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I shook my head. "They pla
"No wonder you're here—"
"No, no. I found out before the ceremony. I surprised them all by picking another." An infinitely better choice it was too, I mused. "But it won't be long before they have a new plan."
"If you're going into rut, it might not be long until you have an heir," Seamus said, shrugging and frowning. "You know what everyone says about the strength of two dragons. Even if it's a load of nonsense, superstitions make people nervous."
But Mairwen would be the new target. My family line on the alpha seat was so long, Gamesby and any other beta who wanted me dead would never see my son as anything but a threat to their own rule.
"Do you trust your new omega?" Torion asked.
"I do," I said immediately.
Seamus looked to Niall. "Well? You're the real brains of Cadogan's rule."
I huffed a laugh, and Niall smiled smoothly. "Mairwen's an unconventional omega, but yes, she's trustworthy. Ronson made the right choice…in the end."
"An unconventional omega?" Seamus scoffed. "I look forward to meeting her. And since it's obvious you look forward to returning to her, I'll say this quickly. You have my fire, Lord Cadogan, Alpha of Bleake Isle."
A rush of breath left my chest, and Niall and I shared the briefest surprised glance. I'd come to Grave Hills for Torion's vow, and probably Damian's. I'd never have imagined even asking a man such as DeRoche to be an ally, but he was a promising one indeed.
Torion smiled at me. "I should make some terrible bargain with you, since I'm more than likely facing a mutiny of my own in the near future, but you're far too honest to let me down. You have my fire, Ronson."
"Thank you," I said, leaning forward and reaching a hand for them to shake one at a time. "You have my fire, the both of you."
I should've stayed, finished my drink, continued making good bargains with these men. Instead, I accepted their laughter as I rose immediately from my seat and turned to Niall.
"Yes, yes, I know. Back to the isle," Niall said, nodding. "I'm right behind you."
I arrived back at the castle late, the sky dark and the halls quiet. Niall had, thankfully, urged me on when we stopped to rest our wings on the tiny island between Grave Hills and Bleake Isle, and I'd briefly entertained the idea that this time it might be Mairwen waiting for me on a balcony instead of one of my siblings.
But no, it was far too late and chilly out. She would be safely tucked into the nest. Waiting for me.
I gri
As it turned out, the answer was neither.
I scowled, shoving the new heavy curtains of the beautifully built nest aside, digging through the pillows, as if Mairwen had somehow gotten lost in the finery of blankets and cushions and silk sheets. I didn't know where she'd found it all. This was the lushest, largest, most decadent nest I'd ever had for my rut, and I suspected she raided every linen cupboard on the isle to build it. But where was she?
"Mairwen?" I called, my voice sharper than I'd intended. Not that it mattered. There was no answer. I hunted through the dark, opening cabinets and trunks as if the woman might be playing some sort of absurd game before rushing for the door, throwing it open and glaring into the hall.
I took a deep breath and snarled, my hands clenching at my sides, never more frustrated by Mairwen's elusive scent than I was now. There was no trail of perfume for me to follow, because I hadn't been here to keep her scent fresh.
"Mairwen!" Her name was harsh in my throat, tinged with something too close to anger.
Worry? Yes. A ferocious, frightened, desperate worry.
Had Gamesby grown impatient, or was he furious with me for foiling his plans? Had he taken Mairwen…or worse?
I tore through the halls of the castle, bellowing my omega's name, heaving breaths for any hint of her scent.