Page 63

The glass doors, seamless with the walls, opened, and the first thing I noticed was the amount of plants everywhere.

Vines, flowers, ferns, bushes—hell, even trees filled the structure.

The glass walls and cathedral ceiling gave it an airy, light feel.

On one side of the building was a room filled with consoles.

There was also a darkened doorway that appeared to lead downward.

Where? No idea, and I didn’t really care.

In the center of the sanctuary floated a massive crystal. It was bright white and let off a low throbbing hum.

I swallowed, unable to take my eyes off of it. “That’s it?”

“Yep,” Seth replied.

Before he could say more, a lanky drakcol with light gray scales and lavender hair rushed toward us. He sloppily offered Seth his throat. “Prince Consort Seth. It is an honor. A great honor. I wasn’t—we weren’t expecting you. What can we—I do for you?”

The man was practically vibrating with excitement, his cat-eye pupils blown wide, and his tail thrashed. It was so awkward, like watching someone meet their favorite celebrity.

Seth was bright red and his fingers were worrying the hem of his hoodie.

I had two seconds before he bolted or called Kal.

If Kal knew I’d brought Seth here, I would never hear the end of it.

The Ranks had been trying to get their claws into Seth since the beginning because of his dark red soul—he was a pure warrior, which meant a lot to them.

I’d also tested as a warrior, but I was medium red—a respectable warrior, but nothing to write home about.

“Seth was kind enough to bring me. I’m Vince Lyford.”

The drakcol offered his throat again. “I’m Dax. I don’t believe you’ve been one of the humans to visit.”

“I haven’t. First time here. So exciting and all that. Me and Seth were best friends back on Earth,” I said, dropping my connection in the hopes Seth’s presence alone would be enough to entice this priest to give me what I wanted.

Dax offered me his throat again, bouncing on his feet as his tail writhed. “You knew Prince Consort Seth on Earth?”

“Yep,” I said. Seth was growing more uncomfortable by the second. “We grew up together. Anyway, I was hoping to seek the Crystal for my mate, and whatnot.”

Dax looked between me and the Crystal. “We’re not supposed to allow humans to have access to it whenever anymore.”

“I know that, but Seth is leaving for Earth, and I’m staying. He wanted to see me find my mate before he left,” I lied. Seth glanced sharply at me, but he didn’t refute my words. “I would hate to disappoint him. Wouldn’t you?”

Poor Dax looked so upset at the prospect of Seth disliking him that I almost told him I was lying, but I held my peace. I was fine with being an asshole. Mostly.

Looking between me and the peacefully humming Crystal, Dax said, “I suppose it couldn’t hurt anything. Great Mother and the Cohort would probably make an exception for Prince Consort Seth’s wishes.”

They would. They all loved him.

“So what do I do?” I asked. We needed to get this show on the road before someone older and not as naive as this priest appeared and stopped it.

Standing to his full height, which was somewhere around six-five, he said, “Approach the Crystal with a pure soul seeking your other half. Only with them will you truly be whole.”

Yeah, that was garbage about being whole—people didn’t need someone else to be whole—but I sincerely wanted to find my soulmate. I walked up to the Crystal, leaving Seth behind with the enthusiastic Dax.

The closer I got, the faster the thrumming pulse of the Crystal grew.

Nerves twisting my gut, making my stomach threaten to escape from my mouth.

I swallowed it. Don was the best, and he needed me to do this, to not be worried about forever or if I was a burden to him, which I truly was beginning to believe that he didn’t see me that way.

But if this rock gave me someone else, it would hurt him and me. I planted a hand on the Crystal.

You had better give me Dontilvynsan , I thought as my eyes began to flutter closed and my other hand came to rest on the perfectly smooth surface.

Vince , a voice made of hundreds, if not thousands, of people said. Vince Lyford, warrior, conqueror, survivor. You are seen, you are wanted, you are not broken. Seek what has been given and return to forge your paths together.

I jerked back, panting. “Fuck, that was intense.”

Dax piped up, “Your search has begun with the light of Crystal to guide you.”

“Do you know who my soulmate is?” I demanded, walking toward Dax and Seth.

When I came to Seth’s side, he snagged my hand in silent support.

I looked back at the Crystal, which was harmlessly floating there.

Part of me wanted something dramatic to happen, like it changing color or shaking or causing an earthquake.

It did none of that. In fact, there was literally no change to reflect what had happened.

Boring.

Then again—I glanced up at the glass ceiling—it was probably good it hadn’t done any of those things, because I would have died from glass shards raining down on me.

“If they are drakcol or one of the humans here, we will know in a moment, as they have been soul tested. If not, then we will know a general direction you must follow.” He glanced at the console, then proclaimed. “Your soulmate is Prince Dontilvynsan.”

I released a huge sigh of relief. Thank fucking god. I’d been almost positive, but how could I actually know when a magical crystal was involved?

The door whooshed open, and I groaned. In came Kal and he was looking pissed. How in the hell did he even know where we—or more accurately, Seth—was? Did he have a tracker implanted in Seth? I wouldn’t put it past him. Kal was a possessive fucker. On his heels was Fyn, holding Bob.

“Prince Zoltilvoxfyn and Kalvoxrencol,” Dax squeaked, offering his throat. “It is so lovely for you to visit.”

Yeah, he didn’t sound any more happy than I felt. Of course, Dax had just done something wrong at my behest. I supposed I could let him get in trouble for me, but I wasn’t that much of an asshole—I would take the blame.

“Kal,” Seth breathed and rushed over to him.

Kal instantly pulled Seth closer and growled at me.

I crossed my arms. “I was just following your advice, asshole.”

He paused. “You sought the Crystal?”

Fyn sidled up right next to Kal, handing Bob to Seth, and asked, “Who is your soulmate?”

They both looked at Dax, who cowered under their stares. I frowned at them. “Leave the poor guy alone. All of this is my fault, not his. If you’re going to blame someone, blame me. Alright?”

“And your soulmate?” Fyn asked again.

“It’s Don. I guess you’re stuck with me. Suck on that, bitches.”

Relaxed smiles spread over both their faces. Fyn whispered, “Thank the Crystal.”

“Stars,” Kal groaned, shoving a hand in his hair. “Captain is going to be so relieved.”

Interesting. None of Don’s brothers were particularly fond of me, but I guessed their love for their brother outweighed any dislike of me.

Seth smiled, holding Bob close. “I’m happy for you, Vinnie.”

“Me too. Now Don just needs to come home.”