Chapter 31

**Charles**


I feel it a second too late. The air around me tightens like a rubber band and snaps a second later. It's the tale-tell sign of a portal but this is different. It is not the slow progression of power I use for my portal which is more stable. It is something far more volatile and dangerous. Without saying a word to the others I rush outside where Nova had been and see she is no longer there.

"What's going on?" Chase asks from behind me, but I am busy searching for Nova's energy signature.

The more time I have spent with her I have been able to sense her better. Her aura is a beacon that my power seeks out like a living thing.

"Charlie?" That gets my attention.

"I am not a fan of nicknames," I tell him but he smiles cheekily at me.

I have learned he does these things to get a rise out of us. He adds a certain light energy in the group that I suppose is necessary if not occasionally annoying.

"It got your attention didn't it?" He sounds very proud of himself.

"It did. Nova is gone." Suddenly that playful smile falls and a more serious expression takes its place.

"What's happening? Where is Nova?" Asher steps out of the home with the small child in his arms.

"Gone," Chase says looking thoughtful and speaking as an afterthought.

"Again? What the fuck! We need to put a tracker on that woman." He growls which makes the child whimper.

Asher leans closer and whispers something to the child that settles him. His presence is a mystery to me. He could very well be a trap to gain our trust only for it to lead us to danger once again. However, he seems lost and I do not sense any malicious intent.

"I do not think it happened willingly. Someone used a portal to transport her. I sensed it even though it only lasted a second. Not many people use that sort of instant portal because it is unpredictable. We have to hope she was not injured in transport." I explain.

There are not many who would take the chance using it which means the person is young or too arrogant to care about the consequences.

"Do you recognize them?" Chase asks.

He is catching on to my abilities quickly. I find it an amiable way to understand his mate brothers.

"The transport was too quick for it to leave much behind. Even Nova's energy is faint. I am suspecting it is not my father because he would never use such a crude portal. It is used mostly by young mages or those who think their power is powerful enough to withstand and control such a power."

"So we're looking for an arrogant prick. Great. So what do we do?" Chase asks.

Eli has joined us now and is silently fuming.

"I can try a tracking spell on the small traces of energy but it may not work. If it does not we may have to seek help from someone from my home village. I do not ask for help from anyone there since they expect payments in return that are often not worth paying. The individual who can help us may ask a high price." I do not want to encounter her gain given our parting but her ability to track is impressive.

With Nova missing, I am willing to risk her help. I only hope she does not ask a price I will not be able to pay.



**Nova**


The kiss is a shock to my body. Electricity shoots through me like I have been struck in the middle of a lightning storm. Only this energy is not painful and instead makes my skin pebble with excitement.

Wow, is he doing that?

When he pulls back his eyes are wide and his mouth is slightly parted like he's as shocked as I am.

"Did you do that?" I ask him but she shakes his head. "What was that then?"

Please tell me it's not what I think it is because that means I've added another unexpected element to this mess. Why is this happening? Shouldn't Charles be enough of a Mage to fill out the mate circle?

"I can't believe this." He says moving away and pushing his fingers through his hair. "This can't be happening."

He looks at me with both confusion and sadness.

Before he can say whatever it is he's thinking there is a surge of power in the room.

"Shit. Look, don't say anything. I'll deal with this."

I'm not sure what he means but I'm happy to let him handle whatever crap is about to happen.

A moment later a portal similar to Charles's forms but instead of purple hues it is pure darkness. Once it's open several figures step out. One of the men resembles my Mage mate while the others do not. A woman also walks through with them. She is stunning and her cocky smile makes me hate her instantly.

"You're finally here," Aziel says with that light carefree voice he had before our epic kiss. "I don't like being kept waiting."

"Relax outcast. You will be paid in full." The woman says with a wave of her hand.

Outcast?

I glance at Aziel's way but he shakes his head. Okay, he doesn't want me asking about that little bit of information.

"I think I will have to reconsider our deal. You forget to inform me that her mate was your councilman's son. A man known for unsurmountable abilities. You have placed a target on my back." He grabs my wrist and pulls me behind him.

The man who I assume is Charles's father tisks. "Now now do not tell me you have grown feelings for a target. What a shame. Take her."

He snaps his fingers and the other men who came with him surround us. Aziel lifts his hands as if he's going to use a spell to fight back but the woman steps forward and presses her hand to his shoulder. his body falls slack and hits the ground like he's nothing more than a doll.

"Shame. He was one of the bests." She says with a shake of her head.

She moves toward me and tilts her head. "What is it about you that everyone wants a piece of you? You are not much to look at. Maybe it is something in that blood of yours."

Her fingers drag along the side of my neck and because I'm sick of being dragged and pushed around I snap my fangs at her.

She scoffs. "All you vampires are nothing more than wild animals. Slaves to your desires. It is sickening."

"It looks like you have a problem with consent and lack of self-preservation. Don't you know never to touch a vampire? We tend to get agitated easily." I smirk at her.

She scoffs and looks toward the men surrounding me and nods her head. They rush on me and grab me. I hadn't noticed the chains until they were being connected to my body by cuffs. They even put a collar around my neck which connects to some sort of mask. They lift the contraption so that it covers my mouth with small holes in it to let me breathe.

"I would hate for anyone to get hurt." The woman says before turning and waving a hand to tell the men to follow her.

It is looking a lot like Charle's father isn't in charge here. So who is this woman?

His father is the one who creates the portal for us and I'm dragged behind the woman through it. Pain hits me so hard that my legs give out beneath me and I scream into the darkness. The darkness eats me alive until it's all I see.

When I see light again it is dim and for a second I wonder if I had temporarily become blind. When I sit up I realize I'm laying on a cot of some kind. The room around me is made of brick and I can hear water trickling somewhere. The small light is coming from a sconce on the wall right next to a metal gate.

A dungeon???

The sound of clanking metal makes me snap my head in the direction of the sound. Charles's father is standing outside the gate. I try to stand but I don't get far before I'm pulled back. A glance down at my body shows chains still locked to my limbs and now connected to a hook on the floor next to the bed.

"It is a shame to lock you away. No doubt your power is impressive but this is not the time for a being too powerful to control. You were a mistake and a lot of people want you dead. They will decide your fate, but until then this will be your home."

He walks away and I'm left alone.

What do I do now? This is not going to be easy to get me out of on my own. Man, I could use a mate or two right now.