#Chapter 51 - Missing Her

Xavier’s POV

I got off my horse and started to walk through the town watching the people as they cleaned. What the hell happened here?

When I tried asking one of the citizens what happened, they all gave me the same answer.

“We were hiding in our homes,” a man told me.

“They strong-armed us into staying inside for the past two days,” a woman explained. “We were never allowed to leave so none of us saw anything.”

Just as I was starting to become agitated, a small child had tugged on the sleeves of my arm. I knelt down and gave them a warm smile.

“How about you, brave one? Maybe your eagle eyes have spotted something the others haven’t.”

The child hesitated and looked back at their parents to see if they had their permission to speak. The two nodded their heads in acknowledgment.

The child looked back at me. “W-well… I tried not to look outside because I got really scared when the thunder started. It was really noisy and loud.”

“Do your best, little one,” my voice was gentle.

“I wanted to take a peek outside of the window even though my mommy told me I needed to eat my vegetables instead. But when I looked outside I saw a really big black dog!” Their eyes lit up.

My heart sunk. “A black dog?”

“Yep! It was really big so maybe it was a wolf.”

“What else did you see?”

“I didn’t see anything else but I heard a lot of angry men. It sounded like they were fighting…” Their eyes got sad.

“You’re doing a good job, little one. Is there anything else you can tell me?” I encouraged them gently.

“I covered my ears because the yelling was scaring me. But then there was a lot of thunder and even our windows lit up from all of the lightning! After that…”

I leaned in closer. “After that…?”

“Everything got quiet. I was still too scared to see what happened, so I just went to eat my vegetables and played with my toys until mommy and daddy said it was safe to go back outside.”

I smiled at the child and patted their shoulder. “Thank you, brave one. You’ve given me a lot to think about.”

The child saluted me. “All hail, Lord Xavier!”

I looked up the hill at my mother’s estate and couldn’t fight the sinking feeling I got in my stomach. Slowly, I made my way up and once I was out of view from the people, I started to run.

Something terrible had happened here and my mother was involved.

As I got closer to her manor and walked across her yard, I saw spots of charred grass from where the lightning must’ve hit the ground. When I got even closer, I saw some of my mother’s belongings thrown about everywhere.

I ran inside of the manor and found the entire interior in a chaotic state. Many things were broken and thrown about. I searched up and down every room but found no sign of Belinda.

When I checked the basement I saw two sets of melted chains scattered across the floor. Upon expecting them, I smelled a familiar scent.

I picked up one of the chain cuffs that was still intact and inhaled its scent. Feelings of adrenaline kicked when I realized who it belonged to.

Mate! Lyon growled. Eloise was here!

I stormed out of the manor and back down the hill. I needed to get back to Noah soon and find out what happened.

Was Belinda okay?

I hope Eloise is okay, too… Lyon whimpered.

Adrian gave me a confused look. “My Lord, is everything–”

“We need to make haste to Noah, now. Belinda and Eloise were here.”

Adrian nodded his head and said nothing further. I rode ahead of them while he and the rest trailed behind.

When we got back to Noah, I was ready to turn the entire castle upside down to find Eloise and Belinda. I prayed to the Goddess that they were both safe.

“Adrian, once Captain Oliver and the rest of them are seen by Priest Lucas, please ensure that we have temporary housing set up for them. I need to go find Lady Eloise and my mother.”

Adrian nodded at me and quickly had all of Caspian’s citizens and small army rushed to the medical wing of the castle.

I ran straight to my bedroom in hopes of finding Eloise sitting on our bed with her legs crossed–just as I always managed to find her. When I saw she wasn’t there, my heart sunk to my feet as I raced for my mother’s room.

I didn’t even bother to think about knocking and instead barged inside. I was relieved and worried at the same time when I saw her sitting on her bed reading a book. A pair of crutches was next to her as her right leg was wrapped in bandages.

“Xavier!” Belinda smiled at me as she stretched out her arms.

I immediately went to her and hugged her. At that moment, I felt like a little boy again.

“Mother? By the Goddess, what happened to you? I went by Lavender and saw the estate, I smelled Eloise’s scent, and then I came rushing back–”

Belinda stroked my cheek. “Steady your breathing, son. All is well. Allow me to explain everything and you’ll know soon enough.”

I took a few deep breaths and felt my nerves relax. With how calm she was acting, that must mean everything has been resolved. Still, she’s injured and my wife is nowhere to be seen.

“Okay, I’m ready.” I gave her a small smile.

“It’s a bit of a wild ride but I suppose I can start from the beginning. I was supposed to return to Noah two days ago. Well, on my way back, my guards and driver were killed and I was dragged back to my estate in Lavender.”

My blood started to boil but I kept my anger under control so I could hear the rest.

She continued. “The culprits never stated what they had intended to do with me. They just kept me fed and chained to the wall in the basement.”

“Well, yesterday, Eloise showed up. She appeared with a young man by the name of Dylan. I had woken up after passing out from exhaustion to see her trying to get my chains off.”

“What happened after that?” Anticipation welled inside of my chest.

“She was knocked out by one of the men. The young Dylan was in on it, too. He was part of the band of misfits that kidnapped me and did away with my servants. He must have someone sweet-talked your beloved into coming to my aid.”

“Eloise was with you? How did you two escape?”

“Eloise is a smart young woman and even her novice fire spells were enough to free us of our shackles. She even did away with the two guards that were watching over us.” Belinda’s smile was wide when she was talking about Eloise.

It was a new and welcome change to hear her talk fondly of Eloise for a change.

“I shifted into my wolf form and I was ready to carry us back to Noah but then…” She pauses before taking a deep breath. “I was shot in the leg with an arrow and I fell to the ground.”

I felt my heart sting at just the thought of my mother being injured. “What happened after that?”

“I didn’t see much before I passed out from the pain and blood loss. I just remember waking up in the Noah medical wing with Priest Lucas looking over me.”

I watched as tears welled in Belinda’s eyes. “Eloise saved me again, Xavier. That young woman is absolutely extraordinary and has put herself in harm’s way just to ensure my health. Her heart is kind and she has forgiven me for how I’ve treated her in the past.”

I placed my hand on hers. “It fills my heart with joy to know that the two most important women in my life have reconciled. I’ve wanted nothing more than for you two to have a proper relationship.”

“Which… all this talk of Eloise has made me wonder where she’s gone off to. I’ve searched our room but I haven’t found her,” I added.

“Eloise left for Witches Landing a few hours ago. She’s expressed missing her family and wanted to spend some time with them after the events that happened.”

I nodded my head. “Well, I hope she comes home soon. I miss her.”

Belinda smiled at me and kissed my forehead. “Go rest, my son. You’ve done so much for the people of Caspian and the smell of exhaustion is strong on you.”

I smiled at Belinda and gave her one last hug before retreating to my room.

I was happy to hear that Eloise had forgiven my mother for her past actions. It made me happy to know that I no longer had to stress about them being at each other’s necks constantly.

It did feel like things were starting to look up.

When I got back to my room and took a shower, I went into the wardrobe and grabbed one of Eloise’s robes. Then I went to her vanity and picked up one of my favorite perfumes that she liked to use and sprayed it on the fuzzy robe.

I crawled under the sheets and allowed for the sweet scent of Eloise to lull me into a state of relaxation.

I miss Eloise… Lyon whimpered in my mind.

“I do, too,” I spoke softly before sleep overcame me.