“I understand you did it to protect him,” I said. “But I’m not sure Kalen sees it that way.”
“Maybe he will listen to you.”
I nodded. “I will go speak to him now.”
I left Penelope’s room and went in search of Kalen. Stray beams of moonlight lit up the corridors as I hurried through them, my heart racing; the memory of Lilith’s attack was still fresh in my mind. Somehow, knowing Uncle Gabriel wasn’t here made Silverthorne Castle seem more dangerous and eerie than I remembered it.
Kalen wasn’t in his room, and I ended up outside Uncle Gabriel’s study. I stood before the big oak door and felt my heart constrict. I missed my granduncle’s gruff presence. In this time of turmoil, I would have given anything to be able to talk to him and ask his advice. He would have known what to do.
I opened the door and entered the study. Everything seemed to have remained untouched since he left. Moonlight streamed in through the immense bay windows, hung with richly embroidered crimson curtains trimmed with gold, illuminating the numerous but slightly faded tapestries that covered the cold stone walls. Scenes depicting lush green forests filled with a host of different fae creatures stared back at me as I walked farther into the room, the sound of my boots muffled by the exotic carpets blanketing the floor. A sudden noise startled me, and I spun around to see a dark shape move out from behind Uncle Gabriel’s large mahogany desk.
I let out a gasp, my heart beating rapidly in my chest, as a light appeared. I didn’t even know I had been holding my breath. “Rafe! You scared the daylights out of me.” I put my hand on my chest to calm myself. “What are you doing here, skulking around in the dark?”
“I was going to ask you the same thing.” His tone was sharp, abrupt. He was holding something in his hand—an old worn scroll.
“What’s that?” I asked, jerking my chin toward his hand.
“Nothing of importance,” he said, and slipped it into his doublet. “You should be in your room. It’s late.”
I put my hands on my hips. “I’m not a child.”
“Well then stop behaving like one,” he snapped.
I furrowed my brow. “I know you’re upset with me, but—”
“Upset!” He smiled, a sardonic look on his face as he ran his fingers through his hair. “You could say that.”
“I told you I’m sorry! I never meant for it to happen like this. I didn’t know. I thought you were married. My grandmother, she tricked me.” I knew I was rambling, but I had to explain. “She—”
“Save your breath, Aurora!” he said, stepping forward and pulling me toward him. I didn’t stop him as desire burned through my traitorous body. His hard body pressed against me as he leaned in, his breath hot on my ear. “Are you telling me you never meant to get betrothed to someone else? Or are you just upset I found out before you could spin another web of lies?”
“Rafe! I have never lied to you.” I put my hands on his chest and looked up into his eyes, which appeared as if a storm were roiling inside them just waiting to be released. “Please, just listen to me. I didn’t have a choice.”
“You always have a choice, Aurora,” he whispered. His voice was rough, bitter. “And you have made yours.” And just as abruptly, he let me go, turning toward the door.
The door banged open before he reached it and Penelope barged in. “I thought I would find you here,” she said hurriedly.
Rafe composed himself. “What’s wrong?”
Penelope was wringing her hands, which was never a good sign. “It’s Kalen. He’s gone.”
“Gone?” Rafe’s eyes narrowed. “Kalen wouldn’t leave. He knows to stay within the safety of the castle.”
“He’s upset,” I interrupted, and then I told Rafe everything.
He threw a glance at Penelope. “And you didn’t tell me this because . . . ?” He left the words hanging and waited for Penelope to reply.
“I couldn’t, Rafe,” she said. “I told no one except my sister. If the fae court found out there was another Night Court prince—a Nightshade, no less—they would have tried to get rid of him when he was just a child. Even Tristan only found out recently that Kalen is his brother.”
I looked toward the door. “Where is Tristan?”
“He’s out looking for Kalen.”
I turned to Rafe. “Tristan doesn’t know these woods. And Kalen hardly knows Tristan. He will only listen to you, Rafe.”
“We will find them.” I could almost see the wheels turning in Rafe’s head as he quickly assessed the situation. “You both stay here in case he returns.”
I shook my head. “No! I’m coming with you.”
Rafe shrugged. “Suit yourself.”
We rode out into the woods that lay beyond the town walls. A thick mist rolled in from the mountains, shrouding the trees and undergrowth. A lone owl hooted in the distance, and the leaves of the massive willow trees were still. There was no breeze, and the woods felt eerily quiet, devoid of life. Rafe didn’t say a word as he scanned our surroundings, his senses on full alert. These were not the same woods I had ridden through with Erien just last year. Evil had been here—I could feel its malignant presence in the air.
A twig snapped, and we wheeled our horses around. Rafe’s sword was already in his hand as he jumped off his black stallion. I followed suit, tightening my grip on Dawn.
I heard a sudden screech and then a cry.
“Kalen,” I called out and ran toward the sound.
Kalen was on the ground, surrounded by at least a dozen gorgoths.
