Chapter 33

Chapter

Thirty-Three

GOVEK

G ovek could not think, could not breathe. His tongue tasted of bile; his legs exploded with prickling energy. He hurtled himself through the woods, to his home.

He never should have left her.

The door was already off the hinges, and he ripped his way into the house. Stormed from room to room. The floorboards should have cracked. He nearly overturned the bed in his haste to find his mate.

"Where the fuck is she?" he roared. His eyes bulged and his teeth gnashed and his blood boiled in his veins. "Miranda!"

"Govek!" Karthoc snapped just as Govek barreled into the bedroom, searched the bathroom.

She was nowhere. Nowhere .

She had left.

Had she left him ?

Karthoc was frozen in the entrance to the bedroom. His eyes transfixed to the bed.

"What is that ?"

Govek followed Karthoc's eyes to one of Miranda's dresses. "That is my mate's."

Karthoc snarled. "No, it's not."

He snatched it up and Govek almost slugged the male right in the jaw as he brought it to his face and dragged the scent into his lungs.

" What the fuck? " Govek snarled, working with every drop of his control not to slaughter the male.

"This belongs to my mate ."

Govek went cold.

Brovdir burst in behind. "What? It's . . ."

"That was given to Miranda by Viravia," Govek said, working around each word as anger cooled in his gut to make room for shock. " Tavggol's mate."

" Tavggol ?" Karthoc snapped. "No. It can't. This was hers. No other but Miranda and my mate have worn it. There are no other scents."

The air stilled as Karthoc scented the dress again, unhinged his jaw to get the smell full into his mind.

"Tavggol's widow ," Karthoc snarled low, deadly. " Is my mate ."

These words blasted around in Govek's head. His muscles froze, refused to budge.

"That can't be," Brovdir croaked.

Karthoc snarled. "Where the fuck is she, Govek? You tell me where she is now ."

"I have to find Miranda?—"

Karthoc took a threatening step forward and Brovdir rushed in, placing a hand on his brother's chest. "Calm. Be rational."

"Her house!" Karthoc cried, turning on his heel.

He couldn't deal with Karthoc right now. Fuck, he could barely think through this mess, and he had to find Miranda. The saber cat would?—

Govek couldn't even imagine it. The fear spiraled in him. It was so thick in his mind.

"I just heard her!" Karthoc said as he pounded back into the house. "She said my name , soft but clear. I feel it." He stormed out the back door with Brovdir rushing after him.

Govek did the same. He dragged air into his lungs, trying to pick up the now dissipating scent.

It went up the hill to the falls.

Karthoc was beginning up the hill already and Govek snapped. "Miranda went this way, but your mate could not get up this hill in her condition."

" Condition ?"

"She's pregnant." Govek reminded Karthoc. Karthoc knew that Viravia was pregnant with the next heir to the clan.

But then realization slammed into Govek so hard he saw stars.

" She's ..." Karthoc's tone was quiet and rough. " She's pregnant. "

Lightning spiked Govek and he whipped around to see Karthoc's face go flat.

"Is it . . . was it Tavggol's or . . ."

"Brovdir, shut up ," Govek screamed at the male. Words he never thought he would have to say to his usually silent cousin. Brovdir went instantly pale .

" I heard her ." Karthoc charged toward the path to the falls.

Viravia could not even make it up her own stairs, let alone climb this hill.

A scream cut through his gut. The call was thick, vibrant, alive. It rolled in waves so strong Govek staggered.

Miranda had called for him.

She was in danger.

His thoughts winked out, and he flew up the hill to the falls.