Chapter 85

Kaine

I rush through the halls of the palace. I need to get to Ember’s office. I need to make sure that she’s really gone.

I approach the door to the small office and see that it’s already open. I step inside and look around. Everything looks the same as it did when I last saw it. I allow myself to breathe, thinking it’s a good sign, when I see the key on the desk.

No. Before I can rationalize it I’m out the door and running again, this time to Jake’s room. I bang on the door. I hear a startled yelp from his mate, but I don’t care.

I continue banging, until Jake pulls open the door, blinking into the light of the hallway. “What’s wrong? Are we under attack?”

I shake my head. “No. Ember’s gone. She left the palace. Her room is packed up and the key to her office was on the desk.”

Jake stares at me like I’ve lost my mind. “Ember deserted?”

I try and fail to fight the hysteria creeping into my voice. “Jake, she’s gone.”

He nods, trying to understand. “Okay, yeah. Deserting is bad, but I trust her. She’s not an informant for the rogues, I’m sure she’s just pissed about your fight. Can’t this wait until morning?”

My throat is dry. “Jake, she’s my mate.”

Jake swears under his breath. “Okay one second.” He shuts the door, and I hear vague sounds of rustling from inside the room.

After a minute he steps back out, fully dressed. “What do you mean? I thought Bianca was your mate.”

“I thought so too, but tonight I felt the pull of the mate bond like I haven’t in months. When I went to see Bianca, there was no connection at all. I went to Ember’s room and her scent…” I shake my head trying to clear my thoughts.

“I need the whole palace searched in case she hasn’t left the building, and I need reports from every guard on duty tonight in case someone has seen or heard anything suspicious.”

“You’re sure she’s your mate? This isn’t a mistake?”

I nod, “I’m sure.”

Jake still looks confused, but he shoots me a sympathetic look and nods. “Okay. On it.” He stalks off, ready to issue my commands.

That done, I turn and head back to Ember’s office looking for any clue as to why she vanished so suddenly. She had warned that this was coming but why? Did she go because she could feel the bond?

If she was the woman with me that night I lost control, then she’s known the whole time that we are mated. She’s been hiding in plain sight this whole time. Why would she keep our bond a secret?

I think about the reputation I had before she arrived at the palace and wince. The rumors about me murdering any woman unfortunate enough to wind up in my bed had gotten really out of hand around that time.

I grit my teeth. That is no excuse. She’s had months to get to know me since then and she never came forward.

She let me get engaged to her sister, to claim her publicly. She’s made a fool out of me.

I try to push those thoughts away. Ember knows I’m not the monster so many think me to be, but I haven’t exactly treated her, or her sister for that manner well. I have many regrets now that I know the truth.

I make it to Ember’s office and see something else on the desk with the key, a note that I missed before. I read it out loud. “Kaine, I’m sorry. I have to go.”

That’s all. I crush the note in my hand. Where did she go?

I hear footsteps from the hall and turn to see Jake striding towards me. “I thought I might find you here. I have an update.”

“Go ahead.”

“The guard currently stationed at the main entrance saw Ember and Robert leaving together in a hurry. They both had packed bags. He assumed that they were heading off on assignment.”

I swear. She really had left, and with Robert of all people. My temper flares as I remember my distaste for the man.

So this is why Ember had been hiding our bond from me. She is still in love with Robert, her former mate, the one who rejected her. The thought turns my stomach.

I nod to Jake. “I’m going after her.”

Jake nods. “I’ll fetch a bag.”

I head to my office to gather anything I might need from my desk. On the way, I am intercepted by Bianca.

“Get away from me.” I don’t bother fighting my snarl as Rafe’s temper mixes with my own.

Bianca shakes her head. “We need to talk.”

My voice sounds foreign in my own ears as my voice continues to rise. “Talk? You lied to me, you tricked me into you were my mate, my Luna!”

Bianca shakes her head again and I step forward, backing her into the wall. “You deny it? Fine. Show me your royal mark. I haven’t seen it since that day in my office.”

Bianca’s eyes shift to the side avoiding my gaze and I growl. “I said show me!”

Bianca lifts a shaking hand to the sleeve at her shoulder and pulls it down to reveal smooth, unmarked skin. I push away from her quickly, struggling to keep a handle on my anger.

“You disgust me.”

“I- you didn’t give me a chance to explain. I heard that Ember ran off with Robert, and I was coming to you to confess. I wasn’t trying to deny it.”

“Fine. Confess.”

“I’m so sorry Kaine. I never meant for it to go this far. Ember came to me in a panic after you two were mated and asked me if I would help her.”

I freeze thinking about Bianca’s convenient appearance at the palace that day. She continues.

“Ember has always been in love with Robert, and she took his rejection extremely hard. She joined the guard in an attempt to get close to him and win him back. When you emerged as her new mate she panicked and didn’t know what to do. I knew it was wrong, but I just wanted my sister to be happy.”

“It was only supposed to be for a short time, until she could win Robert back, but the plan took longer than expected and I have to admit in that time, I fell for you.”

“It doesn’t matter. I have to go after her.”

“Kaine, she’s pregnant. They left the palace to elope. Don’t you think the best thing to do would be to let them go? I know it’s not ideal, but we’ve already announced our engagement. Maybe it’s best if we save you the embarrassment and go through with the wedding. I- I could make you happy.”

It takes every ounce of willpower I have to turn away from Bianca instead of letting my anger get the best of me. “You will never be my Luna.”

As I walk away, Bianca’s words echo in my head. Ember is pregnant.