Free Brutish Lord of Thessaly (Halcyon Romance Series Book 4) by Rachael Slate

sadly wedged in the midst. Eione’s Lapith family had been far too eager to march upon Great Meteoron nearly six months earlier. Agrius had solemnly brandished his sword in preparation for that battle. Although Melita had halted the invasion, the Lapiths didn’t seem deterred from their ultimate goal: control of centaur lands.
    Thereus had been traveling between Westgard and Halcyon, preparing centaur armies in both locations.
    Oreius scratched his jaw and silently studied his brothers as they, in human form, settled into their seats. The eldest, Hector, huffed wearily beside their father. Hector would one day lead them all, when Cheiron ruled no more. Everyone knew Hector’s sad fate. Bonded to a female who wouldn’t have him. One of the greatest fears they secretly hid.
    Once this meeting was finished, he’d have a word with his brother. If anyone breathed proof of the heart’s ability to change, Oreius did.
    Petraeus, the youngest, was strangely absent. Yet another brother he ought to have a word with.
    “Welcome, my sons.” Cheiron’s grey scrutiny passed over each of them in turn.
    Oreius met his father’s stare with a solid nod.
    “We have much to discuss. Thereus, why don’t you begin with your progress at Halcyon?” Cheiron waved for him to stand.
    Thereus hopped to stand and cleared his throat. “Ah, well. Progress has certainly been made. The Amazons—”
    “He’s gone.” A guard rushed into the room, gulping deep breaths.
    Everyone whipped their attention from Thereus to the panting guard.
    “Who is gone?” Cheiron’s voice rumbled off the stone walls.
    The guard flinched and bowed his head, whispering, “The prisoner, Deimos.”
    Ice flooded Oreius’s veins, freezing his muscles. He swallowed thickly against his parched throat. That could not be right.
    “How?” Fury rolled through Cheiron’s steel tone.
    “I know not, my King.” The guard’s desperate green eyes pleaded. “He was chained and two guards kept watch over him. This morning, when they brought him water, he was not inside his cell.”
    “Nysa.” Oreius shot to his feet and bolted from the room, sprinting through the hallways until he spotted her in the gardens below. He leapt over the balcony and landed in front of her, whirling her against his body and shielding her in his arms.
    “ Uh! Oreius, what’s wrong?” she wheezed, squirming, so he eased his grasp.
    “You’re in danger. Deimos has escaped.”
    She stilled, but his ears detected the rapid thrashing of her heart. “That can’t be.”
    “I’m afraid it is, Sapphira .” He pressed a kiss to the top of her head and spun her around in his arms to face him. “We must get you someplace safe.”
    “I thought this place was safe.” The color drained from her skin.
    “Aye, so did I.” If Deimos had escaped the prison, that could only mean someone had released him.
    A traitor walked amongst them.
    ***
    Nysa shook her head, not willing to accept Deimos was free.
    Free to harm her.
    Oh, he would seek revenge. The male was calculating, though. She bit her lip and scanned their surroundings. To attack her here would be foolish.
    “He’s not going to abduct me,” she whispered, the words clogging her throat.
    “What, my love?” Oreius cupped her chin in both his large hands.
    She raised her gaze and met his. “Deimos. He won’t attack me, not here.” A shudder quivered through her body. “He’s going after my well.”
    “No.” His thick brows drew together. “No, Nysa. He wouldn’t—”
    “He would.” She wrung her fingers. “If he tears down my well, I’ll vanish.”
    “That’s not happening.” He crushed her against his chest, as though he could force her physical form to meld to his.
    “There’s only one way to stop him.” She pressed her hands against his chest and pushed away to glance up at him. “You have to find my well before he does.”
    “And cross into enemy lands.” He grimaced. “If they don’t shoot me first, how can