Chapter 114

My breath caught in my throat, tears already blurring my vision. I rushed down the hallway to see Squall and Magnus blocking the path.

“Get the fuck out of my way!” I could see his black hair as he shook his head angrily. “If you are holding my queen hostage, I’ll rip you apart!”

I could hear the tremble in his voice. He was about to lose control. I ran up behind Squall, who moved to the side. My eyes met with blue before I dove into his arms. I wrapped my arms around him, and he buried his head in my hair. His breath was warm against my skin, and I felt the comforting strength in his arms.

“Issy, I am so damn sorry … Issy—”

“Shut up, you idiot.” I hiccupped. “You’re alive. I was so afraid …”

“I heard you, Issy. Your voice was in my mind. Your magic—" I pulled back, just enough to see his eyes.

"What are you talking about?"

"You saved me," he said, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "Your magic saved my life. It froze my blood and stopped the poison from killing me."

I didn’t do anything … did I? How did he know it was me? “ How do you know? I don’t—"

“Because it came from your aura.”

It wasn’t until this moment that I realized Lyle wasn’t alone. I looked behind him to see Dayanara, and then looked around wildly in confusion. If she was here, then Darren would be too, right? Her eyes softened, and she understood my look.

“Dayanara, you’re here too?!” I left Lyle’s side to give my new friend a hug.

"I am," she said, a soft laugh in her voice. “You know, your magic is something else. You used divine magic and froze Lyle’s blood.”

“Darren?!” I understood that something had happened with Lyle’s blood, and I was so happy he was alive, but where was my mate?! I felt Lyle’s presence beside me, and he took my hand, squeezing it with a reassurance I hadn't realized I needed.

“He left looking for you. I stayed behind to get the poison out of Lyle’s system. I didn’t know how to unfreeze his blood, but as soon as the threat was gone, your magic released him. It was intelligent magic … I don’t know if you know this, but that is something—”

“Incredible.” I heard Squall breathe out behind me.

I felt Lyle’s hand on my shoulder as he gently spun me so that I was facing him. "Fury's prophecy … she said I wouldn’t come for you, but what she meant was I couldn’t. As soon as I woke up, I didn’t hesitate. I didn’t choose anyone else. I came for you.”

“He wouldn’t have gotten far without my help.” Dayanara snorted.

“Your griffin did make traveling easier … and your tracking magic. That’s how we found you.” He rubbed his hands over my shoulders. “I’m going to find Darren too, but first, I’m taking you home.”

“Sorry, but that isn’t going to happen. She isn’t leaving here without the Lycan King,” Gunnar said, appearing behind Squall, I could feel the weight of his aura projecting out.

My heart raced as Lyle's beast surged, it was more wild and less controlled than I have ever felt him. "Watch me," he growled, his eyes burning with an intensity that shook me. Something was different about him … almost feral.

The dragons gathered around us, a formidable presence that mirrored Lyle's determination. They looked smugly at Lyle … almost mocking his strength compared to their own. Gods, these dragons. I don’t think any dragon had a self esteem issue.

I could feel the tension radiating from Lyle,it was a reckless energy that threatened to explode. He was teetering on the edge, his desperation pushing him to the brink. I saw the struggle in his eyes, the raw, unfiltered fury of a beast that refused to be caged.

“This is Lyle," I said, studying Lyle’s eyes. "Darren's brother and beta. And this is the Dragon King, Gunnar.” I tried to make introductions, but Lyle’s eyes were dark, reminding me all too much of Darren.

“You aren’t keeping her here!” Lyle roared, his anger surging.

“Correction, you’re not taking her from here.” Squall’s voice was an arrogant chuckle, and I glared at him in agitation for provoking Lyle. I watched in horror as Lyle struggled, his body a tangle of fury, magic, and darkness. He was losing to his feral nature.

“Lyle, stop.” I placed my hand on him as a golden whip of magic tangled around his waist.

“Easy, Fido.” Dayanara tugged back on her magic as if it were a leash.

“Lyle!” I grabbed his cheeks forcing him to look at me. Forcing the blue to return to his eyes and holding him in place until I could see the calm. The Lyle I knew. I’ve seen this type of reaction before. It couldn’t be, but was it? "Lyle … is the curse affecting you?" He froze, and I felt the certainty of it, but I didn’t understand how or why.

"It's transferring to you as the next in line," Dayanara's voice was firm but filled with a strange kind of empathy. "That can only mean Darren is somehow disconnected from our world."

"But she's the queen!" he said, as if the very idea were impossible to grasp. “It only transfers to the reigning king—”

Dayanara clicked her tongue, her gaze sharp and knowing. "Dumb pup," she said roughly, yet there was a strange tenderness in the words. "The curse followed the bloodline until broken." Her explanation left no room for doubt, and I saw Lyle's understanding settle over him.

“What does this mean? What about my brother?” Lyle’s eyes were wide and full of fear. Fear that was mirroring my own. If the magic was transferring to Lyle what did this mean about my Darren?

“Sounds like he’s dead—” Magnus said casually. I snapped my sharp gaze at him, silencing him mid-sentence.

“He isn’t dead! I already told you … I’m his twin flame. We’re connected. I can feel him.” I clenched my teeth. I didn’t know what this meant. Maybe Darren was behind a barrier?

“Was he captured and taken to the demon realm?” I heard Squall ponder quietly. “That could cause the disconnect, right?”

“The demon realm is bridged to our world but it isn’t the same. Yes … that could cause it.” Dayanara whispered, and I could see the look in her eyes. A look I did not ever want to see. She was giving up.

“I will drag him out of the demon realm myself if I have to!” Lyle grabbed the magical tether and glared at Dayanara. “Take it off. I’m good.”

“Hold it in or I’ll tie you up again.” The magic rope vanished and Lyle wrapped his arms around me.

"I’ll reunite our family. I’m going to find my brother. Don’t worry, Issy.”

"We need a strategy," Gunnar’s voice was calm but commanding. "Come study the map with us. Let’s look at the portals. Dayanara,” He said with a smile as their eyes met. He knew her name and she didn’t seem like they were a stranger to her either. Yet, I couldn’t focus on that right now. My mind was consumed with Darren. “Use your skills here. You have superior energy linking than we do.” Yeah, he definitely knew her. “ Let’s see if we can locate his energy on the map. See if we can connect to the realm he’s in.”

We followed Gunnar down the hall quietly. My mind was racing and I felt a pit begin to grow in my stomach. Darren … what’s happened to him? Lyle’s arm moved around my waist as he pulled me to his side. He could sense my unease … or he needed my comfort. My heart was racing as I searched inside of me. I felt for the energy that I knew belonged to him. It was there. It was strong. So I knew his life force was fine. If he was in another realm it didn’t change me being able to feel him inside of me. We were still connected.

“I have you back. Now, I just need to get Darren back.” Lyle’s hand rubbed over my side gently as he tried to comfort me.

I saw Magnus snap his head back and glare, a smoldering fury of smoke shooting from his nose.

"You're touching her too much," Magnus growled, smoke curling from his nostrils, his words a sharp, possessive claim. “Are you trying to covet your brother’s mate?”

“Who the hell do you think you are?! Issy is the Lycan Queen. My sister! She is not your business!” Lyle snarled angrily, the heat in his voice a warning that matched the fierce intensity of his grip on me.

"It is," Magnus’ voice was a low, dangerous rumble, "if she’s my mate."

“I’m not.” I kept my voice calm as I rubbed Lyle’s back, trying to calm him down. Magnus only snorted with a smirk and continued to walk down the hall, but he kept an eye on us … on me. I looked up at Lyle, who was looking at me for answers. “I’m not.” I smiled with a small shrug. “It’s only Darren for me. And I need you to bring him back. They won’t let me leave, so I need you to find him.”

“I’ll find him for you.” Dayanara’s voice came from behind me. “Pluto and I will find him for you.”

“Guess I’m stuck with Hermione again.”

“Really? How about a thank you for getting the poison out of your blood?! You know you haven’t thanked me once. You just bark orders as if I should oblige them. Maybe I won’t take you with me at all. You’ll only get in my way.” Dayanara snorted and brushed past Lyle, walking ahead behind Squall.

“Is the curse making you more temperamental?” I laughed and glanced up at Lyle, who was glaring at Dayanara.

“I don’t know. But something about her really aggravates me.”

“What you are about to see … you can never reveal.” Gunnar’s voice brought our attention to the front. Two large black wooden doors were pushed open. My eyes widened as a magical world map floated around us. You could see movement and clouds rushing over the surface. This was high-level magic.

Squall handed a crystal to Dayanara and glanced up. “Do your thing.”

A red light glowed, and Dayanara began to chant quietly. We all looked up at the map and watched. What would we do once we located Darren? Could we figure out where he was? If he was in a different realm, which one? How would we reach him? I didn’t like the look they had when they mentioned the demon realm. I could see they wouldn’t go after him there.

“Would you look at this?” Dayanara pointed at a red beam that then glowed purple.

“What does that mean?” I asked, since the others seemed to understand.

“He’s in another realm.” Her voice was a whisper. “Calaboose … the prison realm of the gods.”

“How do we get him out?!” I asked, seeing how everyone looked more solemn. She turned and looked at me, pursing her lips. The others were avoiding eye contact with me. Shit, this wasn’t good.

“We can’t.”