7. Volezimir

7

VOLEZIMIR

I storm through the castle halls, my footsteps echoing off the stone walls. Fucking zonaks. Can't even handle basic tasks without me holding their hands. I'd rather be back on Aurelius, with Zylpha.

The thought of her calms me slightly, but my irritation quickly resurfaces as I round a corner and nearly collide with a zonak carrying a stack of linens.

"Watch where you're going," I growl.

The zonak scrambles out of my way, mumbling apologies. I ignore him and continue toward my quarters. Just a few more things to wrap up, then I can head back to-

"Sir Volezimir!"

I turn to see one of the messengers sprinting down the hall, face pale and eyes wide. Lamain insisted I have some kind of title — I wasn't a zonak after all.

"What is it?" I demand.

He skids to a stop, panting. "It's- it's the King, sir. King Asmodeus is returning to Galmoleth."

The words hit me like a punch to the gut. "When?"

"A few weeks, sir. The trial is over. An advance party just arrived with the news."

"Shit," I mutter. This changes everything. I need to tell Lamain and June immediately. It won't change anything, but if his father is coming back to Galmoleth, Lamain needs to know.

"Thank you," I tell the messenger. "You're dismissed."

He bows and hurries away. I rush to my quarters, my mind racing. Why is Asmodeus returning now? What does this mean for Lamain and June? For Aurelius? Before, he was too busy dealing with a crumbling kingdom to notice but else, but now?

Uncertainty swirls through me.

I throw open my door and start gathering what I need. Clothes, weapons, anything that I might need to be gone a little longer.

Get it together, I tell myself. You need to stay calm. For Lamain. For June. For Zylpha.

I take a deep breath, steadying myself. Then I grab my packed bag and reach for my beacon. There's no time to waste.

I burst through the portal onto Aurelius, my heart pounding. The lush jungle surrounds me, but I barely notice its beauty as I scan the area for Lamain and June. I need to find them now.

"Lamain!" I shout, my voice echoing through the trees. "June!"

I start moving, pushing through the dense foliage. The weight of my packed bag reminds me of the urgency of the situation. Sweat beads on my forehead as I search.

Finally, I spot them near the beach, talking with some of the other inhabitants. Relief floods through me, quickly replaced by anxiety as I remember why I'm here.

"Lamain!" I call out again, striding towards them.

They turn, surprise evident on their faces. June's brow furrows with concern.

"Volezimir? What's wrong?" Lamain asks as I approach.

I take a deep breath. "It's your father. Asmodeus is returning to Galmoleth."

Their eyes widen. June grabs Lamain's arm, her knuckles turning white.

"When?" Lamain's voice is tight.

"A few weeks. The trial is over. An advance party just arrived with the news."

Lamain curses under his breath. June looks pale, her hand instinctively moving to her stomach. But then the Prince shakes his head.

"It doesn't matter." He looks to June as he says it. "We came here to escape him. His return makes no difference."

"We need to-" I start, but I'm cut off by a shout from down the beach.

"Ship! There's a ship approaching!"

We all turn to look. Sure enough, a vessel is visible on the horizon, growing larger by the moment. It's not one I recognize.

"Is it one of ours?" June asks.

"It's the one from last night," Laiman answers and June visibly relaxes.

"Thank the gods," she whispers. "I was wondering what happened."

I follow Lamain and June to the makeshift docks, my mind still reeling from the news of Asmodeus's return. But as we wait for the ship to dock, a new worry takes hold.

"Where's Zylpha?" I ask, scanning the beach. "I assumed she'd be here to greet the new arrivals." How can I miss her already? My Sunshine…I've been feeling a heavy cloud over me without her.

June turns to me, her eyes widening. "Oh, Volezimir... I thought you knew. Zylpha's on that ship."

"What?" I growl, my fists clenching at my sides. "What the fuck do you mean she's on that ship?"

Lamain steps between us, his voice low and calm. "Easy, Volezimir. It was a rescue mission. Zylpha volunteered."

"And you let her?" I snarl, my anger rising. "She's barely been here a month. She's not ready for something like that!"

"She insisted," June says softly. "She wanted to help others escape, like she did."

I turn away, trying to control my rage. They should've told me. I should've been there to protect her.

The ship drops anchor, and small boats begin ferrying people to shore. I watch each one intently, searching for Zylpha's familiar face. But as more and more people disembark, my worry grows.

"Where is she?" I mutter, more to myself than anyone else.

The rescued captives stumble onto the beach, looking tired and shell-shocked. But soon, the ship is empty, the volunteers stepping off, too.

And Zylpha isn't among them.

I turn to Lamain and June, my heart pounding. "She's not here. Where the fuck is she?"

Lamain's brow furrows as he scans the crowd. "I don't understand. She should be with them."

June's face pales. "Something must have gone wrong."

Panic claws at my chest. I grab the nearest rescuer, a young man with haunted eyes. "Where's Zylpha? The woman who helped free you?"

He shakes his head, fear flickering across his face. "I-I don't know. There was a commotion. Someone grabbed her. We didn't see what happened after that."

I release him, my mind racing. Grabbed her? Who? What happened to her?

"We need to go back," I growl, already moving towards the ship. "Now."

Lamain catches my arm. "Volezimir, wait. We need a plan."

I whirl on him, barely containing my rage. "Every second we waste is another second she's in danger. I'm going after her, with or without you."

I can't fucking believe this. My hands shake as I clench them into fists, rage and fear battling inside me. Zylpha's gone. She's in danger, and I wasn't there to protect her.

"What the fuck were you thinking?" I roar, rounding on Lamain and June. "Sending her on a mission like that? She's not trained for this shit!"

June flinches, but Lamain stands his ground. "Volezimir, calm down-"

"Don't tell me to calm down!" I snarl, getting in his face. "You let her walk into a fucking death trap!"

"She volunteered," Lamain says, his voice tight. "We didn't force her-"

"You should've stopped her!" I shout, my voice echoing across the beach. The rescued captives shrink away, fear in their eyes. I don't care. All I can think about is Zylpha, alone and in danger.

"She's not a warrior, she's not a fucking spy! She's barely recovered from her own captivity, and you let her go back into that hellhole?"

"Volezimir, please," June pleads, her hand on her belly. "We didn't know-"

"You didn't know?" I laugh, the sound harsh and bitter. "Of course you didn't know! You didn't think! You just sent her off like some expendable pawn!"

I pace back and forth, my mind racing. "Do you have any idea what they might do to her? The kinds of monsters that prowl those docks?"

The images flashing through my mind make me want to vomit. Zylpha, chained and bleeding. Zylpha, screaming in pain. Zylpha, broken and lifeless.

"I should've been here," I growl, more to myself than anyone else. "I should've protected her."

"We couldn't have known-" Lamain starts, but I cut him off.

"That's shit! You know the risks. You know what's out there. And you let her go anyway!"

I turn back to the ship, my decision made. "I'm going after her. Now. And if anything's happened to her, I swear to all the gods-"

"Volezimir," Lamain's voice is firm now. "We'll find her. We have people at the docks every week."

June nods, stepping closer but not daring to touch me. "We'll get her back. She's resourceful. I'm sure she's okay." But even her hands are trembling.

And I think we both know it's a lie.