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Jyrion and Izar.

Izar usually keeps his mouth shut. He has existed in Jyrion’s shadow for as long as I can recall. But his eyes are cold as they land on me, and Jyrion is smirking as he approaches.

“Anything to report from the archives, Commander?” He does not use my title as a signal of respect.

“No, Prince Jyrion. As I’m sure you suspected, there is little to no evidence that the Vyastil ever held treaties with the Tarek.”

His lips stretch into a wider smirk. “Mm.” He leans in closer, and before I can ask why or take a step back, I catch it. It’s a familiar scent—just a whiff—but it’s there. Distinct.

And mine.

My Luca.

I swallow heavily as heat begins to course through me.

“Is there something wrong, Commander?” Jyrion asks, now showing fang.

“No.” The word comes out raspy, and I feel beads of sweat forming on my temples.

“You don’t look well.” He leans in again, forcing me to take a breath full of the knowledge that he was with my Luca. That he touched him. “Perhaps it’s a little too close to your breeding time for you to be in the capital. Perhaps it’s time you retired to the mountains.”

“I—my human,” I manage, but my thoughts are growing increasingly foggy. I did not take my suppressant yet today, and I know now the hot feeling in my gut is anything but rage. Jyrion knows what he is doing.

And he’s done this on purpose.

“I don’t think you need to worry about him. We…spoke. We saw each other, and he informed me he was leaving.”

My hearts leap in my chest, and for a moment, the heat in my belly is forgotten. He cannot be telling the truth. He must be lying. He does this to get a reaction out of those beneath him. I stretch into the bond as hard as I can, pushing into Luca’s head. He fights me, but I do not see the cottage in his eyes.

I see forest.

I can’t tell if this is some elaborate lie, but the shock of it all makes the trembling in my fingers worse. “I must go.”

“Of course,” Jyrion cajoles. “You have business to take care of. Good luck with your time, Eissa. I’m sure your female will appreciate being treated with some…delicacy.”

I can’t think. I can’t breathe. I must find the suppressant, and then I must find Luca.

No matter what it takes.

I storm through the door, nearly tripping over a bench that was not there earlier. The kradun. He always seeks to infuriate me, to make things nearly impossible. I fling it aside and carry on.

I do not sense Luca here, but right now all I can focus on is the suppression herb. I need it.

I growl as I take the steps two at a time, pushing into my room and smelling the scent of my Luca there. It makes the heat inside of me bloom; it is almost overpowering.

It is starting. My rut.

I cannot control it.

I am too late.

My hands fling the drawer open where I keep what will save me, but it is not there.

Nothing is there. It is all gone.

I cry out, desperation filling my lungs, my hearts beating frantically as that heat overpowers me. Where is it? Where is he?

Luca! I call through the bond. Luca!