Chapter 22

***Chapter 22***
**Alexander POV**

Hearing Ryder’s words, I knew he had tried his best to reach my mate, but still, I was mad, mostly mad at whoever dared to take her away. Ryder pointed me in the direction he last saw Nerissa, and before he could blink, I rushed to the area, looking around, trying to spot anything that might tell me where she had gone. I turned my head to the side and noticed the damn demon next to me.
“What the fuck do you think you are doing?” I asked him as I moved ahead, searching around the woods.
He ignored me, and moved past me, while he said, “Searching for Nerissa.” The nerve of this guy was making my blood boil.
Deciding I would not waste my time dealing with the demon asshole, I inhaled deeply, trying to find a fragment of her scent that might help me track her better.
The rest of the warriors moved closer, making me stop for a moment to look at them. “Search the area, try to find any clue that might help us find my mate.”
They all spread out around the woods at my instruction and searched while two other demon warriors walked straight to their leader to help him in the search for Nerissa.
Focusing on my task, I sharpened my senses and searched for any trace, even a weak one that would help me bring her back.
Suddenly, I stopped moving, taking a deep breath and inhaling as much as I possibly could. I closed my eyes and tried to focus on my actions when a growl broke free from my chest, making everyone stop and look my way.
With furrowed brows, I repeated the action as I moved forward slowly, wanting to be sure of my findings. A moment later, I was positive.
“Alpha?” a warrior called out to me. He studied my face for a moment, then silently followed me and the lead I had found.
“Alex? What did you find?” Ryder rushed over, making me stop and look at him.
“Smell the air here,” I told him as the growls continued rumbling from my chest.
Ryder did as I asked him. I watched as his expression changed to surprise in the next moment. I nodded, confirming his silent question.
“What is it?” The demon lord walked up to us demanding an answer.
I used my senses to continue tracking her while Ryder answered him. “We found a fragrance that leads straight ahead.”
“Let’s go then!” the demon ordered, inhaling deeply, taking in the scent so he could follow it easier. Time passed as we all followed the scent, leading us deeper and deeper into the forest.
Night had fallen, and the further we all walked, the stronger the scent grew.
Hours had now passed, and I could sense we were near the coastal area. The sounds of the ocean waves crashing reached my ears. The salty air was diluting the scent making it harder for us to follow, but I was determined to find her. I noticed the demon standing near me, struggling to do the same as I was as the salty air became more prominent to our noses.
“Do you smell anything?” he asked me, causing me to look his way. I bit back my bitter answer. This was not the time for us to fight, I told myself. Finding Nerissa was more important.
“Nothing except for the ocean air. Do you?” I replied.
He shook his head. “I can only detect the same salty odor as you.”
Not feeling very encouraged by his answer, I blew out a breath and forced my senses to work harder as I inhaled deeply. I felt a burn inside my nose caused by the salty ocean air, but I forced myself to ignore it. I repeated the action when finally, a faint whiff hit me, making me follow after it before I lost it again.
Everyone silently followed me, as I led them towards the edge of the cliff. I stopped, and looked around, noticing a tree that stood right next to a huge rock which was covered in grass with colorful flowers strewn all around.
Walking to the edge, I watched raging ocean waves crash into the cliff. It caused a white foam to appear after the waves collided with the rock.
Turning back, I looked around and walked towards the lonely, gigantic tree, circling around it and the big rock. The demon walked closer to where I was. “What are we doing here?”
“She was here,” I answered him, not looking at him; my eyes were glued to the big rock that was near the gigantic tree. I circled around them one more time. Hand outstretched, I felt the rough surface of the tree bark and the soft moss that covered the rock.
I heard him inhale a lungful of air, trying to detect her faint scent when he wrinkled his nose and glanced over at me. “I can barely catch Nerissa’s scent, it is mixed with another.” He growled angrily as he said the last part, making me look over at him, slightly confused but I ignored it as I continued my inspection of the rock. “Can you tell who took her?” His question made me growl, while I was trying to contain my anger, but thankfully, Ryder stepped closer and answered him since he was searching for the same thing as I was.
“Yes, we do,” Ryder answered him, making the demon snap his head around, and glare at him.
“Who?” he demanded.
Ryder looked over at me, but I was too focused on the task ahead of me, trying to find a way to the portal. He exhaled deeply before saying, “It was Reynard.”
The demon stood to his full height, his eyes furrowed as he looked at Ryder. “Who is Reynard?”
Before Ryder could answer, I responded with a growl, my voice filled with anger. “My brother.”
He looked at me, surprise clear on his face. I slammed my fist down onto the rock, feeling frustrated at the turn of events.
He walked closer to me, not stopping until we were in each other's faces, glaring at one another. “Why did your brother bring her here then?”
I wished I could take my frustration out on him, and kick him in the face, but instead, I took a deep breath before turning away as I raked my fingers through my hair, frustrated at what was happening. Slowly, I released a deep breath while I watched the ragged sea waves.
“Well, do you or do you not know the answer?” His voice was laced with irritation, reaching my ears as he added with a low bitter note, “Why would he bring Nerissa here of all places? Why go to the Dark Fae world?”
I closed my eyes, feeling fire burning through my blood as I tried to calm down, counting down from ten but it was too hard to contain my anger. “I don’t fucking know! I don’t know why he took her, I am only guessing the reason behind it. I don’t know what he has to do with the Dark Fae world, or how he can even enter it, but,” I said the last word sternly, in a low tone. I narrowed my gaze as I looked the demon in the eyes. “When we find him, I will be dealing with him alone.”
He looked at me, but a second later, agreed with a silent nod of his head. We both walked back towards the rock and tree, searching for a gap or any kind of opening that could help us get inside the Dark Fae world.
Ryder was silently helping us. He voiced his thoughts a few moments later when we couldn’t find a way in. “I remember one time when I was little, my granny told me a story about a Fae world.” The two of us looked at him, silently waiting for him to continue. “If the stories are true, to enter the Fae world, you need a Fae or an item that either comes from their world or is created there to be able to enter it,” Ryder explained slowly. I stood there in shock as I remembered I had heard the same story he had just shared.
“That’s it!” I exclaimed, looking over at Ryder who smiled happily, knowing that he had helped, at least a little. The demon looked at us, not saying a word, but I ignored him as I told Ryder, “Come on, we need to hurry.” Ryder nodded as I pointed at two of my warriors. “You both stay here and watch over the place. If you see any sign of Reynard, I want to be notified about it immediately,” I ordered them as they stood up straight.
“Yes, Alpha,” they answered in unison.
I was about to take a step forward when I stopped and turned around to look at the demon.
“Are you coming with us or staying, demon?”
He looked at me with fire burning in his eyes. “I’m Allister, or the King of the Underworld, not just a demon, and no, I won’t join you right now.”
I smirked at him, seeing how it irritated him to be called by a lesser name. “As you wish… demon, Allister,” I replied as I walked away with Ryder who remained silent.
As we moved further away from Allister and the others, we found a clearing where we could shift and fly to our next destination. Ryder looked at me and asked in half-whisper, “Are we heading home or…”
I looked around us one more time to make sure we were alone before I answered him in the same whispered tone. “Do you remember the story about a young wolf who was poor and only possessed one valued item? He gave it to the father of his mate so he would agree to let the two of them accept each other?”
He scrunched his brows for a second and I saw the moment he began to understand where I was going with that. I took off my clothes as Ryder did the same. “So to Redworth?”
I folded my clothes, and looked at him, preparing myself for the shift as I answered, “To Redworth.”
The cracking of bones sounded as we started to shift. Soon enough we were flying towards the small town of Redworth, in a search of the next quest that awaited us.
* * *
**Alliste POV**
I patiently stood there and waited for Alex and Ryder to leave when finally I saw their dragons rise into the air and fly away. Looking down at the rock and the tree, the hidden passage into the Dark Fae world, I was filled with rage because my Queen was so close but still out of reach to me. I knew I needed an item or a Fae to be able to enter.
I knew where I needed to go and what needed to be done for me to be able to pass through. Determined to complete my task and save Nerissa, I walked away from the secret Dark Fae entrance and passed by the two warriors that Alex left behind as I walked closer to my warriors, and ordered, “You both stay here with these two, and inform me immediately of any changes. I am going to get what is needed, but first, I have to get Warit.” I began to plan what I must do next. They both nodded before I walked away, using my powers to open a portal to search for Warit. The moment the portal appeared before me, I walked through it and found myself right behind Warit.
“Warit…” I called his name, making him turn around quickly. He looked surprised to see me, then looked behind me, searching for Nerissa, “Nerissa has been taken down to the Dark Fae world.”
Gasps sounded the second after I informed them all about the situation. Emily rushed towards me, and asked worriedly, “Who took her?”
“I never saw him, but Ryder said it was Reynard, Alex’s brother,” I answered coolly, seeing Emily flinch at the sound of their names.
The realization suddenly dawned on me as I looked closer at Emily. “Emily, are they the ones that held you and Nerissa captive?”
She swallowed thickly as she gave me a slow nod, confirming my suspicions. Growling at the realization, my nose flared in anger before I turned towards Warit and said, “We are leaving right now.”
He was gazing over at Emily with a strange look on his face. I was ignoring it as I had no time nor the will to wonder about what was going on between them. I summoned another portal as I waited for Warit to snap out of his lost state so we could leave.
Finally, Warit tore his eyes away from Emily to look over at the guards, and spoke firmly.“Take her back home and do not take your eyes off of her. Protect her and keep her safe, got it?” The warriors nodded their heads as they got closer to Emily, who sniffled as she took Warit’s hand in hers, staring at him worriedly.
“Be careful,” she whispered to him.
I was surprised to see my cousin acting so grown up and serious. At the same time, I was proud of him. I watched their exchange silently, my heart aching, wishing Nerissa was with me.
Warit grabbed her hand in his and brought it to his lips, kissing the back of it and never taking his eyes off of Emily. “I will see you again soon.” He released her hand and walked towards me, his head held high as he stood tall and asked, “So where are we going?”
Opening up the portal fully, I answered him calmly, “We, my cousin, are going to visit one of your dear friends.”
Warit looked at me confused. “My dear friend? Which one?”
Chuckling at him, I nudged him to walk ahead of me, not giving him a chance to walk away as I said, “Rhea Crowe.”