23. Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-One

Azizia

I traipse out of the trees, panting and feeling dizzy. It’s so damn hot out here. When I reach the road, I stop and look around, trying to recall which way I came from. I take a deep breath and wipe the tears from my eyes.

Did I even come in this way?

I look behind me, then back at the road. I’m not sure how to get back to the mansion, but I better do it soon. Xadrian is going to be mad if he finds out I didn’t head straight home when he told me to. The Felix guy sure is going through it right now, and I swear he must think I’m someone else. I couldn’t really focus on that when I was finally getting the attention from my husband that I’ve so craved. For just a moment, everything seemed perfect. But the second that beautiful woman left with Felix, Xadrian barked at me to get away from him and get home at once. He’d meet me there shortly. Then he stormed off in the same direction as that woman, and if she didn’t seem so obsessed with Felix, I’d think she was fucking my husband too.

But he told me to go home, so that’s what I’m trying to do now.

With one last look around, I choose a direction and hope for the best.

I walk and walk and walk, my only worry is getting back home.

Maybe I should worry about that man I brought into the woods. He didn’t seem very happy when that woman took him, but for some reason, it felt like he was supposed to go with her. Still, there is something nagging at me. Kidnapping isn’t right, I know that, and it seemed like she was kidnapping him, but…

I shake my head.

I shouldn’t worry about it. It’s not my problem. What is my problem, is my husband. Or better yet, making him happy. Figuring out what I need to do to do that. He’s been so grumpy lately and I want that to change. All I want is for him to be happy and to love me. We’re going to get our happily ever after, like he promised the day I was sent to him. He showed me he is capable of loving me a few minutes ago, so I just have to figure out how to get him like that all the time. It shouldn’t be difficult.

Without realizing it because I’m caught up in my thoughts, I hit the road that leads to home.

I smile as I pass a large cluster of blood-red bushes, the one that tells me I’m going the right way.

“Zia, is that you?”

I whirl around just as Rae steps out of the bushes. My eyes widen, and I jump up and down before running into his arms.

“Rae-Rae!” I squeeze him tight, and even though he returns it, hugging me much harder, I feel like something is wrong. Why do I keep getting these strange feelings that things are off? He puts me down on my feet and he’s frowning. “What’s wrong?”

“What are you doing?” he hisses, yanking on my arm and pulling me into the bushes.

“I’m going home,” I say, pointing over my shoulder and looking around. “Why are you hiding in the bushes?”

“Why are you going home?” he asks.

“Because that’s where I live,” I say with an eye roll. “My husband is waiting for me.”

His eyes narrow and he leans close to me. “Are you feeling okay?”

“I’m fine, why?”

“Zia…” He blinks a few times. “Let me get this straight. Right now, this very second, you’re walking back to your home to get to Xadrian?”

“Of course I am. Where else would I be going? Are you coming with me?” I take a small step back but he yanks me closer to him.

“Am I com—hell fucking no I’m not going with you because you’re not going back there.”

“Don’t be silly,” I say, turning on my heel.

Rae grabs me again, pulling me deeper. It gets darker, and thankfully, a little cooler.

“We have a problem,” he grits out.

I open my mouth to ask what he’s talking about, but someone else answers.

“What now?”

I rear my head back when I see another man hiding in the bushes too.

What is going on here?

He’s tall, almost as tall as Rae, but with dark hair and light eyes, sort of olive skin and a lot of scruff on his cheeks. He kind of looks like a healthier, more rugged version of the man I just left but not quite. They don’t look related but something about this man tells me they could be.

“What is going on in here, Rae?” I ask cautiously. “Why are you hiding in the bushes? This is really weird.”

“No,” he snaps at me. “What’s weird is you walking freely back to Xadrian.”

The other guy’s eyes widen. “That’s not right.”

“No, it fucking is not,” Rae snaps.

“Did you see Felix?” the unknown man asks carefully.

“That sick-looking guy? Yeah, I saw him. Why?”

Rae and this other guy share a concerned look.

“Where is he?” the man asks.

I narrow my eyes, crossing my arms over my chest. “Why should I tell you? In fact, who even are you? And why are you keeping my brother in the bushes? It’s fucking weird.”

His eyes widen slowly, and he looks at Rae.

“She’s definitely your sister.”

“No shit,” he comments as he walks to me, putting both his hands on my shoulders. “Zia, you’re worrying me.”

“You have no—”

“Let’s start from the beginning, okay?” he says, this time a little nicer and much slower. “How did you get away from Xadrian?”

I blink a few times, just staring at him because I don’t understand why he is asking me this. We’re hiding in the bushes and he’s asking questions like me going home is weird. Like I’m not supposed to be with my husband—which is crazy! Hiding out in the bushes is the strange thing here, not me.

With a huff, I explain. “He’s been so grumpy lately, and he told me to give him space. So I went to the library to—well, I didn’t make it to the library. I was on my way to the library when that sick guy busted into the castle. For some crazy reason, there were no guards there. Seriously none. Zero . That’s actually the weirdest thing that’s happened today. I mean, they’re always there, and suddenly they just—”

“Zia,” Rae barks. “Focus.”

“Oh, right,” I say. “Sorry. So, uhm, yeah. That guy busted in and you know, he looked really familiar, but then I couldn’t figure out how I knew him, just that I did. And then it was like someone sent a signal to my brain, telling me to bring him somewhere. That we had to get to a safe place. So I left the castle and—”

“You just walked out?” Rae asks.

“Rae, I already told you there weren’t any guards at the door. Yes, I just walked out. Do you ever listen to me?”

“Just get on with the story,” the other guy snaps. “Where did you take my friend?”

“To the safe place,” I tell him, losing my patience.“Which is where?” he asks harshly, stepping toward me. Rae shoots him a glare and he stops short, gritting his teeth.

I look at Rae, raising a brow, silently asking if he’s going to let this stranger talk to me that way.

“Silas is just trying to help, Zia. Please, just answer the question.”

“Silas? Your name is Silas. What a weird name. I mean, it sounds like Silo. Are you filled with corn?”

His jaw tightens and he looks at Rae. “Is she serious?”

Rae sighs, shaking his head. “Zia, please. Tell us where Felix is.”

I shrug. “Wherever that lady took him.”

“What lady?” they both bark in unison, causing me to jump away.

“Regina? Serina? Diana?”

“Davina?” they, again , bark in unison.

I frown, but then smile. “You guys are good at that.”

Rae gives me a little shake. “Was her name Davina?”

“I guess. It could have been.” I tap my chin. “Yeah, I think that’s what it was.”

“Goddamnit. Now what?”

“Well, Silo , I plan to go home. You—”

“You are not going home,” Rae growls.

“Yes, Rae. I am. My husband told me to meet him there.”

“Fuck him!”

“I’ve been trying, but he won’t let me!” I stomp my foot, my frustration really showing now.

Rae frowns, then his face turns into one of disgust.

“Nothing about that is right,” he comments. “Look, something is wrong with you, that much is clear.”

“Brainwash?” Silo asks quietly.

“No way. She’s way too stubborn for that shit,” Rae says.

“Hello, I’m right here.” I wave my hand in his face.

“Meaning, it has to be something else,” Rae continues.

“Magic.”

“Likely,” Rae huffs. “So what do we do?”

“If Davina has Felix, we have a bigger problem on our hands than I thought. The head games won’t be enough this time. That bitch promised to make him miserable if he ever came home and considering the fact that Felix was held in the vampire queen’s personal dungeon that last year in Purgatory, her version of miserable is one step away from death. We need to get to him as fast as we fucking can so dicking around isn’t an option.”

“This one will fight hand and foot if we try taking her there.” My brother points to me with a grunt. “She wants to go home.”

I can’t believe they’re just talking about me like I can’t hear them. How rude!

“You know anyone down here who can help figure out what the fuck is going on with her? Maybe try to fix it?” Corn man asks.

Rae looks me over, chewing on the inside of his cheek. He’s standing so close to that Silo guy, it’s weird. Rae hates people. Hates being next to people, yet they talk like they’re friends. Today just keeps getting stranger and stranger.

“Yeah, I may know someone.” Rae nods. “But it won’t be easy to get there.”

“It’s our best option while we figure out how to get Felix back.”

“Does your dick look like a husk?” I ask. His eyes widen, and he makes a choked sound. “You know, because you’re made of corn and stuff?”

Rae pinches the bridge of his nose, muttering something under his breath. When he looks up, he says, “We better get going. I’m starting to think there’s brain damage.”