Page 36 of Forging Bonds: Part Two

Mabel’s eyes narrow slightly with suspicion, but she doesn’t question us. Instead, she just answers, “They all got back from a trial around the same time that you all did, and they are now in the dining room having some dinner.”

“Thank you, Mabel,” Ransom replies, with a smile.

“Is there something that I should know about?” Mabel asks, concern heavy in her voice.

“Not for the moment, but if you see Neith, could you tell her that we’re looking for her and she can meet us back at our room?” Griff asks.

Mabel nods in agreement, although she looks like she wants to question us further, and we all turn around and start to walk to the main hall of the castle.

My gaze drifts to River, and it occurs to me that this entire time, he has been silent. When I study him closer, I realize that there’s a reason for it. His kitsune is incredibly close to the surface, and now that I am focusing on him, it’s easy to tell that his power level has increased, and he’s trying to keep it under control.

“Are you okay?” I ask him, gaining the attention of the others.

“Well fuck,” Doc says glancing at River in concern.

It’s clear that something is very wrong because he’s not fidgeting or bouncing around like he normally is, and his hands are clenched tightly.

“We just need to find her,” he says.

“Do we go and question the Draconian team now?” Reed asks, a hopeful glint in his eye.

Evander frowns. We all know what will happen if we go and question the Draconian team, there will be blood and lots of it. Whether that’s because they have Neith, or because one of them has said something fucking insultingand sets one of us off. I’m good with the bloodshed, we all are, and that’s part of the problem.

The other problem is that if Neith isn’t with them, then telling the Draconian team is giving them the chance to find her before we can, and that will put her in danger. Especially if Neith is right about her theory and Kylen is trying to kill her.

“What about asking Castle?” Ransom suggests.

“It can’t hurt. Castle should, in theory, know everything that goes on within its walls and should be able to lead us to her,” I reply thoughtfully. “Let’s get out of the main hallway, though. There must be a reason why Castle doesn’t let it be widely known that he’s sentient.”

“Good point,” Van agrees.

We head through a random door that leads off the main hallway, and I hope that we aren’t about to walk into someone’s private quarters. Thankfully, we just end up in what appears to be a very fancy sitting room.

“Castle, can you light up the stones to my left if you can hear me?” Van asks as soon as the door is shut behind us. The stones immediately light up.

“Thank fuck,” River mutters.

“Is Neith okay?” Evander asks.

I shake my head as I explain, “You’re going to have to ask a yes or no questions, or it won’t be able to answer.”

Van rolls his eyes, “For fuck sake, I know that. I’ve seen Neith talk to House and Castle loads now, and she always does that.” He clears his throat again and looks at the wall where Castle made it glow moments ago. “If Neith is safe, can you glow again, please?”

Castle’s stones glow, but not as brightly as before.

“What does that mean?” Griff asks.

“Maybe he’s not sure?” Ransom suggests.

“Yeah, maybe,” I reply. “Castle, does that mean that you aren’t sure, glow if it does?”

The stones glow really brightly again, and I smile, well, at least we’ve managed to clear that up.

“Is Neith in the Castle?” Van asks, taking over the conversation again and adding, “If she is, then glow.”

The stones stay dim, and we all share a look, our frowns becoming even more prominent.

“If she isn’t in the castle, then where is she?” River asks.

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