The moment I stepped out of the hall, the letter clutched tightly in my hand, a surge of pure, unfiltered rage coursed through my veins. My mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, none of them calm.
Every muscle in my body tensed with a singular purpose: finding Aeliana and tearing apart anyone who dared to lay a hand on her.
"Ciara," Seraphine called, hurrying after me. Her voice was steady, but I could hear the concern underneath. "We need a plan. Charging in blind won't help her."
I turned sharply, my eyes blazing. "They took her, Seraphine! I'm not going to sit here and plan while she's out there, scared and alone!"
"Which is why we need to think," Lydia interjected firmly, stepping into my path. "Your anger is valid, but it won't bring her back if you act recklessly. We need clues, and we need to know who we're dealing with."
I forced myself to breathe, though it felt like swallowing fire. Lydia was right, as much as I hated to admit it. "Fine," I spat, my voice a growl. "Then let's start with this damn letter."
Seraphine held out her hand, and I passed it to her. She scanned the words, her brow furrowing. "The handwriting is oddly precise. Too precise for someone rushing to make a threat."
"Professional," Riley said, peering over her shoulder. "This wasn't written by some amateur."
"It means whoever did this planned it well," Aurelia added grimly. "We need to figure out where they took her, and fast."
I clenched my fists so tightly that my nails bit into my palms. "I'll kill them," I muttered under my breath.
"We will," Seraphine corrected, her tone sharp. "But first, let's figure out where to aim."
Lydia motioned to one of her guards, who quickly brought over a map of the nearby regions. "Let's think this through. Aeliana is a key figure. Taking her isn't random. Whoever did this knows they're picking a fight with all of us."
"Who do we know with enough arrogance and resources to pull this off?" Riley asked, leaning against the table as her sharp eyes scanned the map.
Several possibilities came to mind, each more infuriating than the last. Rival houses, jealous enemies, old debts Aeliana and I hadn't lived quiet lives. But none of them seemed bold enough to try something so brazen.
Seraphine tapped her chin thoughtfully. "The question is, who gains the most from this? Taking Aeliana isn't just about leverage. It's personal. Look at how they targeted the wedding day. They wanted to humiliate and provoke you, Ciara."
I slammed my fist against the table, the loud crack echoing through the room. "And they succeeded."
The others fell silent, and I took a deep breath, forcing myself to think. My rage wouldn't help Aeliana. Not yet.
"We need more than guesses," I said, pacing the room. "What about tracking spells? Can we sense her presence?"
Seraphine winced. "Not if they've masked her location. Which they probably have, knowing you'd think of that first."
"I hate how smart these bastards are," Riley muttered, crossing her arms.
"Then we need to find someone who knows their tactics," Lydia said. "Someone who's worked with this kind of precision before."
A name started forming in my mind, unbidden but unavoidable. Someone I hadn't thought about in years someone who'd made my blood boil long before today.
But before I could voice it, a scout burst into the room, panting heavily. "There's a lead," he gasped, holding out a piece of parchment.
"A sighting near the southern forest. Unusual activity armed guards escorting someone who fits her description."
I snatched the paper, scanning it quickly. My chest tightened at the possibility. "How reliable is this?"
"Very," the scout assured me. "The informant is one of ours."
I handed the parchment to Aurelia. "Gather a team. We leave immediately."
"What about a strategy?" Lydia pressed.
"There's no time!" I snapped, glaring at her. "Every second wasted is another second she's in their hands."
"Ciara," Seraphine said gently, placing a hand on my arm. "We'll get her back. But we do this together. You're not going in alone."
I closed my eyes for a moment, fighting the storm of emotions inside me. Finally, I nodded. "Fine. Together."
As everyone started preparing, I couldn't shake the nagging feeling that I already knew who was behind this. The arrogance, the timing, the precision—it all pointed to one person.
Nathaniel.
The name burned in my mind like a brand, reigniting my fury. The former captain of the demon soldiers.
A man I'd tolerated, at best, during his service and despised, at worst. He'd always had an eye for Aeliana, though she'd never reciprocated. But now, this?
I gritted my teeth, my hands trembling with barely-contained rage.
"It's him," I said aloud, my voice cold and final.
Seraphine turned to me, her brow furrowed. "Who?"
I met her gaze, my eyes blazing. "Nathaniel. He's the one who took her."
My mind churned with anger as I stared at the others, the name Nathaniel heavy on my tongue. "Nathaniel," I repeated, pacing like a caged animal. "He's one of the demon sergeants. Used to be a captain before he was demoted. Arrogant, smug, and far too interested in what isn't his."
Lydia tilted her head, intrigued. "You're saying he's had dealings with Aeliana before?"
I stopped and faced her, the memory fresh in my mind. "More than dealings. He was always... too flirty with her. Even before she and I were together. Aeliana handled it gracefully—rejected him every time, and with no room for misinterpretation. But Nathaniel? He doesn't take rejection lightly."
Riley frowned. "So, you're thinking he's acting out because his fragile ego got bruised?"
I let out a bitter laugh. "It's not just about his ego. Nathaniel has always been petty, and he doesn't play fair. When Aeliana and I became official, he went quiet. Too quiet. I should've known he was biding his time, waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike back."
Seraphine crossed her arms, her eyes narrowing. "That tracks. If there's anyone stupid enough to ruin a wedding just to make a point, it's him."
I clenched my fists, my nails biting into my palms. "It's not just to make a point. He wants to hurt me, and he knows the best way to do that is through her."
Lydia glanced at the map on the table. "If we're looking at Nathaniel as the culprit, we need to start gathering more evidence. Does he have any known hideouts, allies, or patterns we can use?"
Aurelia stepped forward, her calm demeanor a stark contrast to the storm raging inside me. "Nathaniel's movements have been erratic since his demotion. He's still technically a sergeant, but he operates more like a rogue. I wouldn't be surprised if he's been quietly building alliances outside the demon army."
"That makes sense," Seraphine said thoughtfully. "He wouldn't act alone on something this big. Kidnapping Aeliana? On her wedding day? He'd need help."
"Let's start with his associates," I said, my voice sharp. "Who's loyal to him?"
Aurelia nodded and began rattling off names, most of them low-ranking demons who'd follow anyone with a shred of authority. It was a pitiful list, but it was a start.
"And what about his living arrangements?" Lydia asked.
I smirked darkly. "That's the thing about Nathaniel. He thinks he's clever, but he's predictable. He's got a house on the outskirts of the eastern barracks. Keeps it low-key, but I guarantee he's been using it for more than just living."
"Like what?" Seraphine raised an eyebrow.
"Scheming," I replied flatly. "Nathaniel's not just a sore loser. He's ambitious. If he's taken Aeliana, it's not just personal—it's part of some bigger play."
Riley sighed, rubbing her temples. "Great. So, we're dealing with a lovesick, power-hungry demon with a vendetta. Just what we needed today."
Lydia folded her arms, her gaze steady. "Do we know if he's there now?"
"Not yet," Aurelia admitted. "But it's worth checking. If he's behind this, his house will have clues."
I nodded, my resolve hardening. "Then we start there. I want every corner of that place torn apart until we find something that leads us to Aeliana."
Seraphine placed a hand on my shoulder. "You're not going alone."
"I wasn't planning to," I replied, meeting her gaze. "But make no mistake—I'm going to make him pay for this."
The room was silent for a moment, the weight of the situation settling over us like a heavy fog. Then, with a determined breath, I turned to the group.
"Let's move," I said, my voice like steel. "We're going to Nathaniel's house."
We teleported to the outskirts of the eastern barracks, the tension in the air thick enough to cut with a blade.
Nathaniel's house loomed ahead, its unassuming exterior belying the chaos I knew waited inside. I clenched my fists, my fury barely contained.
"Let's see what secrets you've been hiding, Nathaniel," I muttered, stepping forward.