Chapter 260: Empty Spaces

The next morning, Ryker blinked his eyes open and turned his frame over, his large arm automatically reaching out to pull Lyra back flush against his chest.

But his palm hit nothing but cold, empty linen.

Ryker sat up instantly, the drowsiness vanishing from his brain as his brow furrowed.

The pillows on her side of the bed were completely smooth, and he leaned over, sniffing the air, expecting the faint scent of her skin, but it was incredibly faint.

He rubbed his stubble, shaking his head as a small, tired sigh escaped his lips. "Probably went down to the kitchen to get some real food," he muttered to himself. "Or she’s just taking a stroll through the gardens to clear her head."

He didn't think much about it.

After the blood fever and the intense shouting matches with Dax yesterday evening, it made perfect sense that she would want some quiet space to herself before the rest of the estate woke up.

Ryker stretched his shoulders, pulled on a simple pair of dark trousers, his leather vest, and his heavy combat boots, and walked out of the bedroom, heading straight down toward the courtyard for the standard morning training session.

When he arrived, a few senior warriors were already practicing.

Ryker grabbed a sword and met Wayne.

"Morning, boss," Wayne said, wiping a layer of sweat from his forehead. "You’re out early. I figured you’d be sleeping in until noon after that trip."

"We have too much work to do today."

Wayne nodded slowly "So... how did the matter with Dax go?"

Ryker stopped mid-swing, the tip of his heavy blade hovering just inches from the dirt.

He let out a dry, irritated breath. "I haven't spoken with him since yesterday evening, Wayne. And so far, I am absolutely not in the mood for Dax’s erratic behavior. If he wants to sit in his quarters and sulk like a child because I questioned his security decisions, he can stay there until the winter snows hit."

Wayne frowned and set his sword down against the rack. "Wait... what do you mean you haven't spoken with him? Lyra might have gotten something useful off him last night."

Ryker turned his head slowly and lowered his blade. "Last night?"

"Yes," Wayne nodded. "I bumped into her last night in the corridor. She was heading straight toward his quarters. She told me she was going to speak with him alone."

Ryker’s heart actually skipped. "What was he saying? Do you know that?"

"No," Wayne replied, shaking his head with an awkward shrug. "I didn't follow her inside the room, boss. I guess she just wanted to hear his side of the story regarding Sylvester without you getting in the way. She thought Dax might open up to her if she approached him without the shouting."

"What time did you see her going to find my brother, Wayne? Be precise."

"It was just a little after everyone went to bed, I guess," Wayne stated, "I didn't quite check the time. But I was leaving to start night patrol.”

Ryker’s hands began to shake and without a single word, he unclasped his fingers, letting the heavy steel training sword drop onto the gravel as he spun around and headed straight toward the doors of the main house.

Wayne rushed after him. "Alpha! Wait! Where are you going? The training session isn't over!"

"She’s been out of the bed for a long time, Wayne!" Ryker shouted back over his shoulder. "And I can't smell her anywhere."

Ryker burst through the corridor and didn't bother knocking as he slammed his shoulder directly into the Dax’s room.

The room was completely empty.

"Dax!" Ryker roared into the empty hallway as he marched straight out of the room and headed down toward the main courtyard gate where the two night guards were currently sitting on a wooden bench, cleaning their rifles.

The moment they saw the Alpha’s furious, golden gaze, they scrambled to their feet.

"You two!" Ryker bellowed. "Did my brother leave the gates?"

"Alpha! Yes!" the guard stammered, his face turning pale. "We... we saw Dax drive off at night, sir."

"Was he alone?" Ryker hissed.

"We... we don't know, sir," the guard whimpered, his eyes wide with terror. "He had a load pinned down on the gas tank of his bike... something wrapped in a dark cloth or a coat. He was leaning low over the handlebars, so we couldn't see what it was!"

Ryker growled. "Wayne! Come with me to the garage! Now!"

The place was filled with other bikes but his brother's bike was gone.

Wayne stopped right beside him. "What's going on, Alpha Ryker?"

"I went to Dax's room just now, Wayne," Ryker said. "There were broken glass bottles cluttered all over the floor, and right near the edge of the mattress, I found Lyra's night shirt... torn at the hem. And that’s not all."

Wayne’s eyes widened. "What else?"

"I also saw some deep, fresh claw marks on the wood of the doorframe," Ryker hissed, "I think Lyra struggled with him last night, Wayne. I think she went down there to talk to him and things went out of hand."

"But Alpha, we know that Lyra could have just driven out with Dax. Sometimes they do that, you know.”

“No, she didn't come back to the room to wear anything warm. Her scent is almost completely gone from our bedroom. That means she's left for a longer time."

Wayne hissed, "Damn it, I knew that this might happen.”

Ryker looked at him quizzically, "what do you mean?”

"Dax was drunk last night. I could hear him muttering and…”

"And what?”

Wayne rubbed his face, "I'm sorry, I didn't think it was going to get out of hand.”

"You heard him take her?”

"No! But I warned her to be careful that he was drunk and might be angry. I didn't know they fought."

Ryker hissed and threw his fist into a nearby bike, knocking the thing down.

“God help Dax!"