“Where is she?” Vander roared as he burst through the doors of the castle. He could instantly sense Faye was gone. His dragon knew it. It could sense the loss the moment they had landed.

“It was the Death Lord, sir,” Farta announced as he stalked toward Vander.

“How did he break through the wards of the property?” Vander growled.

“We don’t know,” Farta admitted as he followed behind Vander. “We have been working at repairing the wards, sir.”

Vander let loose a roar of angst and pain that shook the floors. His mate was taken from their home. Somewhere that was to be a sanctuary for her, and she was just snatched away. Plucked from the grounds that were to protect her from evil. He stood there, breathing hard as his beast wanted to break free and fly off in search of their mate.

“How did he get her?” he demanded as he began walking down the hall, with Farta trailing behind him. The castle was in an unusual uproar. “What is going on?” he asked, suddenly noting the frantic nature of a few servants running up the stairs to the upper level of the castle.

“It’s Dalma, sir.” Farta informed him softly as Vander stood at the bottom of the stairs. The pit of his stomach gave way at the tone of Farta’s voice.

“What’s wrong with Dalma?” he asked, turning to his head servant.

“She was with Ms. Adams when Gamair came. They were out in the gardens to allow Ms. Adams some fresh air, and you know Dalma, sir. She was introducing her to the family statues.”

Vander glanced up at the stairs of the castle. He knew that Dalma loved his family so, and had fell in love with Faye immediately, just as he did. He began climbing the stairs two at a time. Before going after Gamair, he needed to check on the woman who was like a second mother to him.

He quickly made his way to her suite, and watched a few females rush into her room. He stood at the door, unsure of what he would find once he entered. Knowing Dalma as well as he did, he knew that if Gamair took Faye in her presence, that she would have shifted and went after them.

He pushed the door open and paused as she came into view. She laid still on the bed, as one of the females adjusted the pillows beneath her head. The other fussed over the blankets.

A growl resonated deep in his chest at the sight of Dalma. Bruises covered her body, and he knew instantly what had happened.

Flashes of his fall came to mind, and he knew that she’d experienced the same as he did when Gamair hit him with his energy.

He forced himself to move into the room. The servants bowed their heads and moved to the corner of the room as he approached Dalma’s bed. Her chest rose in a slow, steady rhythm, showing that she was in a deep healing sleep. Her dragon would repair all the damage from her fall. He sat on the edge of the bed and brushed a few of her graying strands of hair from her face.

He leaned forward and placed a kiss to the middle of her forehead.

“He will pay for what he has done to you,” Vander vowed. He knew that she wouldn’t hear him, but it was something that he had to put out in the universe.

Gamair may have signed his death warrant before for attacking the villagers and going after his mate. But now, the fiery pits of hell would never do. He would send the Death Lord to the place beneath hell.

“How is she?” Feno’s low growl broke through the silent air.

“She’s in a healing stasis,” Vander announced, looking up at the door. His brother’s fierce gaze met his, and his face displayed the same emotion that rumbled deep within his chest.

Rage.

They would avenge the villagers and Dalma, and take back his mate.

“From what Farta said, he has a couple of hours on us,” Feno disclosed as Vander stood and made his way to the door. They stood outside the door to allow the servants to tend to Dalma.

“He has her,” Vander growled. His dragon slammed against his chest, demanding to be let out again. It was ready to seek revenge against the Death Lord. The warrior in him knew that they would fight to the death to protect Faye.

“We will find them and bring her back,” Feno assured him.

“If he’s harmed one hair on her head—” Vander stopped and looked away. He couldn’t verbalize it. If Faye were harmed, he would go crazy. His dragon would lose his mind.

“We’ll get your back, little brother. Nothing will happen to your mate. Gamair is playing a sick game.”

“I will end the sick fuck’s game.” Vander stalked toward the stairs.

“We need to come up with a plan. We can’t just rush off. He’s going to expect us to show up.” Feno stormed up behind Vander.

“Well, let me not disappoint him,” Vander snapped as they reached the bottom of the stairs.

“Stop!” Feno commanded. Grabbing him by the arm, he swung him around to face him.

Vander turned a cold eye to his brother. Feno could never begin to understand what he was going through. This was his mate they were talking about. She was in the hands of their enemy. Someone who was devious, pure evil, and wouldn’t give two fucks about killing a human.

“Don’t push me away. I’m on your side. But if we’re to get your mate back, we must work together. A plan must be developed so that we don’t mess this up. We’re going to have one chance to get her back.”

“I don’t give a damn what happens to me. It’s Faye that I care about,” he snapped. His dragon was ready to go off to bring their mate home. There was so much they had yet to share with her. Little did she know, this castle was hers.

“And that is exactly why I said we need a plan! I refuse to lose my only brother. We do this my way, and only my way. I’m the eldest, and I will have you locked up.”

“You wouldn’t dare,” Vander growled, his eyes narrowed on his brother. Feno had never threatened him before. His brother had lost his mind if he thought that Vander would sit by and allow him to rescue Faye without him.

“To save my hotheaded little brother from running blindly into battle, I would.” Feno crossed his arms in front of his massive chest. He cocked an eyebrow as he waited for Vander’s answer. Vander paused and glared at his brother. By the looks of Feno, he would.

“And I’d help him.” Jodos’ voice appeared behind him. He glanced at his friend as he came and stood next to Feno.

Two against one.

Vander released a sigh and ran a shaky hand across his face. He refused to fight with them. By the looks of them, Vander would lose.

“What do you suggest we do?”