Cracking his neck, he made to follow them into one of the palace’s advisory rooms only to stop in his tracks when another dull pain throbbed behind his eyes.

“You all right?”

He glanced up to see Dedryn paused in the doorway, brows drawn in concern.

“Fine,” he snapped, straightening his spine. “It’s just a…” he broke off, whipping around to stare back down the hall as Veralie’s nerves took off, panic sweeping through her until he felt his own heart race in time with hers.

What the fuck was Virnorin saying to have her completely freaking out? He stilled, remembering the look Taeral had shot Veralie on her way out. It hadn’t even crossed his mind that she might have gone to their room to wait for her.

He closed his eyes, trying not to panic himself. That’s not what it was. He’d sense anger or disgust pouring from his mate if she’d found Taeral waiting for her. And he’d definitely be able to sense if she’d been attacked.

No, it had to be gods damn Reniya. He glowered, hating that he wasn’t there to kick her out for upsetting his mate after she’d done so well holding it together tonight.

“Then come on, we have things we need to discuss,” Dedryn said behind him, impatience lacing his tone.

“No, you have something to discuss. I don’t even know why I bothered—” The throbbing in his head increased as fear shot through the bond. He gasped, staggering forward like a rope had wrapped around his middle and yanked.

“Jaren?” Both his fathers were suddenly before him, hands grasping at his shoulders as Dedryn’s face leaned down into his. Understanding hit his eyes a second later and he shot up, looking down the hall as well. “Is she hurt?”

Jaren closed his eyes, inhaling slowly to steady himself, and focused on her. He didn’t feel anything besides the pain in his head and her fear, but he was beginning to think the headache wasn’t his.

“I don’t know,” he said, shrugging off Jae’s hands. “But I need to get to her. Something’s wrong.”

He dipped into his power, letting it fill his body, and prepared himself to sprint all the way to their room when a sharp, excruciating pain shot through his chest, taking the heart nestled next to his and lighting it on fire.

He crashed to the ground, unable to hold back the choked cry that ripped from his throat. In his peripheral, he saw Dedryn kneel down, saw both of them reach for him, and heard their voices, but he couldn’t focus on any of it. Nothing except the swirling agony coursing through his mate.

He'd left her. He’d fucking left her.

And then her scream split the air, coming from every direction and surrounding him, taking his soul and shredding it into a million pieces.

Chapter 27

EITHAN

His breath came out in short, erratic puffs as he wrapped his hand around his shaft, arching his neck back until his head rested over the edge of the tub.