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“Frygg.” I kicked at a low column holding the carved head of one of my many ancestors. I barely noticed the head falling and an ear breaking off, the servants would fix it, like they always did after my temper erupted.
“Frygg,” I cursed again at the realization that the only person in the universe who would be able to soothe my temper was gone.
The anger was easier to take than the pain from the fear of what was happening to her or my inability to help her.
My hands opened and closed in a futile attempt to tear my empire down brick by brick until I found her.
Security footage showed three Pandraxians entering Lady Natoi’s suite, about two hours after Heather had left my suite. They reappeared minutes later with a tied-up Heather slung over one of the male’s shoulders. She wiggled and fought them, but her small frame was nothing but a nuisance to the male carrying her.
My hands clenched into fists and I wished for nothing more than to bury them deep into these males’ chests, ripping their hearts out. Cold fury grasped me, different from the hot temper flares I usually experienced.
This was icy, calculating, not emotionally hot. I was still clearheaded, not clouded and running on flames like I normally did, and I was glad for it. I needed it.
“Find these males,” I ordered between clenched teeth.
The uniforms Heather’s captors wore belonged to the house of Sir Naximus, who was no other than Sir Vodin’s father. It was an old house and Sir Naximus belonged to my council. He and others had sided with me fifteen years ago when certain lord protectors and nobles had tried to overthrow me, thinking I was too young to inherit my father’s title as emperor.
I didn’t think Sir Naximus would be involved in this, but Sir Vodin had already shown his interest in Heather. Would he have dared kidnap her?
It would be the most preferable situation I could imagine for Heather in this scenario.
“Interrogate Sir Vodin and search his properties,” I ordered Lady Madeema between clenched teeth.
“And bring Lady Natoi to me for questioning,” I ordered Commander Noctus. “She lied to us. She said Heather never made it to her suite. Have her brought here; I want to speak to her.”
“Vra, Your Imperial Highness,” Lady Madeema and Commander Noctus acquiesced in chorus, staring balefully at each other. Their dislike for one another was part of what made them so efficient for me, both vied to outdo the other.
“You are to work with each other on this,” I warned. “This is not a contest, but a team effort. Do you understand me?”
“Vra, Emperor,” they agreed, again in unison, before they turned their backs on each other, relaying my orders to their lieutenants.
Impatiently, I paced the floor until Lady Natoi was brought in, flanked by two of Commander Noctus’s guards.
“You didn’t need to have guards order me here. I would have come any time you asked me to,” Lady Natoi said indignantly.
“You lied to me,” I snarled, moving in close to her, staring her down, while my hands opened and closed into fists. I had never hit a merrily before, but I was close to hitting her. I don’t think I would have felt bad for doing so either.
As if she could read my mind, she blanched and shrunk away from me. Her eyes widened and that’s when I saw the guilt in them, right before they narrowed to a more cunning look. “Why do you say this? I would never lie to you, Emperor. You know that. I would do anything for you.”
She had made that clear before occasionally, and just like then, I didn’t like her offer any better that day.
“You said she never came home. But here—” I pointed at the large wall screen showing Heather walking into her suite, a sight that made my heart clench because I knew what would follow. Harder than necessary, I swiped to bring the next holovid up in which three males exited Lady Natoi’s apartments with a bound Heather over one of the male’s shoulders. “—you can clearly see that she was taken from your suite.”
“I never said she didn’t come home,” Lady Natoi carefully concealed her glee, but it was there, underneath the surface. She thought she had outsmarted me. “And if I implied it, I beg your pardon. The whole affair is just so horrendous. That poor merrily, it has to be terrible what she is going through right now. She must be scared out of her mind.” Lady Natoi shook her head, lowered her eyes. She was good, but I didn’t believe her.
“I said I found her bed untouched. Maybe those males waited for her inside my suite.” At that, she shuddered. “By Staphor, to think those brutes were in my rooms… I was just on the other side. Oh, Emperor, do you think I’m in danger as well?”
She was about to fling herself at me. I stepped to the side in time for her to miss me and gave her a contemptuous glare. “If they had been after you that night, they would have taken you as well.”
“You truly believe so? I shall increase my security, just in case, and—”
I turned from her. “Leave.”
“Emperor?”
I didn’t look at her, just waved my hands and the guards escorted her out. I couldn’t stand to look at her for a moment longer.
“She’s lying,” Noctus stated.
