“We’ll see if you can handle mounting her. If it hurts, you can ride with Dorin back to the castle,” Nikolas decided.
“Okay,” Rianne agreed easily, allowing Nikolas to lead her outside.
Dorin followed behind them, making sure the hut was secure before joining them by the beasts. Nikolas helped Rianne onto Alyla’s back, watching her face the entire time for signs of pain or discomfort. The second she settled onto the pegamy’s back, her entire lower torso felt as though it was encased in fire. Instantly, she was off Alyla and in Nikolas’s arms, his low voice soothing in her ear.
“You’ll ride with Dorin,” Nikolas insisted, already turning to where Dorin sat atop Rysad.
He handed her off easily, making sure Dorin had her before turning to mount Byntwor. As soon as he was settled, they were off.
Rianne noticed how dark it was as they rode through the forest and wondered if they maybe should have stayed in the hut until morning. Snow was falling steadily, causing a drop in the temperature, and the only way for her to stay warm was to press her body as close to Dorin’s as physically possible. Even still, she shivered as they cantered through the trees toward the castle.
“We’ll have you warm soon, danalya,” Dorin promised, urging Rysad on faster.
The increased wind caused by the faster pace did nothing to warm her up, but the prospect of getting to the castle sooner kept her from complaining. She wanted a hot bath followed by a night spent between her men, safe and secure in their arms.
* * * *
Nikolas scanned the surrounding area as they rode toward the castle, his entire body on alert for any sort of danger. As much as he might have wanted to stay locked in the hut with Dorin and Rianne, he knew they were safer at the castle and so had convinced Dorin that it would be better to return. Instincts that had been honed by years spent on the battlefield raged at him as they continued onward. He knew something was seriously wrong, but had no idea as to what.
Still, he rode closer to Dorin’s mount than he normally would have. The desire to be close to his mate, to protect her, clawed through him, and more than once, Byntwor shook his head as they bumped into Dorin and Rysad.
“Are you all right?” Dorin asked softly.
“Fine. Just want to get back to the castle,” Nikolas said, unable to meet his friend’s gaze.
“Nik. Don’t lie to me,” Dorin warned, his voice low.
“Something’s bothering me, but I don’t know what it is,” Nikolas confessed, rolling his shoulders.
“Do you need to shift?” Dorin asked, knowing their instincts were stronger in animal form.
“Possibly,” Nikolas muttered, having already contemplated the idea.
“Then shift. We can wait,” Dorin insisted, bringing Rysad to a stop.
Rianne’s head lifted from his shoulder and she blinked around in confusion.
“What’s happening?” Rianne asked, her voice indicating she had either been asleep or close to it.
“Nikolas is going to shift for the rest of the trip,” Dorin told her as Nikolas dismounted.
“Is something wrong?” Rianne asked, all traces of sleep gone from her voice, replaced by panic.
“No, nothing is wrong. You’re perfectly safe,” Dorin reassured her as Nikolas walked a few steps away to shift.
The polar answered his call instantly, the sheer power of the beast telling him he’d been in human form for too long. Lifting his nose to the air, he sniffed for any unfriendly scents, but found nothing. Giving a low rumble to Dorin, Nikolas began leading the way through the trees. He blocked out Rianne’s whispered words to Dorin and instead focused on the woods around them. He could hear animals settling down for the night, including a family of terns above them in the trees. He dismissed the natural sounds of the forest and listened harder for any unnatural sounds, like human footsteps.
Hearing nothing, he began to doubt the strange feeling he’d had when human. The polar in him sensed nothing out of the ordinary in the trees, but still Nikolas remained vigilant. He would not put his mate in danger.
Turning to glance over his shoulder, Nikolas snorted at Dorin before increasing his pace. Rysad kicked into a gallop a moment later, and the two of them raced toward the castle. It appeared moments later, and Nikolas breathed a heavy sigh of relief as the portcullis closed behind them. He shifted back to his human form as Dorin dismounted and assisted Rianne off Rysad. Shaking out his mane, Rysad stomped the ground once before taking flight back to the woods. Nikolas hurried over to his mate and his partner, scooping Rianne in his arms.
“We need to get inside,” Nikolas insisted, already heading toward the castle doors.
“Do you sense something?” Dorin asked, easily keeping pace with him.
“I still have a bad feeling,” Nikolas murmured.
Rianne wrapped her arms around his neck, clutching tightly as they entered the castle. Her eyes were wide as she surveyed the chaos of the entryway. Nikolas hushed her gently, pressing his nose against her cheek in an attempt to soothe her as Dorin stepped forward, instantly drawing the attention of one of the footmen.
“What’s happened?” Dorin demanded.
“Someone broke into your rooms, Your Highness, as well as the king’s study,” the footman informed him.
“Was anyone hurt?” Dorin asked and Nikolas could hear the barely concealed panic in the prince’s voice.
“No, Your Highness, though all four rooms suffered some damage,” the footman assured him.
“Thank you,” Dorin said, glancing over his shoulder to meet Nikolas’s gaze.
Nikolas nodded once, indicating for Dorin to lead the way. Taking off down the hallway, Dorin led them to his mother’s sitting room where his father and mother sat waiting.
“Dorin! Thank the gods you’re all right,” Visess cried as soon as they walked in.
“We’re fine, Mother. What happened here?” Dorin asked, seeking more details than the footman had given.
Nikolas moved toward a chair close to the fire, sitting Rianne in it and seeing to her as Dorin discussed the day’s occurrences with his father. Obviously needing someone to fuss over, Visess hurried to where Nikolas had placed Rianne, exclaiming over his mate’s pale complexion.
“You poor dear, you look half-frozen. Nikolas, fetch the blanket from behind the door, would you?” Visess requested, already tucking one blanket around Rianne.
Nikolas did as she asked, listening to his mate assure the queen that she was fine. He shook his head at her stubbornness, but had to admit it was something he admired in her.
“You can’t be serious,” Dorin muttered, drawing Nikolas’s attention.
“I’m afraid so. Whoever it is behind the break-ins, they were looking for the journal,” Silal told him.
“What would anyone want with it?” Dorin asked.
“I don’t know, but it’s a good thing they didn’t find it or Rianne’s notes. It could have been disastrous if the High Councils had gotten wind that we’ve been keeping it from them,” Silal sighed.
Nikolas walked back over to where Rianne was sitting and handed Visess the blanket while still listening to Dorin and Silal’s conversation across the room.
“Do you have any idea who might want the information?” Dorin asked.
“There were no unfamiliar scents in the rooms. Whoever it is, they’re from inside the castle,” Silal said regretfully.
“It could be anybody,” Dorin groaned, rubbing his forehead.
“We’ll find them, son. Whoever it is, we’ll find them,” Silal assured him.
“Nikolas, are you listening to me?”
Nikolas turned to see Visess glaring up at him, hands on her hips and a stubborn tilt to her jaw.
“I’m sorry. What were you saying?” Nikolas asked.
“I said you need to send for some hot tea and soup for your mate,” Visess repeated slowly.
“Right. I’ll go tell Cook.” Nikolas nodded, turning to leave the room.
As he passed by, he shared a loo
k with Dorin, letting the wolf know he’d heard every word spoken between him and his father. An understanding passed between them, and he knew Dorin realized the same thing that had become clear to Nikolas. Whoever had tried to find the journal was the same person trying to kill Rianne.
Chapter Twelve
Dorin walked into his father’s study, amazed at the mass of papers thrown all over the room. The desk drawers were pulled out haphazardly, books had been tossed off the shelves, and the paintings hung precariously on the wall. His father’s safe was exposed, the door swung open, and the contents obviously rifled through.
“Oh, my God.”
He turned around to find Rianne standing behind him, Nikolas’s arm wrapped around her shoulders as he took in the room.
“You should be resting,” Dorin said softly.
“I’m not going to get sick. We weren’t outside that long,” Rianne assured him, taking a step into the study and looking around.
She spotted the open safe, and Dorin hurried forward when all the color drained from her face. He managed to catch her as she stumbled back, a tortured cry escaping her as she clutched him desperately.
“Easy, Rianne. Shh, it’s okay. The journal is safe, danalya,” Dorin assured her.
“Where? Where is it?” Rianne demanded, her impossibly wide eyes frantically searching the room.
Dorin shared a concerned look with Nikolas, neither one understanding the desperation she felt over the journal. Before Dorin could stop her, she tore from his arms and began searching the study, muttering to herself.
“I know it’s here. God, where is it? It has to be here.”
Without a word, Nikolas turned from the room, leaving Dorin to try to contain their hysterical mate.
“Rianne, calm down and listen to me,” Dorin ordered, capturing her in his arms.
“No, I have to find it. I have to find it,” Rianne insisted as she attempted to escape his hold.
“It’s not in here, Rianne,” Dorin told her, but she wasn’t listening.
“I have to find it,” Rianne repeated, twisting in his arms.
Dorin had never seen her so panicked, not even when she’d almost been killed by the shooter in her bedroom. The fact that she was so upset over the journal led Dorin to think she maybe shouldn’t be translating it. Obviously the book had some sort of hold over her, and from the way she was reacting at the thought of it gone, it was not a good thing.
“Danalya, please. Calm down,” Dorin murmured into her hair.
“Let her go, Dorin.”
Silal stood in the doorway, the journal in his hands. The minute Dorin released Rianne, she made a beeline for Silal, only to come up short when Nikolas stepped in front of her.
“I need to see it,” Rianne demanded, trying to get around him.
“You have seen it. Now we’re going to talk,” Nikolas said, placing his large hands on her shoulders.
“No. I need to make sure it’s not damaged,” Rianne argued.
“It’s perfectly fine. Silal had it moved to the hidden safe in our room for safekeeping until our study could be finished,” Nikolas told her.
“Wha—” Rianne started, but Silal quickly cut her off.
“Rianne, we need to discuss your reaction to the journal.”
“Let me see it,” Rianne insisted, yet again attempting to slip around Nikolas.
Nikolas grabbed her up and threw her over his shoulder, ignoring her protests. Dorin was quickly becoming more and more alarmed by Rianne’s apparent obsession with Merlin’s journal. As Nikolas took her to sit in her usual spot at Silal’s table, Dorin moved over to speak to his father.
“Do you think the journal has some sort of magical hold over her?” Dorin ask quietly.
Rianne began shouting angrily at Nikolas in the background, but the polar was refusing to let her get away from him. Dorin’s hands began shaking as the combination of stress from the shootings, the destruction, and Rianne’s obvious torment all crashed over him.
“Easy, son. We’ll figure out what’s going on. I’m sure Morna will be able to tell us why she’s reacting so strongly,” Silal assured him.
“Is she still in the castle?” Dorin asked, having not seen the witch since they returned with Rianne.
“I’ll send for her,” Silal murmured, leaving the room and taking the journal with him.
Dorin turned to see Nikolas restraining Rianne in the chair, her eyes wild and hands fisted as she swung at Nikolas. He’d never seen anything like it before, but from the firm set of Nikolas’s jaw, he knew his friend had.
“What’s wrong with her?” Dorin asked, moving closer.
Nikolas shook his head but didn’t answer, simply continued to detain their mate. Strange animalistic sounds kept escaping her, and she actually attempted to bite Nikolas trying to make him let her go. He ignored her efforts, tightening his hold on her.
“Let me go, you bastard!” Rianne shouted, redoubling her efforts.
“Not happening, capora,” Nikolas said, still easily containing her.
“Father’s gone to get Morna,” Dorin told him quietly.
Nikolas’s head snapped up, and he growled at Dorin, making him take a step back.
“What?” Dorin asked, completely confused.
“The witch. Rianne came to me a few days ago and told me the witch had come to see her while she was working on the journal,” Nikolas practically growled.
“Did she say anything?”
“The witch told her she needed to keep the information safe from your father,” Nikolas said with a glower.
Surprised by that, Dorin could think of nothing else to say as they waited for Silal to return with Morna. Rianne was slowly calming, though her eyes were still wildly searching the room. Her obvious signs of distress still bothered him, but with the animalistic sounds quieting and her no longer trying to bite Nikolas, he allowed himself to relax slightly.
The sound of footsteps in the hallway alerted them to the fact that Silal was returning with Morna. They were obviously having an intense discussion about the journal, and Morna was clearly upset that Silal was in possession of it.
“It should be with Rianne. She is the Keeper,” Morna was insisting as they entered the study.
The instant Silal walked into the study with the journal, Rianne began fighting Nikolas again. Morna watched her with wide-eyed curiosity, her head tilted slightly to the side. When she made to move forward, Nikolas gave a warning growl and brought her up short.
“Stay away from her,” Nikolas snarled, actually lifting Rianne over the chair and against his chest, keeping the furniture between them and the witch.
Rianne wasn’t making it easy for him, her desperation increasing as Nikolas dragged her farther away from the journal. Dorin stood between them, unsure how to help Rianne.
“Give me the journal,” Morna demanded of Silal.
Silal looked between Morna, the journal, and Rianne before slowly offering the witch the book. She grabbed it eagerly, turning to Rianne and walking forward. Rianne was fixated on the journal and began calming as Morna moved forward.
“Stop,” Nikolas snapped, trying to back farther away, but coming up against the wall.
“Nik,” Dorin murmured, watching Rianne and seeing the change in her.
“She needs the journal. It’s her connection to it that is making her act this way. You need to let her hold it,” Morna told Nikolas, still walking toward them.
Still reluctant, but seeming to have no other option, Nikolas allowed Rianne to grab hold of the journal once it was in reach. Reverently stroking the spine, she flipped through the journal, making sure no damage had been done to the pages. Dorin watched as the world seemed to fade for her until she was completely unaware of everyone around her, including Nikolas who still had his arms wrapped around her torso.
“I think you can let her go, Nik,” Dorin said when it became clear she wasn’t going to fly into another panicked fit.
Nikolas moved away from her sl
owly, turning so his body was between Rianne and Morna. He glared down at the tiny witch distrustfully, his teeth exposed as he growled at her.
“Oh, do stop growling, Nikolas. Your mate is fine now, as you can clearly see,” Morna scoffed, turning from him.
“What did you do to her?” Nikolas demanded, following her closely.
“I did nothing to your mate. She is the Keeper and, as such, has a connection with the journal that none of us can even begin to understand,” Morna explained, taking a seat by Silal’s desk.
Sure enough, Rianne was nose-deep in the text, not even bothering to write out her translation as she’d been doing for the past few weeks. Instead, she spoke softly to herself in a language Dorin had never heard before. He walked over to stand behind her, looking at the journal over her shoulder and unable to understand a single word on the page. Somehow, it made sense to Rianne, and she flipped through the pages at a speed that amazed and frightened Dorin. While Nikolas continued arguing with Morna, Dorin paid close attention to the way Rianne handled the journal, how she caressed the pages before turning them, as if afraid of hurting it. He thought she was completely unaware of him, but then she reached for his hand and pulled it around her shoulders. Unable to resist, he buried his face in her neck and breathed deeply, reassuring himself that she was okay, that the weird, obsessive Rianne was gone and his mate was back.
“I love you,” Dorin murmured into her skin.
“I love you,” Rianne sighed back to him.
Nikolas’s attention snapped to them at her words, and he immediately walked away from Morna, mid-argument, to kneel in front of their mate. She closed the journal and leaned forward, resting her forehead against Nikolas’s.
“I love you, too,” Rianne whispered.
Helping her to stand, Dorin lifted her in his arms and walked with her and Nikolas from the study, the journal tucked safely against her chest. They made their way to their room to get some well-deserved sleep.
* * * *
Nikolas sat in the corner, hidden from anyone who might enter the study. A sword rested on his lap, waiting for anyone who dared to disturb his mate. Rianne almost completely ignored him, wrapped up in the journal. Despite his and Dorin’s best efforts, Rianne would not stop reading and translating the text. The extreme reaction she’d experienced when she thought the book to be gone was enough to convince him to let her continue, but he refused to leave her alone with the damned thing. While Dorin worked with Silal to find the person responsible for the destruction of the castle, Nikolas stayed with their mate.
The Journal Keeper (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) Page 20