Alaric’s POV
The first scream didn’t come from me.
It came from the dungeon. A deep, bone-rattling sound of a man’s jaw being broken, again.
I stood above the bloodied guard, my fists clenched, my breath ragged, and rage spilling through me like wildfire. The scent of fear filled the stone walls. Everyone in the dungeon could feel it. I wanted them to feel it. I needed them to.
Because my mate was gone.
Elaria was gone, and no one had a damn answer. No one could tell me where she was.
“Do you know what your job was?” I snarled, looming over the trembling man in shackles. “One f*****g job. Stand outside her door when I'm not there, keep her safe. Do you remember that?”
His face was swollen, bloodied beyond recognition. But still, he nodded like a coward desperate to live.
“I. . .I.
