I choose my words carefully. “It didn’t find a home in me.”
Sabelle still isn’t coming out of those doors. My growing alarm becomes full-blown panic. I look for excuses. Maybe she fell asleep. Maybe she decided to shower.
In the middle of the most important battle for magickind in centuries?
She wouldn’t. But I shouldn’t jump to the worst conclusions. Would Mathias truly risk the Council seat he murdered and lied for by committing another atrocity on a Councilman’s sister while a guest on the Council Chancellor’s property, with the whole Council looking on?
A normal wizard wouldn’t. But this is Mathias.
“Because you aren’t susceptible to the dark?” Bram demands. “That’s what Mathias intimated.”
Because I don’t live for power or greed, don’t covet anyone else’s mate, don’t kill for sport. Nothing in my soul can be used to tempt me to evil. Bram, on the other hand, has always been ruthlessly ambitious, but since being smothered by the forbidden spell, it rules nearly his every thought and deed.
Rather than voice those thoughts—an argument starter I don’t have time or energy for—I change the subject. “How much longer before the end of the break?”
“Less than two minutes.”
Not long, but right now, it feels like an eternity. Both Mathias and Sabelle are still inside. Together. I try to think of reasons why neither have emerged with mere seconds left before the challenge resumes. I can only find one.
Sabelle!
Tossing the sword at Bram again, I set off at a dead run for the house. Suddenly, Bram is by my side, the sword now leaning against the challenge ring’s invisible walls.
“Go back to the match, or you’ll forfeit,” Bram orders.
“If it means letting Mathias hurt Sabelle, I don’t bloody care!”
“She’s my sister. I’ll find her!”
“And she’s the mate of my heart. If Emma were here, would you let Mathias anywhere near her?”
“Bastard.”
I don’t know if Bram means me or Mathias, and I don’t much care. I reach the back door first and yank it open. Just as I prepare to charge in, Mathias shoves out, looking entirely unruffled and brimming with energy.
“Going somewhere?” he asks, blocking the doorway. “The challenge is about to resume. Or are you admitting defeat?”
Narrowing my eyes at the ruthless wizard, I glare. “Why are you late?”
“One minute!” Blackbourne calls.
“I’m not.” Mathias smiles. “Just keeping Rhea occupied for as long as possible.”
I don’t believe him. A demand to know if he’s seen or harmed Sabelle perches on the tip of my tongue. But I don’t want to give the villain any ideas, just in case.
Still, it seems unlike her not to watch this upcoming phase of the match. Is there any chance that refusing to allow her to Bind to me hurt her more than I’d believed?
Once I might have thought so, but I know my princess now. She has far too much spine to crumble and cry at such a crucial moment.
I sidestep Mathias to peek inside, see if I can get a glimpse of Sabelle.
Mathias wedges himself in front of me, his face a mask of perfect politeness. “Um, a word, Rykard, before we begin again?”
“We have nothing to say.” I shove him aside and lunge for the doors.
Mathias grabs my arm. “Actually, we do.”
Bram glares at the evil menace. “What the devil do you want?”
