Dawn's face was pale. And seeing her face, dread rose in Caleb's chest. The discomfort nagged his brain and tiny pricks of goose bumps dotted his skin, even though he couldn't understand the sadness that enveloped his heart. "What is it?" he asked extremely quietly, with tension evidently palpable in the air.

"Elize is not there in the chamber. I sent the servants around to find her, but she is nowhere to be found," breathed Dawn.

​​

Panic grew strong and his calm gave way to emotions. Caleb got up and rushed out of the door, shaking, terrified. His heart grew constricted, as if there was no air left in his lungs. As he walked to the chamber, his hands were curled into tight fists. "You can't do this to me, Elize," he muttered all the way. "Don't leave."

He reached the bedchamber with Lykae speed and banged open the door. He scanned the room but she wasn't there. He ran to the bathroom. She wasn't there either. Every muscle in his body tensed. He became frantic, as all his thoughts centered on Elize. "Elize," he shouted her name as if she would appear out of her hideout instantly. But there was no one in the room. Frenzied as hell, Caleb ran to the garden outside, but there was no sign of her. He had to get the kingdom combed to find her. She couldn't have gone far. It was still day and she was a vampire. She must be hiding somewhere. "I know you are angry, Elize," he muttered. "But come out… please…" He came into the room to order the servants when his eyes fell on a letter on the writing table, signed in blood. His feet staggered and his knees felt wobbly. With his body trembling like a dry leaf in autumn, he walked up to the table and picked up the letter. Bitterness crept in.

"Dear Caleb,

I don't know how to start, but I loved you. After you had met me in Yorkshire, I was really unsure as to how someone could find me so beautiful and attractive even after I was in the worst period of life. But you convinced me. I was extremely happy when I came with you to Bainsburgh. I carried my beliefs with me. I blindly followed you to the Lore because that was the trust I had in you. Ever since my childhood, we had been given values that were like second skin to us. I would have carried them to my grave. However, I have lost them all.

Even as I continued to protest, you didn't pay attention to me. You didn't give importance to my beliefs. And look at me now—I have turned into the very being I loathed ever since I can recollect my memories.

This was not just my turning—it was a turning point of my life. Life seems like a burden and there is only bitterness left. I am leaving to find the peace, which I was entitled to. At this point of time, I think I hate you as much as I love you.

Don't look for me. I may never return.

Yours affectionately,

Miserable Elize."

Caleb sank down on his knees on the floor. He looked up and bellowed in so much pain that Dawn held Daryn and hid her face in his chest. Daryn held her tightly as he watched his brother. He knew the pain he was going through.

Caleb's hands went to his heart and he sliced the skin of his chest only so that his heart stopped beating, only so that his heart stopped paining so much. "Elize!" he bellowed again.

Brantley, Lazarus and Ileus darted to his side to stop him from damaging himself. But the man was in a fit of frenzy. The three had to use every force possible to bind a powerful man like Caleb, who was about to lose his sanity. At the end of the fiasco that took place, while Caleb was sedated and made to lie on the bed, the rest of them had deep gashes on their bodies.

"He has grown to be extremely strong," Brantley remarked with amusement, as he looked at him lying on the bed. He shook his head and slowly walked away from there.

Two healers were called immediately and they attended to the wounds and bruises of the men.

Ileus looked at Daryn and Dawn. "You must find Elize for him, or else he will definitely go after her."

"But where could she go?" asked Lazarus, totally baffled. "As a vampire, she can't just walk out of the castle!"

Daryn sat on the edge of the bed as he watched his brother's condition. Caleb was muttering his mate's name like a chant. Daryn couldn't help feel pity for his elder brother. The man was being tested constantly for love and peace in his life. How could Elize do that? Caleb had explained to her that he was doing it for their best. Why didn't she understand that it was for her benefit?

He held his head in his hand as a dull headache began to form. "I will get the entire kingdom combed for her."

"Yes, do that," said Ileus. "Though I also suspect that she might not be here."

Daryn looked at him sharply. "Why?"

"Just like what Lazarus said—she couldn't have just walked out of the castle being a vampire. It would burn her skin. And if that were the case, we would have definitely come to know about it. Dawn has already informed that she wasn't anywhere in the castle. So it is highly likely that someone helped her get out of Ixoviya to god-knows where!"

Daryn's throat became dry. If that was the case, then she could be anywhere. "Shit!" he grabbed his hair and stood up.

"What do we do?" he asked as panic set in. All he ever wanted was for Caleb to take the throne of Ixoviya while he handled the affairs of Silver House. It was a wonderful division of labor. Caleb was stronger than him as a sorcerer and it was only natural that he got the throne. And now even though he was the king, he had lost his mate. No, his mate left him. If what Ileus said was true, then they had an enemy in the castle who knew where she had gone. "We have to find the person who helped Elize leave!" he said.

"Yes, do that. I am going to stay here with him," said Dawn.

"No, you won't stay here," snapped Daryn. He was scared that if Caleb got up, he would again be maddened at the situation. "You will go and rest in our room."

"Yes, I will be here with him," said Brantley, indirectly goading Dawn to go back to her room and rest.

"That's right," Daryn insisted. He held her hand and took her to the door. Kissing her on her forehead, he said, "As soon as this finishes, I will take you back to Bainsburgh."

"Let me help you guys otherwise I will feel uncomfortable."

"No darling. Keep your mind shields down to connect with me. But stay in the room."

With a sigh, she nodded. "Make it quick Daryn. I want to go back."

"I will baby," he kissed her again.

Dawn left the men. She really wanted to go back.