2. Rehn

TWO

REHN

" H ow did this happen?" Rehn growled as he pounded a heavy fist on his desk. Anger nipped instantly at his shifter side followed by the stripping of pride, which angered him even more.

At least he had been smart enough to take this meeting inside his personal study instead of the openness of the throne room.

"We aren't sure as of yet." Idris, his top advisor and closest friend, remained strong and unintimidated by his king's fraying composure. "But we have experts in the cell right now trying to figure out if they can pick up on anything. Maybe help one of our mages to trace him."

Rehn's inner bear wanted to rip the head from that pathetic excuse of a shifter. Instead, he forced himself to take a breath before placing his hands behind his back.

"No one escapes from my prisons," he said in a calm low grumble. Rehn walked to the viewing window behind his desk that overlooked the blue mountains and lush green wilderness of his kingdom.

Drystan could be anywhere in there, hiding. Ready to destroy it all.

"I can't have him wreaking havoc on Tahyrst Forest, or any other kingdoms for that matter. Anything that rogue does is our fault. He got out of somewhere we swore was secure." The king turned to face his right-hand man.

Idris was one of the bear shifters that could compare to Rehn's intimidating mass. Though he was burlier and more barrel-built, he still stood a few inches short of his king. His black full beard added years to his usually childish face that had remained well past their adolescence.

"My team is in the cells trying to trace a scent to follow. Shouldn't be hard since he sat in there for over a year. Once we get the scent to follow and where it goes, we should have a good idea."

"Great. I want to lead on this. I made the mistake of not executing him sooner. He tried to gain power and overtake the Tahyrst Kingdom once. And we all know what he's been plotting away down there. I am still in disbelief that he somehow escaped one of our prisons."

Rehn leaned against his large ornate desk and crossed his arms. As he pondered just how this had been possible with no signs at all, he caught Idris's black eyes dart down. He was avoiding eye contact now.

The king erected himself, his inner bear on full alert to the shiftiness it was noticing.

"What are you not telling me?"

"It's only rumors at the moment. Gossip."

Rehn took a step toward Idris. "Go on."

Idris let out a breath and divulged.

"No one knows for certain, but some are suggesting it was magic."

"Magic? That's how Drystan got out?" Rehn sounded skeptical. He had been hoping it was something at least a little more solid.

"Maybe. There have been stranger things that you and I have seen."

"I know. But shifters don't have access to powers like that?—"

"It may have been magical help, not Drystan alone. As unlikely as it seems, there are people out there that would try to overthrow you, no matter how good of a king you are."

Rehn sat in silence, letting what had been said sink in while Idris answered his phone.

He knew Idris was right. That was the way of the world. Someone always wanted power and would do anything to gain it. Alliances, betrayal, the whole nine yards. Especially if they were as determined and deranged as Drystan.

I should have executed him immediately instead of holding him for so long, he lectured himself, unable to stop feeling like he let his sleuth and entire kingdom down.

"Good news," Idris said, putting his phone down.

Rehn pulled out of his dark thoughts.

"What did you find out?"

"They were able to track Drystan. We caught his scent about fifty yards beyond the castle."

Rehn was surprised. "Fifty yards out? Nothing inside?"

Idris shook his head. "No. Not that they picked up."

"Huh. Okay." Had Drystan really magicked his way out of the kingdom's cell? It confused Rehn more than answered anything. "Anyway," he continued, getting back on track, "can they tell where they're heading?"

Now, a nod. "Yes. And we know where he's going. I've got men trailing him and his path is determined."

"Good. Tell them to stay back. I want to handle this myself."

"I understand, but the risk?—"

"Enough," Rehn snapped.

He knew it was Idris's responsibility as his advisor to suggest he stay out of one-on-one conflict. But that meant Idris knew the common dance as well.

"You already know what I'll do either way."

Idris nodded, a small smirk at the familiarities.

Rehn saw and it made him try and see a better side of this devastating turn of events. Being on the quiet side worked to the king's advantage, but it also remained hard to keep in check, especially when his bear roared for reactive action.

Forcing his broad, muscular shoulder to relax, Rehn took a deep breath through his nose.

"So, tell me, what is the direction we are getting from the trace?"

Idris raised his black brows with speculation. "It seems he's heading toward the Sorcerer's Academy in the next territory over. His pace is not rushed though, so I highly doubt he's aware we even know he's missing."

Rehn stroked his thick reddish-brown mustache into his beard as he thought about the bold choice Drystan had made and how the bastard needed to face punishment now more than ever.

"Well, let's go get him, then." The king stepped toe-to-toe with his trusted man. "Ready a team. Keep the tracking men on him and inform them we will be there soon, but do nothing unless absolutely necessary. I'll be leading the team and I want to make the capture. We need Drystan alive to end this once and for all. He needs to be made an example of and quickly."

"I agree, Sire."

"Gather the team and we will rally by the gates. I'm going to call the Academy and make them aware of our arrival."

"Are you sure that's wise?"

Rehn raised an intimidating brow at being questioned.

"It just may take our edge away should Drystan be aware we are on our way."

The king scoffed.

"Idris, please. Have more faith in me. We need to keep relations clean and we can't do that by crashing into another territory's school of education, can we? Especially when some of the most esteemed sages are there, as well."

Idris remained silent as Rehn continued to tell him how wrong he was to question him.

"Besides, I am only telling the administration about our arrival. There should be no need to tell staff or students as long as this is handled swiftly. If they found out, that would be what created a panic." He smiled at the dutiful stern face of Idris before clapping him on the back.

The sudden jerk broke the stiffness of playing their roles and both relaxed. At least, Rehn tried to.

"Now, go get the team assembled so I can call."

"Yes, sir."

Idris dismissed himself swiftly, leaving purposeful footsteps echoing down the hall.

Rehn walked over to his desk and grabbed his phone that lay there ever since Idris had called him with the news.

He quickly dialed the Director of the Academy.

"King Tahyrst To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"Tressa. I'd love for this to be anything but what it's about, but it's urgent. Listen, one of my prisoners has escaped?—"

"What?" Tressa's voice was holding a higher, more worried pitch now. "No one escapes your prisons."

"I know. We are trying to figure out that part, but we did find him, or at least know where he's going."

"Here? What do you want me to do?"

Rehn was happy Tressa actually had a brain and he didn't have to over explain anything.

"Nothing. Let the administration team know, but no one else. We will handle this quickly and there should be no disruption."

"I can do that. Can you send me his picture just so the others know who to keep an eye out for?"

"There's no need. They'll know Drystan Sahylnd when they see him."

"It's Drystan? Are you sure you don't want any of my help?"

"Thanks, but no. It may play our hand somehow. Plus, we don't know how he got out or if he had help, so we are letting as few people know as possible."

"Understood," Tressa responded.

"We will be there soon. Heading to the team now." Rehn ended the call without another word. He didn't like to waste time on unnecessary good-byes.

As he tried not to race down the stairs, his bear was making it hard. Inside, he could feel it pawing at the ground, wanting to charge into battle and rip the threat to shreds.

Rehn tried to calm the bear, but his adrenaline spiked the closer he got to the gate.

He used to be able to control his emotions and bear so easily, but lately, he found it hard to quiet the restless grumblings of the animal inside.

It was as if there was something missing that was becoming more problematic the longer it was gone. The problem was that Rehn had no idea what that could be.

The team was there, ready to go. Rehn smiled, shaking his head free of why he couldn't control his bear and finally letting it run free. He could sense the others shifting behind him. The sound of their pants and rumbling paws added to the air around them.

Right now, all that mattered was retrieving the threat and figuring out how the hell he escaped so it never happened again.

At least if he doesn't confess quickly, I'll get to indulge in making him talk. Rehn felt himself smile at the thought as his auburn fur-covered paws quickened their pace over the tundra.