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called the guards into the search, they tore apart every inch of Winterland. By nightfall, it was confirmed—Solara was not there.
    Noele sat in the hall with her chin drooping miserably on her chest, unchecked tears dropping onto her shift. Her sisters surrounded her, holding her hand and trying to console her. But they, too, were miserable, judging from their saddened faces.
    Garick and Roarke sat across from the women, discussing their next plan of action and trying to determine whether Solara had left on her own or was taken.
    “She could not have simply walked through the gates. Our guards posted there would have seen her.
    They would have stopped her.”
    Roarke nodded at Garick’s statement, knowing it to be true. “Then she did not leave on her own.” Which meant she’d been taken, but by whom?
    The thought of wizards capturing her was something he refused to consider. And yet they were the only likely source, having been known to spirit away the inhabitants of Winterland on a whim, without anyone noticing them. It had happened to Noele shortly after she’d married Garick.
    But the people of Winterland had kept their psychic thoughts open, and not once had a resident of Winterland been abducted since that episode.
    “I want to search the forests. Let me take a guard to patrol the area.” Garick nodded, then leaned over to whisper so that only Roarke could hear. “Be on the lookout for wizards. I would wager they have her. The who is a given. The where is another matter.”
    “Aye.” Garick had been fortunate when Noele had disappeared that he’d been psychically connected to her. Garick had felt her, and that was how they’d managed to find her. But with Solara—
    Wait. She had connected with him telepathically last night. Surely if she were captured she would know to open herself up so that he could find her. He closed his eyes and concentrated on her being. After several moments of no contact, he opened his eyes and cursed.
    Garick was staring at him. “What is it?”
    “Nothing.”

    A frown creased Garick’s forehead. “You were trying to connect with Solara, weren’t you?” If he admitted to that, then Garick would know something intimate had transpired between him and Solara. “No. I am simply frustrated.”
    Guilt assailed him at having to keep his true thoughts from Garick, yet he would not compromise Solara by revealing what had happened between them.
    Garick eyed him as if he suspected Roarke was lying, yet he simply shook his head and nodded. “Take some of the guard and search outside the castle.”
    Relieved at being allowed to do something productive instead of standing around, Roarke assembled a contingent of guards and rode out of the castle, determined that he would not return without Solara.
    They rode in silence, Roarke leading the way into the western forests. The density of the forest created a wall of trees and sharp branches—no hope of finding a trail or to even know if someone had passed through there.
    Beneficial as a protection around the castle, the thick forest prevented their enemies from using this venue to launch an attack. While one or two people could make their way through here, it was unlikely an entire army could. The trees grew thick here, almost too thick to guide the horses through. After awhile they stepped off and tethered the horses, then wove their way through the dense forest on foot.
    Thick roots lined the forest floor, rising up from the ground and making travel precarious. Thin birch trees with low-hanging branches swiped at his face. He muttered a curse at having to look both down and up to ward off either a root or a tree branch.
    At least Solara’s red wings would stand out against the light-colored trunks of the trees. If she were even in there.
    His mind strayed often to what had happened between him and Solara last night. Guilt mixed with a heady pleasure constantly interrupted his thoughts. The way he had left things with her—letting her