Evander's POV
I found myself smiling unknowingly as I followed behind Claire, watching her hurried steps. But that smile faded the moment I saw her trembling while on a call.
Something was wrong.
Her hand gripped her phone tightly, and I could see her shoulders shaking slightly. Worry clawed at me as I approached her. She looked up, and the sight of her glistening eyes pierced straight through me.
"Claire?" I asked softly, my voice laced with concern.
Her lips quivered as she tried to form words. "E-Eliam…" she finally stammered, her voice breaking. "He has been kidnapped."
Her words hit me like a blow, and for a moment, my mind snapped. A flood of rage and panic surged through me, but I forced myself to stay calm. I couldn't lose control—not now.