~ ARIA
I watched Rowan carefully, my eyes tracking every move he made, every ragged exhale and the way he clenched his fists tightly as he drove.
It took an hour for us to find the man who drove the truck, and even less ti to find where he lived. I suggested seeing him the next day but Rowan was not waiting around. He ignored my suggestion and imdiately headed to the car. I barely managed to get in before he started driving off.
"Rowan," I began slowly, my voice soft. "I don’t think you’re in the right position to question anyone right now."
He pursed his lips, knuckles turning white as he gripped the wheel tighter.
The air was cold, the night dark with no stars in the sky. I couldn’t help but wonder if even the night knew the horrors that he was about to unleash.
"Rowan—"
"Please, stop," he hissed out, a warning in his breath. "I didn’t let you co so you could try to educate ."
"That’s not what I’m trying to do. I just..." I exhaled in defeat. "Just... you’re very stressed. You might kill the guy."
"He’ll be lucky if all I do is kill him."
He pulled to a stop in the middle of a long deserted road. Trees lined on either side of the road, blocking the sky from view. I did not understand why he was waiting until I saw headlights in the distance.
"Who is that?" I asked, but Rowan did not respond. "Are you expecting soone?"
He stepped out of the car, hands shoved into his pockets as the car slowed to a stop. I watched as guards stepped out of the car, pulling behind them a man tied up with thick ropes. He had cuts on his face and bruises on his arms and his eyes were wide and terrified as he took in his surroundings.
I cursed loudly, rushing out of the car as well.
I did not expect for Rowan to do sothing so absurd. He was a stickler for the rules, and he was the most level headed person I knew. The last ti I saw him this unhinged was after our mother died.
"What the hell, Rowan?" I hissed. "You want to question him here?"
"Would you prefer I did it in his ho and risk waking up the neighbors?"
"There is a right way to do things. You could have had him thrown in jail and questioned."
"I don’t have the ti for that."
"You’re the King! You fucking make ti! You don’t just pick up innocent people in the dead of night and torture them in the middle of an empty road. There is no going back from this."
"If this isn’t legal enough for you, then fucking leave. It was not legal when they took her."
"We still don’t know for sure that she was taken."
He slamd the mind link between us closed, not bothering to listen to anything else I had to say.
The guards got into their car, driving a few feet away and turning off the headlights to give Rowan so privacy.
I should have left as well but I didn’t. I stood by the car door, watching in horror as Rowan approached the kneeling man.
"Where is she?"
"Who, Your Majesty? I don’t know what you’re talking about."
A low growl erupted from Rowan. It was not directed at and yet I felt shivers go down my spine. It was no surprise the man yelped, nearly falling back on his ass.
"Please, Your Majesty, I don’t know why I’m here... I haven’t done anything," he stamred, eyes wide with fear.
I could hear his teeth chattering from how fucking terrified he was.
Rowan stepped closer, his hands balled into fists. "Where the hell is my mate?"
"I don’t know," he sobbed. "I have not seen her. Please... I have no idea what is happening."
Tears and snot streaked down his face, his hands clasped in front of him as his entire body shook with a force.
"You left the pack today and returned with an empty truck. You used a different border and it was less than an hour."
His eyes widened in surprise. "I can explain that. I was helping soone. I do laundry for the inn you see and there was a guest. He wanted to take so things out but he didn’t have a car. I offered my car. I don’t know anything about anything, I swear."
"Helping," Rowan repeated, his tone thick with disbelief. "Why the fuck would you help a stranger?"
"He seed like a good n. I can take you to the inn. The owner will tell you who he was."
Rowan took a step forward and the man scread, a high pitched sound that nearly made my ear drums shatter. He cowered, covering his face with his hands.
"Rowan, that’s enough!" I snapped, stepping between my brother and the poor man. "Look at him, he’s fucking terrified, and look at you! This isn’t you. This isn’t how you treat your people."
"We do not know for sure if he is telling the truth. He could be lying."
"He could, but what does he have to lose? You could kill him right here and he knows that. Why would he lie?"
He pursed his lips, guilt flashing briefly in his eyes. "Release him."
"Thank you," the man mumbled repeatedly as I ripped off his ties.
The sll of piss clung to him but I ignored it as I gave him a warm smile. "I am sorry."
He shook his head quickly. "It’s okay, I won’t say a word, I swear. I just want to go ho to my mate and my kids."
The dagger in my chest twisted even further. "Let the guards take you—"
"No!" he scread, jumping back. "I can find my way."
"We need to confirm your story," Rowan said curtly, voice considerably softer than before. "The guards will take you ho and keep watch over your house. For your sake, I hope you’re telling the truth."
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