“Are you going to share with the rest of the class?”
She sneered. “You think you’re so clever, but you’re far from it, or you would have seen me trying to keep you away since the beginning. Do you remember?”
All I could do was frown. I had no idea what she was talking about.
“I was the first to greet you at the coven for a reason. You weren’t even supposed to make it as far as you did. Unfortunately, Rune’s shadows notified him about our little guest arriving early.”
Realization dawned on me. She hadn’t told anyone when I’d arrived that day.
“I had you right where I wanted you. The wolves were ready to pick you up, but then Rune’s shadows did his bidding, and I didn’t have another opportunity until now.” She shrugged. “It doesn’t matter anymore.”
“What are you planning to do to me? Why would you give me to the wolves? What do they want with me?”
“You’ll find out soon enough, Maple dear.”
The ground wassoft beneath my feet as I paced the courtyard. Adelle was with the twins and our mother, and here I was, a pining fool waiting on my wife to show up. I didn’t know why I thought it mattered.
I ran my hands down my face. I couldn’t address my people without her tonight; she was supposed to lead all of this when the moon was high in the sky. Even though she was a null… I needed my people to believe, to have hope, but how could they have that if she didn’t show up? I stared down at the phone in my hands.
I’d texted her and asked her to meet me here at sunset. Her reply had been short, but she’d texted back. Just as I was about to abandon all hope and reasoning, Louis rounded a corner. His eyes were wide in panic, and his face was void of all color.
“What’s going on?” I asked quickly, quietly. I didn’t need any panic in the rest of the coven. Too much was resting on tonight’s success.
He held up a crumpled stack of papers as he tried to catch his breath. My patience was growing thin as I watched him struggle with his words. Before he could get the first sentence out, I snatched the papers from his hands and looked down at them.
Immediately, I recognized Maple’s handwriting, and I knew. “Where did you find these?”
“She was headed here, I’m guessing. As soon as I saw these, I ran to her room. It was empty.”
“She wouldn't leave her notes.”
Louis shook his head. “There wasn’t any kind of magical signature left behind. She’s been gone for a while.”
I frowned. “She texted me back five minutes ago when I asked her to meet me here.”
Louis shook his head. “Someone has her phone then because I found these notes more than five minutes ago as I was racing to her room.”
A sharp chill sliced through my spine. “I did this,” I growled. “I pushed her too far, didn’t protect her when I should have. I was too focused on what she couldn’t do and not enough on what she was already giving.”
Louis crossed his big arms over his chest and shook his head as if to sayI told you so.“What do you want to do?”
My people came first.
I closed my eyes. What a backwards way of thinking. My wife should come first, but I hadn’t told anyone we were married. Wehadn’t done a proper ceremony. We hadn’t done anything, and here I was trying to juggle my responsibilities.
There was no magical signature. I needed to address my people.
“You, Monte, and Bruno go find her,” I let out a deep breath. I didn’t want to have to choose. That’s what put me in this shitty position to begin with.
Louis chewed on his lip. “There was no magical signature, Rune.”
I scrubbed my hands down my face. “I know, I’m going to send my shadows with you.”
Louis looked down at my feet and winced. “That’s frightening.” He shrugged. “Do you really think 3 men are enough? What if it was the wolves?”
My eyes cut to his. He was right. “If you feel like you need more men, bring them. Follow your gut. I trust you.” I couldn’t believe I was sending him into the fray.
Rolling back my shoulders, I straightened up and walked away from my closest friend. I needed to be level-headed; I needed to address my people.
