Broken Enchantment (Unbreakable Force Book 3) by Kara Jaynes

disheveled and a cut on his cheek. Despite the fact that the wound Aaric had given him a few days before was still healing, Donell had held his own in battle. He was smiling, an air of satisfaction about him. “We chased them off.” He saw a fallen Oppressor shift and groan, lying on the ground, and before Bran could say anything, jumped forward, summoning his magic and ending the man’s life. “Filthy devils.”
    “A headcount, Donell,” Bran barked. “Now.”
    Donell nodded and strode off. Bran looked around uneasily. Something was wrong. He could feel it. If he didn’t know any better, he could have sworn that for a moment he’d seen Donell’s sister, Ember. But Adaryn said she was a slave, to Kingsley no less. She wouldn’t be here. Bran’s face hardened. Well, with the sky jewel and some luck, he’d get her out. He’d get them all out. The era of slavery was drawing to a close. It had to.
    “I can’t find Adaryn, Bran.” Kenroc hurried up to him, worry etched around his eyes. “Or Aaric. Have you seen them?”
    “No.” Bran shook his head, and his uneasiness grew. Something was wrong. “Take a handful of men and scour the perimeter of camp. They have to be here.”
    After an hour of searching, however, Bran had to admit that they were gone. Why would they leave? Aaric was no coward, and in her own way, Adaryn was brave, too.
    “Adaryn and her fool lover are the only two missing,” Donell said, striding over. “I’ve counted everyone down to the smallest babe.”
    Bran gritted his teeth in frustration. How could they have just disappeared? Had they been captured? He pulled Kenroc and Donell aside. “I’m going into the city to see what I can discover. You’re in charge until I get back, Kenroc.”
    Kenroc nodded, his blue eyes hard. He was frustrated with all the trouble that seemed to follow his daughter. Bran couldn’t blame him. Donell shrugged. “Why worry? Aaric probably just ran off with her to—”
    “Enough, Donell,” Bran growled. “Make yourself useful and get rid of the bodies. I’ll be back in a few days, sooner, if I can find them.”
    Donell stiffened, but the youth didn’t say anything as he walked away.
    Bran left on foot. He still had the fake collar he’d used last time he’d entered the city, and planned to slip into the city as soon as he could. Worry gnawed at him relentlessly. He didn’t know where the two had gone, and tried to tell himself that Donell was right, that they really were hiding together behind some tree like fool lovers, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that something had gone terribly wrong.

26
Aaric
     
    A aric sat up with a groan, putting a hand to his head. He hurt everywhere. Shallow cuts and bruises covered him, and his head felt like it was going to split in two.  He was sitting in a small cell of stone, one wrist shackled to the wall. Aaric stood, and found he couldn’t take more than a couple of steps before the chain stopped him.
    He was in prison. Aaric tried to calm his heartbeat. Where was Adaryn? He remembered attacking Kingsley and the other Oppressors, but beyond that, nothing. Had Adaryn escaped? Was she free? Aaric desperately hoped she’d found Bran. If Kingsley had enslaved her . . . no. He couldn’t let his thoughts go there. She had to be safe. She had to. Aaric would have paced if the length of chain had allowed. He tapped his foot nervously instead.
    He wasn’t sure how much time passed. Seconds felt like minutes, and minutes felt like hours. It was cold. Aaric rubbed his arms, wincing when his hands passed over bruises and half-healed cuts.
    Footsteps approached outside the cell. Aaric tensed, waiting.
    The key rattled in the lock, and the door opened. The tall, arrogant form of Kingsley strode in. He motioned for the jailer to wait outside. Kingsley’s dark hair was pulled back in a sleek tail, and he was wearing a well-tailored jacket. He clasped his gloved hands behind his back.
    “Well, Mr. Wright. This