squeeze, “I’m sorry Caspian is such a stubborn hothead.”
“Sweet dreams.” We say in unison, giggling as we drift off to sleep.
Unfortunately our dreams are not sweet, at least Viviane’s aren’t. I don’t really remember my own. As late as it was when we finally went to sleep, it’s still dark when I wake a few hours later, confused as to why I was pulled so abruptly from my slumber. That’s when I feel the frantic movements next to me on the mattress, immediately turning to find Viviane tossing and turning, whimpering and crying out in her sleep.
I grab her shoulders to still her panicked movements, “Wake up, Viviane!” I exclaim, shaking her firmly. “It’s only a dream. Wake up!”
It takes a few moments, but I eventually manage to pull my friend from her nightmare. She jerks to a sitting position, gasping for air with tears streaming down her cheeks. I hug her tightly, “It’s okay. You’re okay.”
Viviane sniffles and whimpers, then freezes, her body going rigid as a board in my arms. “Viv?” I I question with concern, “What’s wrong.”
I pull back to find her staring at me with a look of abject horror, but I’m having a hard time focusing. It almost feels like I’m sitting on rocks. I look down in confusion, my tired brain struggling to process what I’m seeing. Pale, gleaming orbs scattered over my sheets, each a different size and shade, but unmistakable once I recognize the telltale luster.
Pearls.
