Page 161 of Taste of Thorns

I got a lot wrong.

“I don’t hate you. Not anymore,” I say. “Not for a long time. I’m in love with you, Beaufort.”

“I know.”

“Then why didn’t you tell me now?”

“Because my chance had passed. I didn’t tell you at the beginning and it became more and more difficult to tell you after that.”

I nod. I’m still hurt but I understand his reasoning and right now I have far bigger concerns.

Fox.

He should be here. He would want to be here. And I don’t understand why he wasn’t at the cave. There is no way Fox would let me face Bardin without him. So where the hell is he?

There’s an eerie feeling in my magic – one I don’t think has anything to do with being drained of energy. It’s an emptiness. A void. And it’s freaking me out. Because what if it means…

“I don’t have time for this now. I have to find Fox.”

I don’t wait for them to argue with me or to try and stop me, I’m out of the common room and down the elevator in a matter of minutes and then I’m sprinting across the campus towards the professor’s classroom. I gasp when I find both the room and his quarters turned upside down, Fox’s belongings scattered across the floor, drawers up-ended, cupboards emptied.

“Wh-what?” I stammer as I stumble inside, not even knowing where to begin.

“The guards,” Thorne explains, “they were looking for clues.”

“Clues about what?” I say in despair.

“Probably determining if he’s been working with Bardin and the demons,” Thorne says matter-of-factly.

“He hasn’t been.” I glare at Thorne. “Did they have to trash his room?”

“He’s not here,” Dray says, sniffing the air.

“I told you he wouldn’t be. They’ve already searched the academy for him,” Beaufort says, picking up a book from the floor and examining the cover.

“We should try the forest,” I suggest.

“If he was anywhere on campus, the guards would have found him. There are shifters and trackers among them.”

“Then where is he?!” I say, stamping my foot in frustration.

The Princes glance at each other, obviously as stumped as I am.

“He may have left,” Thorne ventures.

“All his stuff is here,” I say, flinging my arms out wide. “Besides, he wouldn’t just leave.” Those glances again. “He wouldn’t!” I insist. “But he could be hurt, or trapped, or …” The sob bubbles free in my throat.

“He’s immortal, Briony,” Thorne says softly, “whatever has happened, it won’t be that.”

“There are ways to kill vampires,” I whisper. But I don’t want to believe that’s true. I can’t. Fox Tudor is surely indestructible. “How about the lake? Has anyone searched there?”

“I don’t see why they would have. I never mentioned the lake to the Empress’ guards.”

“Then that’s where he has to be,” I say, tempted to smack my own forehead. Of course he would be. He’s probably been waiting there all along wondering what the hell is going on. “Let’s go.”

“Go?” Dray says. “Kitten, it’s half a day’s trek away.”

“That’s too long. If he’s hurt … I’ll find Blaze. I’ll fly there.”