Page 26 of Tethered Fates

“Like hell,” Vidar growls, his thick legs rooted before the bed, bulging tattooed arms folded over his chest. “We can’t trust the leader of the blood mages with this.”

“Astra Roth told you she wants to help, Vidar,” Ramy says to our Maker gently. “We are out of our depth.”

“I said no.”

“Then who, Vidar?” Kai demands, eyes wet—desperate with rage and hurt like an animal backed into a corner. “The only fucking mage we could trust just tried to slice up my little brother!”

I run my tongue over my teeth, my canines aching to drop into fangs. “Before Teagan, I was following a lead that might have answers. I found an article about an old woman who died of blood loss with no wounds and alone in her flat.”

“How the fuck is that gonna help?” Kai barks, then startles as Teagan shifts in his sleep. Kai’s face instantly softens, and he smoothes a palm over Teagan’s curls until he settles. “It’s okay, Teagan, you’re okay…”

Every muscle in my body strains, demanding I go to Teagan and fix whatever the fuck this is. Instead, I fish my phone out and thrust it out for Vidar and Lucero, showing them the picture of the old woman. “Looks familiar, doesn’t she?”

“That can’t be a coincidence,” Luc utters.

Vidar shakes his head. “Dark hair with a strip of white going through,” he scoffs. “The resemblance to Emma and the Roth family is a strong one.”

Ramy comes over and glances at it. “But she’s old. Mages are immortal.”

“Only if they cast a spell of immortality,” Kai corrects.

“Maybe she didn’t want to live forever?” Golden offers.

“We have no way of knowing,” I say to cut off any further time-wasting speculation. “This is the only lead we have.”

“And if you find nothing?” Kai asks me, holding onto Teagan like he’s willing to go to hell to save him. Like I wouldn’t rip open the gates myself and blacken my soul in its fires for Teagan.

My jaw ticks again.

I don’t want Astra Roth, or any blood mage, anywhere near Teagan, but… “If we find nothing, then we contact Astra. Vidar and Lucero will come with me. How far away is Rurik? Someone needs to stay and look after Tea-...look after everyone.”

“I will,” Ramy jumps in.

“No.” I shut down that line of thinking like slamming a steel door. “You aren’t strong enough, Ramy. The last time you tried protecting the mates, they were all kidnapped.”

Hurt flashes in Ramy’s dark eyes, but I don’t have the capacity to feel guilty for my youngest brother. Not when it comes to Teagan.

“Rurik isn’t close,” Vidar interjects.

“Fuck sakes!” I snarl. “The one time we need his drunken ass and he’s gone missing!”

“I’ve already called someone else to help,” Vidar announces, his hard gaze never once swaying from Kai.

“If it’s Apollo, that little psycho will be even less help than Ramy,” I growl, chest rising, my gums throbbing where my fangs demand to elongate.

“Oi, calm down!” Golden snaps. “We’re all upset about Teagan, but you don’t need to start throwing insults, bellend.”

I go to say something, caring nothing for the harsh warning glare Lucero sends my way.

“Enough!” Vidar’s deep, commanding voice cuts in, silencing any further arguments. “It isn’t Apollo.”

Ding-ding.

“Who is that?”

Vidar doesn’t answer my question. His heavy stare lingers on Kai a moment longer before he stalks out of the room, pushing Lucero and me aside.

After a beat, I fight against my newly awakened instincts to be close to my helpless soulmate and follow Vidar to the front of the mansion. Encountering a familiar face when the door opens.