The Secrets of Roan Island

34. Noah

34

Noah

T ime is reduced to the thudding of my hearts. The sharp stabs of pain through my nerves. I feel as if I’ve been dipped in fire, and still all I can think of is Ruby. Her name, a prayer to combat the agony in every muscle of my body. I try to crawl after her, but my stomach revolts, and I vomit.

Then, abruptly, my father’s control snaps like the tension of a frayed rope, connected then gone. I gasp for breath, my mind working faster than my body. Hammish can control us from anywhere in the house, even from a great distance beyond—a way for the patriarchs of our clans to organize, command, and maneuver soldiers in battle—so he didn’t let me go because of a limitation. He did it because he feels he’s hidden her well enough that he doesn’t need to worry. It’s just another way to mock me and remind me of my helplessness.

I know he’s taken her to the one place in this house I’ve never been able to find no matter how much I’ve searched.

But I won’t give up. Not when he has Ruby.

Body still aching, I climb to my feet, using the wall for support. I have no idea how much time has passed since they left, only that it felt like I spent an eternity in pain.

“Ruby!” I shout even though I know she’s too far away. I just need to say it. “Ruby!” Put that name out in the universe. “Ruby!” Maybe she’ll know, even if she can’t hear me. I need her to know I’m coming for her.

I never should have fallen asleep outside her door. If I’d been in the bed with her, maybe… but I stop that trail of thought. That kind of bargaining will get me nowhere, and it wouldn’t have changed a thing. My father’s power is unchecked, and until I can rise up against him, it’ll remain so.

But he wants to turn the woman I love. She’s mine!

I growl and hurry to the vicinity where my father disappeared with her. I was in too much pain to notice how he’d opened the passage before. And I hate myself for that now. How could I have failed her so completely?

I examine the edges of the room, pulling every book off the shelf. Pushing on every sconce. Nothing. I roar in frustration and pound my fist into the wall hard enough to dent the plaster. I don’t stop there. Claws out, I rip the wall, shredding the wallpaper, trying to dig a way to her. But the wall is solid stone.

Fuck! I kick and a door swings open. Thank the goddess! Ruby’s scent is already faint and distant, but it’s here. I run after her, but the passage only leads to a dead end. Again, I kick and punch and shout. This time nothing happens. There’s no door that swings open. No help from the goddess or anyone else.

Changing tactics, I return to the parlor and run through every hall in the Gate House, searching for her scent. I search everywhere I can think of. I’ve scoured this house for years trying to find all of my father’s secret passageways, but clearly my brothers and I haven’t been as thorough as we thought. Now, I vow not to miss a thing.

Even with my Mavarri speed, it takes hours to search every room. I find three passageways I didn’t know about before, and I’m convinced there are more. These three are all dead ends.

Returning to the main house, I tear through every hallway, every room, searching for a whiff of her scent. Nothing. Nowhere. It’s as if the place has been scrubbed clean of her. Even the room she stayed in before barely smells like her—Mrs. Darning must have changed the bedding and cleaned everything. Cursed woman!

Wait… Mrs. Darning!

That’s who I need to see.

I run through the house looking for the housekeeper. When I make it to the servants quarters, I search the empty rooms. This house hasn’t had a full staff for years.

I finally corner her in the kitchen.

“Where is she?” I growl, prowling through the space.

“Who?”

“Ruby? Where did he take her?”

The housekeeper backs up against the counter. She’s a smart woman. Smart enough to recognize the danger I represent. “I thought she left.”

“Don’t play me for a fool!” My claws shoot out and press the center of her throat. “I know my father feeds from you in between new moon parties. I know you have his confidence more than anyone else in this fucking house. Tell me!”

Her face hardens. Eyes narrow. There’s iron in her spine. “Your father may share my bed on occasion, but you know as well as I do that he doesn’t share his plans. If your girl is still here, and he has her, you won’t find her.” She bats at my hand and turns away, back to organizing the porcelain dishes in the cupboard. “Just like you never found Zarah.”

My rage boils over into a yell that shakes the cabinets. I hurl a plate at the wall, but it does nothing to ease my pain. “You know something!”

Mrs. Darning curses—a rare occurrence—but I don’t care. It only drives my frustration higher. Somewhere in this house my father is laughing at me. Mocking my pain.

Mrs. Darning turns once more to face me, her arms folded over her chest. She closes her eyes, squeezing them tightly. “He’ll bring her out for the Solstice ceremony.”

I scowl. Rage at my father surges like a storm, sucking the breath from my lungs as my throat closes around the tears threatening to shred my defenses.

Even in the turmoil, I know she’s right. My father won’t try to turn Ruby in secret. He’ll bring her to Mirrav’s temple. He’ll want the goddess's blessing.

Leaving Mrs. Darning and the manor house behind, I stomp through the house, out the front door, and into the woods. The cold air bites at my cheeks. We’ll have snow soon, if not tonight. The forest is cold and uncaring, branches snapping under the weight of my step. The dock sags like a scowl. The boards haven’t been repaired since before I was born, and they groan as I pace, waiting for my brothers.

It’s time we make a plan our father can’t thwart. It’s time we end all of this. It’s time we end him .