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."
