Page 33 of Wings of Snow

“We didn’t see him leave, Prince Norivun,” a male finally answered. “They disappeared this morning. None of us know where he took your mate or her sister.”

Power rumbled along my limbs as I turned to face the crowd again. I inhaled all of the scents drifting through the air. The male wasn’t lying. None of them were. “Fuck.”

I shot into the sky, my wings flapping so violently that the air around me whipped and swirled. My air elemental affinity unleashed, and the tree branches creaked and groaned as I dove back toward the beach, then began to soar over the ocean.

I released a huge burst of magic toward the sea, and a ripple shot out across the water as I bellowed in rage.

My guards caught up with me a second later, their wings flapping so fast they were a blur as they kept pace behind me.

“We’ll find her, Nori,” Ryder called as his sharp cheekbones caught the sunlight.

“How?” I growled. “The queen gave her a potion that hides her whereabouts. Nobody can find her using magic, and—” My mate’s scent hit me with a vengeance when we flew over an outcropping of rocks. It was so strong that I nearly dropped to the ground midflight.

Nish let out a grumble when I clipped his wing, but I was too consumed with the scent on the wind to apologize.

I landed on the shore and inhaled again, my stride eating up the ground as Ilara’s scent grew stronger and stronger as I strode toward the rocks.

My hands were buried in the outcropping before my guards could ask what I was doing. Rocks flew over my shoulder as I threw them.

A flutter of parchment appeared a second later. My mate’s essence coated it. I carefully pulled the top rock off it, my breaths coming so fast I was certain all four of my guards could hear.

With shaking fingers, I smoothed the folded creases, and my heart nearly stopped when Ilara’s handwriting stared back at me.

Norivun,

If you’re reading this, then you’ve come in search of me on Drachu’s shores. I don’t know how long it’ll be until you find this letter, but I’ve been with the Lochen king for two days, and he’s now taking me to the Adrall Temple. He believes he can free my trapped affinities.

I’m going because I have no other options, and I’m too weak in my current state to do anything to stop your father’s plans for our future, but if I haven’t returned to the Solis continent, and you’re worried for my safety, then please find me. It means venturing to the Adrall Temple was a mistake.

I love you,

Ilara

Pride at my mate’s cleverness to leave me something she knew I could find and absolute terror at what might have happened to her hit me simultaneously.

“Fuck!” With trembling fingers, I folded the paper and tucked it into my pocket as my guards gazed at me with wild eyes.

“What is it?” Haxil asked as fear entered his scent.

My lip curled. “Drachu’s taken her to the Adrall Temple. Ilara thinks it’s because he’s going to untrap her affinities.”

The blood drained from Haxil’s face. “No.”

“Exactly.” I wrapped all four of them in my mistphasing magic as I called on a huge dose of it. Fear at what might have already happened consumed me.

Because if Drachu took her to that temple, it was only for one reason, which meant we might be too late.

CHAPTER 11 - ILARA

Gift?I stared at Drachu, wondering what he meant by that comment as I brought a hand to my gut. Power swirled beneath my palm...Immensemagic, even more than I’d carried before.

I caressed the new affinity inside me, the warrior one that now resided below my air, fire, and life-giving affinities. The warrior affinity was all jagged edges and cool stone, not like my feathery air, brimming fire, or glowing life. And the affinity that nestled between my shoulder blades...

I assessed that next and found a tight, dense ball of startling light and cold power. I didn’t know how else to describe it.

So strange.

“Are you truly okay?” Cailis asked, her gaze skating over me.