Chapter 62

"We found a dead body," a guard said, his hand resting uneasily on his sword.

Darian's eyes widened, his heart pounding in his ears. "A what?"

The guard hesitated, "It's one of the brides, Your Majesty."

The panic that surged through Darian was immediate. Thoughts of Althea being harmed, lifeless, flashed before his eyes. The mate bond still lingered, weakened but not extinguished. Fear clawed at him, a raw emotion he hadn't experienced in a long time.

"Bring her here. Now," Darian ordered, urgency lacing his words.

The guards hurriedly obeyed, rushing to retrieve the body. Darian, unable to contain his anxiety, paced restlessly in the room. The consequences of his powers became painfully evident – bound to Elodonia, he couldn't leave its confines to ensure Althea's safety.