Page 52 of Adored By the Alien Warlord
Davon
Iraced down the driveway, pursuing the carriage, but it sped up, clattering down the streets of the city. No matter how fast I ran, it outdistanced me.
“Maggie,” I panted, coming to a stop. I clenched my hands to fists, but I couldn’t reach her.
My mate was gone, but I would not allow the king to keep her. Since my only chance of finding Maggie lay with Valdar and the rebels, I returned to the palace, finding most of the guards defeated and Valdar standing in one of the front parlors with a grin of victory on his snout.
He caught one look at me and stomped over, bracing my shoulders. “Why didn’t you take your mate and run?”
“Your uncle stole her from me.”
“When he escaped,” he snarled.
“Do you know where he took her?”
Valdar's grip on my shoulders tightened, his eyes locked onto mine. “Sit, Davon. We must talk.”
I growled, my muscles coiling with the need to spring into action. “I can't. Maggie's out there. I need to find her before he hurts her.”
“I understand your urgency, but rushing after them won't help. We need a plan.”
I paced, my heart slamming in my ears. Every instinct screamed at me to rush through the city until I found the carriage, to tear the city apart until I rescued my mate.
“Where did he take her?” I asked, my voice a low rumble.
Valdar leaned against a table, his arms crossing on his scaled chest. “There are caves beneath the city. A network of tunnels where he can hide and regroup. I assume he's taken her there because that's the only place he has left to go.”
“I'm going after them.” I stormed toward the door.
Valdar held up a hand, his eyes narrowing. “Not yet. The city isn't fully under our control. My supporters are fighting, but it's not safe to rush through the streets. You risk being caught in a battle and killed.”
I stopped pacing, my breath coming in sharp bursts. I hated this, hated waiting, hated not acting. But Valdar's words made sense. I couldn't risk Maggie's safety, and if I was dead, I couldn’t rescue her.
“What do you suggest?” I asked, my voice barely more than a growl.
Valdar gestured to a chair. “Sit, Davon. Let's plan this out.”
I reluctantly did, my body rigid with tension. Thescent of old wood and the faint metallic tang of blood from the battles outside filled the room. Valdar's calm demeanor was a stark contrast to the chaos raging inside me.
“We'll wait until the city is under our control,” Valdar said, his voice steady. “I assume that'll be by sunset. The drug . . . Only a few will put up much of a fight. After sundown, we'll make our move. I know those caves. I can guide you through them.”
“And what about the king's guards?” I asked. “He'll post them throughout the caves.”
A cold smile played on Valdar's snout. “We'll eliminate them, one by one. Silently and with stealth. We'll make our way to where he's hiding and surprise him.”
Grim determination settled over me. “And Maggie?”
“We find her, free her, and get her out of there. The caves are vast, but I know the ways in and out. We can use that to our advantage.”
A plan began to form in my mind, a map of the caves taking shape as Valdar described them. I could see us moving through the darkness, taking out the guards, finding my mate and returning her to the surface.
“We'll need weapons,” I said. “And we'll need to be prepared for anything. The king won't give up his pet without a fight.”
Valdar nodded, his eyes gleaming with determination. “Agreed. We'll gather what we need and leave as soon as it's safe.”
The waiting was the hardest part. Every fiber of my being screamed at me to act, to find Maggie and tear heraway from the king. But rushing in would only put her in more danger. I had to be smart, patient.
“Try not to worry.” Valdar’s hand landed on my shoulder. “We'll get her back, Davon. I promise you that.”