them back for I will need them on this also.” Carn’reau looked thoughtful for a moment and agreed,
“They are the best bounty hunters around and managed to retrieve her the first time, but what of Trice, I believe he is closing in on his target who can remove the hex.”
“Then in that case he can stay, for the other two shifters should suffice and when she is found, she will be in need of this mystery being who can remove the hex,” I said, planning for the best and trying not to focus on the worst, so I may continue to function.
“Very well, my Lord, it will be done.” My general lingered a moment longer and I jerked up my chin telling him with little patience,
“You have something more to say then I suggest you get on and fucking say it!” I snapped, and he wasn't surprised due to the delicate subject.
“And what of Dariush, my Lord?” His question was one that made me turn my head in the direction of his office and snarl my reply…
“Leave him to me.”
***
Five excruciating hours later and I was practically tearing my hair out waiting for news. At the very least Gryph and Vern had returned, and I found my rage bursting to the surface yet again when I had to go through the events of what had become of Amelia. At the very least I was thankful the bastard Trice was not with them, for if he had been, then it would have taken very little for him to say or do before tearing his head off. This was something I didn't think Amelia would have taken kindly to upon her return, it was also not a death I could have hidden from her, for she was sure to notice.
The two brothers had walked the length of my throne room taking note of the destruction as if an earthquake had cracked the crust of Hell. Instantly they had known something was wrong. But then, as I was in the middle of explaining to them what little of a plan we had in using Nero’s spell, it prompted a difficult question from Vern,
“So, Nero, she's out there now reversing…?” I would have winced had I had cared enough at the time, for all of my energy, worry, and anxiety was solely focused on Amelia. So, with no tact at all, I snapped,
“The witch was also taken!” This was when I saw a mirror image of my own reaction, for Vern reacted badly. I simply stood back and let it happen as he found himself surrounded by my guards taking his anger as a threat towards their King. I didn't have fucking time for his own heartbreak, but I was at least sympathetic enough not to let him get killed for it.
I ordered my men to give him space and let his brother deal with his outrage. I also wanted the Gryphon shifter to do so quickly for my patience at having Vern making demands of me would not last. So, I had warned him of this and Gryph’s reply was a simple and effective,
“Aye,” before he went on with his task of calming down his brother. It was at this point when I turned my back on them both that something hit me. It also had the strength to knock me to my knees as I grabbed my head with both hands and looked up at the ceiling with my back arched, as the vision gripped my entire being.
At first I thought it was some sort of attack from the witch, for I couldn’t understand the power if it. I didn't know what was happening, when suddenly I was assaulted with image after image. And every single one was of what Amelia was going through…or should I say…had been through.
It was like a flicker book of time. The last five hours she had been missing started with a painful image of her hanging by her wrists. She was attached to a wooden beam in some fucking cell, but before the pain of this could continue to consume me, I became a witness to the raw and sheer magnificence that was Amelia.
I watched as she kicked out with her legs at the creature that had run at her with a blade in its hand, only to be thrown backwards from the impact. Then I found myself astonished when she freed herself by running up the pole and using the force of her weight to