A Curse of Shadows - Page 86

She closes her eyes, letting out a shuddering breath as she nods before looking back up at me. “Okay.”

My fingers lightly trail along the side of her face. “Are you sure you want to do this? You don’t have to go in there with me.”

“I know.” She stands a little taller. “But I need to see his face and hear his words. I need this closure because even knowing what Mali heard and saw, I’m having a hard time associating the Noen I thought I knew with a person capable of murder.”

That, I can understand because no matter how much I hated that he wanted my mate, I never thought he’d do something like this, not truly.

“Just don’t push yourself too far,” I tell her. “And don’t be angry with me if I pull you out without your permission because I’m not comfortable with how things are going. I’ll be honest, letting you in the room with him isn’t easy for me.”

“And I love you for not trying to control my decisions.” She pushes up onto her toes and kisses me briefly. “Now, let’s get this over with.”

I reach out to Mali. “Is Noen ready for us?”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” he replies promptly. “And there’ve been no sightings of Declan, but we have a team of thirty wolves searching for him on the island. All of the ships were put on lockdown as well. Unless he decides to swim with the water dragons, he won’t get far.”

“Has anyone checked on Cain?” I ask, knowing he’s been stationed at the portal again. He’d only stayed in the castle for those first few days because Isla seemed comfortable with him and it was important to me that she have that. Now, I need to make sure our gatekeeper hasn’t been taken by surprise by Declan, allowing him to escape.

“Cain is at the portal, dressed in full armor, with his two protégé’s on standby, my king. Your father made the request once he heard of Isla’s attack.”

I’m relieved to hear that even my father has been doing his part to catch Declan. He was out of sorts yesterday and I need to go check on him and my mother to make sure they’ve found time to discuss their issues in a way that hasn’t made anything worse.

Though that’s going to have to wait.

“We’re coming in,” I tell Mali before looking back down at Isla.

“Remember,” I say to her, “you’re only staying as long as you’re comfortable and not at risk.”

She nods. “I know. I won’t push things too far.”

I believe her, but still, my chest tightens and stomach churns with the power of the seas. Letting her into the room with the man who is likely responsible for her death five centuries ago is wrong. Yet she’s right. My mate needs this and I’m going to give it to her because no matter how much I hate it, I won’t allow Noen to be something that gets between us.

Isla will have her closure and then I’ll have his head.

I open the final door that reveals Noen chained to a metal chair. The room is cold and musty and not fit for my queen, but she doesn’t even flinch when she sees him restrained.

His head is hanging limply and deep bruises have formed around his eyes and cheeks. There’s dried blood on his face, and I’m pretty sure he’s pissed himself, but that changes nothing for me.

Mali steps forward from the corner where he’s been seated all night. “King Asher, Queen Isla.” He bows for each of us. “I’ll be right outside if you need anything.”

His fists are clenched and his knuckles are bruised, making me grin. I didn’t tell him that he couldn’t touch Noen, so Mali hasn’t done anything wrong. I just didn’t expect him to react with such violence without being asked.

“Did you learn anything?” I ask, nodding briefly toward his clenched fists.

He shakes his head. “I’m sorry, my king. I know you didn’t ask me to do anything, but he threatened our kingdom and that… That wasn’t okay with me. All he kept saying was that he didn’t do anything, that he was only trying to stop Declan, but if that’s what he was trying to do, then why not call for you?”

That’s a damn good question and one I plan to ask, but I’m going to let Isla have her moment first because I have a feeling that when I’m done with the bastard, he won’t be waking back up anytime soon.

Mali excuses himself and exits the room. Isla can’t seem to take her eyes off Noen and I know she wants to be alone with him, in hopes of making him talk, but I don’t know that I can leave her.

“Are we just supposed to wait for him to wake?” she asks, her voice devoid of emotion.

“No, I can wake him just as soon as you’re ready,” I tell her, then I add, “I’ll jolt his consciousness with the connection I have to him as his Alpha King.”

She nods, still staring at him. “Do that. I’m ready.”

I gently grab her chin and force her to meet my gaze. “Are you sure?”

“I am.” Her eyes are filled with a determination I haven’t seen from her in much too long. “I’m going to do this.”