I had another headache; my heart was racing even though I was sitting down. I knew Drake was out flying and it was affecting both our hearts. It took almost two years before we were able to get used to the strange sensations of our hearts working at the same beat. It was uncomfortable even now, but I pushed forward. I had told him I couldn’t go because I had work to do. He was progressing well. The Dragon was prominent but if I was close enough, he would settle enough so that Drake could regain control. He had many setbacks over the years but we had worked through them.
Drake took time, but he finally opened up to me, he had told me what he had done to Audrey as she was growing up. I couldn’t stand to be around him for a couple weeks until I felt the sorrow that was plaguing him, and his Dragon was pushing harder than ever. All the while I waited to hear from Marcus. He had been quiet since Kai had been killed. I figured it was for the best, but I hoped he could bring me information about Kai’s daughter, or even Audrey.
It had been a hard four years for Drake. I knew that he wanted to find Audrey, both him and the Dragon. The first year was the hardest. I’d often wake up to find him gone from our bed, and outside. I had to convince him we would find her. Now, four years later, I was losing hope. I didn’t dare tell Drake my fears. Four years is a very long time, and I had not heard a whisper from any of my spies.
“Ye look depressed fur a guy who has his mate.”
I looked up and Marcus was standing at the edge of my desk. He looked the same as ever, a slightly mischievous look in his eye, tall and lean. His pale clear face was framed by his flaming red hair. He was bigger than most Fey, but compared to me he was practically a twig. I knew that he had enough power to compete with me, though. I would never think otherwise.
“Tell me you found her,” I said standing up, no longer able to sit. I felt a shift in Drake— he noticed my heart skip a beat, and my breath go short. He was coming back to the compound. I could feel him getting closer.
“Aye.” Marcus wouldn’t make eye contact with me now. He looked down at the desk, his voice tight.
“Is…is she?” I couldn’t even bring myself to think she was dead.
“Thaur are some things warst than death.” Marcus finally looked at me. I felt a weight press down on my chest and I had to sit down.
“What the fuck is that supposed to mean, Marcus?” I growled looking up at him.
Before Marcus could answer Drake came through the door, wearing only a pair of gym shorts. I didn’t even lift my eyes to look at him. He moved toward me, noting my distress. I was glad that his old personality, the one I had seen in him with Coy, was returning. He was a sweet, funny man.
“Well I know I didn’t just catch my mate having an affair, so it must be something else.” Drake tried to smile but it was strained.
“Marcus here is my inside man for the Braden Clan. He has information about Audrey.” My eyes slanted over to Drake. His entire body went tense. I saw his fist tighten; the skin over the bone looked completely white against his normal tan skin.
“I dunnae kinn th' specifics yit, but th' Braden Clan has her now. It wood seem someone on mah team has become very protective of her. Two of them actually.” Marcus was looking at me now.
“Who?”
“Kai’s daughter, an' she has grown up hatin' yer Clan.” He paused. “And a Shapeshifter.”
“It doesn’t matter who cares for her, we need to get her out. We know where she is now. She’s mine.” I looked at Drake and saw his eyes had changed. The blue had spread and his pupil became slitted. His teeth grew.
“Drake.” I slammed my fist down. He looked at me, the Dragon still not moving back. I stood and glared at him waiting for him to submit. We had done this countless times, but this time he resisted. He kept my stare longer than normal then turned his head down. I noticed that for once he didn’t show his neck to me, and I knew I had little control over him when it came to Audrey.
“Thaur is mair,” Marcus said watching us with curiosity lighting his eyes.
I knew what he might be thinking. If we found each other, maybe he could find her again. Marcus told us how Jacobs, the team leader, was keeping things from the rest of the team. Audrey had a Wraith’s shadow inside of her mind that would repress memories and would eventually kill her if activated by the Vedenin Clan. He, I noticed, never mentioned the scars on her face. He told us when we would be able to extract Audrey. And we would. I hoped it would be enough for Drake.
●●●
A month passed and Drake was close to breaking. I was not much better, but I tried to control myself. Marcus told us he would try his best to keep us updated, but he hadn’t returned since.
Drake had spent most his time in Dragon form, but he didn’t find any peace without me beside him. Yet I found myself avoiding him because I couldn’t stop thinking about what he had done to Audrey. I couldn’t stop thinking that maybe she would be broken beyond repair and we could only be getting a husk of the daughter I once knew. I remembered her smile. I remembered the first time she called me Dada, and how she lifted her arms up toward me.
I wanted to hate Drake because I had offered them sanctuary here and he’d refused me, sent me away. But I couldn’t hate my mate. I would have to just live with his past and treasure the memory of that year and a half we spent in complete peace with Audrey. It remained the happiest I had ever been in my life.
“Ah think its time tae make yer move.” Marcus’s voice came out nowhere and I flinched. It wasn’t often that someone could sneak up on me, hardly ever, even with Marcus’s ability to shift into different pockets of space.
“What do you mean?” I growled.
“A Shapeshifter, a Siren, an' a Wraith are takin' her far, far awa'.” Marcus only knew that for now. He informed me the moment he found out where she was he would tell us.
A week went by and I finally heard from him again. It reminded me of when he called me all those years ago. I just hoped things would be different this time around. I couldn’t lose Audrey.
“Marcus called me, he told me that he found the Wraith, Shapeshifter and Siren that took Audrey. He informed me,” I gritted out. I wasn’t sure how much I could trust these strangers with Audrey. “That they will do no harm to her. They are trying to protect her. Marcus has reason to believe that they were scared for her life. I need a small task force group to go in and extract her. All of them. I need to find out what the Braden Clan is up to, and I need to pull out Marcus, it’s getting far too dangerous.”
Drake watched me as I paced in front of my best warriors. I trusted their abilities and their loyalties. Most of them I had saved at one time or another. When Imogen, a mouthy Witch, didn’t make any wise-cracks I knew they realized how important this mission was to me. They knew Drake’s and my relationship. Zeke had known me personally when I lost them both for the second time. They headed out. Drake watched me closely and I knew what he wanted to say. I knew there was only so much I could do to make him stay though.
“No, Drake. If she sees you, what do you think she will do?” I didn’t want to look at him. I didn’t want to see the hurt in his eyes. But I knew I had caused it and I had to own what I had done. When I looked over at my mate, his eyes were downcast.
“I want to be there. But I understand your reasoning,” he whispered. I had been sure that he was going to fight me on this. I don’t think either one of us slept for the next few days, we were so nervous.
A couple days later Drake was beyond exhausted and the Dragon was ever present. I told him to go sleep. I remained awake, trying to bury myself in work and wondering what was taking them so long. Marcus told me that he wouldn’t able to visit me with any more information. With the other team members going haywire, Jacobs and the Braden Clan main house were on complete lockdown.