Page 134 of The Golden Rose Of Valenul

Azriel inhaled his tea and sputtered. “No. Absolutely not.”

Emillie frowned at him. “But then I could come to live in Eastwood, too.”

Ariadne glanced at her husband and bit her lip. She rested a hand on his, then turned a smile to Emillie. “That would be wonderful! Perhaps we can get into touch with the lords of Eastwood to determine other potential suitors.”

Warmth flushed across Emillie’s cheeks at how quickly they both pushed her idea aside. Madan was a handsome Caersan who her father would likely approve. Their dismissal made her sit back in silent shock.

“Excuse me.” Azriel stood suddenly and gave her a weak smile that did not meet his eyes. “I need some air.”

He left before she could respond, leaving the room in silence. Ariadne bit her lip and stared at the door as it swung closed. Her hand, now empty on the table, twisted into her serviette.

Emillie followed her sister’s line of sight and asked in a quiet voice, “Is everything okay?”

For a long moment, Ariadne said nothing. She slowly turned her gaze back to the table and her half-eaten plate of cake. “Yes.”

Lies.

“Talk to me.” Emillie reached between them and squeezed her sister’s hand hard. The touch seemed to drag her back into the room. “What happened?”

“Madan is missing.”

The room seemed eons away in an instant. Emillie’s lips parted, and her stomach dropped. The very idea of the vampire who had spent the last year and a half protecting her going missing made her skin crawl. Something horrible would have had to happen for it to occur.

“What do you mean?” They were the only words she could muster.

“Neither of us has seen him since the wedding.” Ariadne held her hand but did not squeeze back. “No word, either.”

Emillie looked at Azriel’s abandoned plate. He had hardly touched the food. “Could he have returned to Monsumbra?”

Ariadne shook her head. “Azriel sent a message to ask, and no one has seen him.”

Uncertain of what else to say, Emillie apologized for bringing him up and changed the subject again. No matter what they discussed, however, the shadow of Madan’s disappearance loomed over them.

Before long, Emillie stood before the front doors again and hugged her sister. “You will be at the ball tomorrow, yes?”

Ariadne gave her a tight smile. “Maybe.”

Emillie pouted. “A last hurrah for us both this Season? Please?”

“It is at the Gards’.”

“All the more reason to not abandon me.” She raised her brows hopefully. “Help keep Loren away.”

Ariadne laughed. “Alright. We will make an appearance.”

Squealing in delight, Emillie threw her arms around her sister and held tight. Even if it would be the last time she saw her for weeks—possibly months—she would find it in her to be happy. She could not keep her sister forever, but she could certainly try her hardest.

The doors closed behind Emillie and Sul, leaving Ariadne alone in the foyer as Petre walked away. She twisted her fingers together and turned back to the stairs. For a long moment, she considered retreating to the library where she could continue reading the romance novel she had been indulging in prior to her sister’s arrival. But even as she rested her hand on the banister, her stomach clenched and twisted. She would not be able to focus so long as she knew Azriel was alone.

So she swept down the hall to the study he so often locked himself in to avoid the world. She did not knock before turning the handle and letting herself in.

The study, all deep green walls and dark wood, cast a somber feeling when paired with the man sitting behind the desk. Azriel’s elbows rested on the surface, and he covered his face. Shoulders hunched and quaking, he may not have heard her enter the room.

“Azriel?” She slipped around the chairs sitting before the glowing coals in the fireplace, each step a careful calculation. In the months she knew him, she had never seen him so withdrawn.

He grunted in response, something he had not done for many weeks.

“Look at me,” she said, making her way around the desk to lay a hand on his shoulder. He twitched away. “Please.”

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