The golden rays of the morning sun streamed into the ornate chambers of Valyshire's palace, painting the walls with a soft glow. But the light did little to ease the growing tension between King Theodore and Queen Eleonora.
Sitting across from her in the royal study, Theodore's expression was dark, his gaze heavy as he observed his wife. "Eleonora," he began, his tone sharp and measured, "I need the truth. Vaeloris has accused our kingdom of unspeakable acts against Princess Gray. They claim Gray is being held in Trigis—your hometown."
Queen Eleonora raised a perfectly sculpted eyebrow, her composure unshaken. "Are you seriously entertaining their baseless accusations, Theodore? Do you truly think I would endanger your daughter, or anyone, in such a manner?"
"Do I?" Theodore countered, his voice rising. "It wouldn't be the first time you acted in your own interest without consulting me. The tensions between our Valyshire and Vaeloris are volatile enough without a scandal like this erupting. I need to know if there's any truth to these claims."
Eleonora placed a hand delicately over her chest, feigning offense. "You wound me, husband. I am loyal to this kingdom, to you. Whatever vendetta Vaeloris holds against us is their own fabrication. I would never jeopardize our rule, least of all over some petty grudge."
Theodore's fists clenched at his sides, but he couldn't find any cracks in her serene façade. He nodded stiffly and rose, though his mind remained heavy with doubt.
---
Back in Vaeloris, the days felt like an eternity. It had been a week since the rescue team returned with Mireille, but without Gray. The silence from their enemies was maddening.
Louise paced in the grand hall of the palace, her phone pressed to her ear. "Dr. Hale, I need your help," she said urgently. "Gray's been taken last week, and we're running out of options. You're have lots of connections, and I can't do this alone. We're having hard time locating Gray even with Vaeloris's resources."
Dr. Oliver Hale's voice came through the line, steady and confident. "Why did you only tell this now? Send me everything you have—locations, last-known coordinates, anything. I'll start triangulating possible leads and talk to my contacts."
"I don't want to risk your job in Aldeburgh. Valyshire is involved. It's that damn Queen Eleonora's doing. But, thank you," Louise breathed, relief washing over her. But she wasn't done yet. After ending the call, she opened another contact list, this time reaching out to former teammates from her training days with Gray. These were people who had shared the same grueling regimen, who knew Gray's capabilities and understood the stakes.
"I'll need every hand I can get," she muttered to herself as she sent the messages.
---
Meanwhile, Mireille sat in her room, her laptop open on her desk as she attended her classes online. The decision to allow her to study from home had come after extensive discussions between King Gregor and her professors. The risk of her returning to her dormitory was too great.
Despite her efforts to focus on her studies, Mireille couldn't shake the guilt weighing her down. She was safe because of Gray's sacrifice. The memory of Gray's battered body and the chaos of their escape haunted her.
Elsewhere in the palace, the Phantoms were hard at work. Phantoms and Prince Lucian gathered around a digital map displayed on a large screen, pinpointing the coordinates of the facility in Trigis where Gray was believed to be held.
"We've got reports of heightened security in the area," Lucian said, his tone grim. "It's heavily guarded—armed patrols, surveillance, even military-grade equipment."
Lira frowned. "Getting in won't be easy. We need to know their rotation schedules, weak points in their defenses."
Blake nodded. "And we need to act fast. The longer she's there, the worse her condition will get."
Dale's jaw tightened. "We'll find her. We have to."
---
Queen Amara spent her days in restless worry. Gray wasn't just her daughter-in-law; she was the daughter of her best friend, Athena Seraphine. The thought of failing her was unbearable.
"Double the guards," she ordered one of the palace officials. "Make sure Athena Seraphine's safety is prioritized. I will not let Eleonora's scheming reach her."
"Yes, Your Majesty," the official replied with a bow.
Amara stood by the window, gazing out at the sprawling gardens. "Stay strong, Gray," she whispered. "We'll bring you back."
---
In Trigis, the facility where Gray was held was as bleak as it was impenetrable. Cold steel walls surrounded her, the air damp and suffocating.
Gray sat restrained in a chair, her body battered and bruised. Despite the pain, her expression remained calm, her eyes unwavering.
Prince Lander stood before her, a cruel smile playing on his lips. "You've been stubborn, haven't you?" he mocked. "Refusing to give us what we want."
Queen Eleonora stepped into the room, her presence commanding. She wore an icy smile as she approached Gray. "My dear, you've caused quite the trouble. But you'll find that I can be... persuasive."
Gray didn't flinch as Eleonora picked up a steel rod, its end glowing faintly from being heated. "Do you know what I hate most about you?" Eleonora mused, circling Gray like a predator. "It's that defiance, that arrogance. You think you're untouchable, don't you? Your mother's no match for me, neither are you."
Gray remained silent, her gaze locked on Eleonora.
Eleonora's smile faded, replaced by a cold, calculating glare. "Let's see how long that bravado lasts."
The next hours were a nightmare of agony. The heated rod left searing marks on Gray's chest and thighs, but not a single scream escaped her lips. She bit down on the inside of her cheek, tasting blood, refusing to give them the satisfaction.
"Still nothing?" Lander sneered, leaning against the wall. "You're tougher than I thought, Anae."
Eleonora's patience wore thin. She nodded to one of the guards, who delivered a brutal blow to Gray's stomach, striking her injury. Blood seeped through the poorly bandaged wound, but Gray still didn't cry out.
"You'll talk eventually," Eleonora said, her voice low and menacing. "They all do. We have all the time for our conversation."
---
Back in Vaeloris, the tension in the palace reached a breaking point. Lira and Louise worked tirelessly to recover any lost data from their previous breach attempt, but progress was slow.
Then came the devastating blow. A package arrived at the palace—a small device containing footage.
Dale, Lucian, and the rest of the family gathered in the council room as the video played on the large screen.
The image was grainy but clear enough to show Gray's battered figure. Her head hung low, blood staining her clothes. The camera zoomed in as men entered the scene, their mocking smiles sickening, while placing the glowing red end of rod to Gray's chest and thighs who kept her mouth shut and only muffles groan of pain.
"NO! STOP IT! I WILL KILL YOU ALL" Dale was enraged.
One of the men's voice echoed through the speakers. "How long do you think your precious princess can last before she breaks?"
The footage cut off abruptly, leaving the room in stunned silence. A caption appeared on the screen: "How long will your princess endure?"
Dale's fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white. His breathing was heavy, his rage is evident.
"We're getting her back," he growled, his voice trembling with emotion. "No matter what it takes."
Queen Amara placed a hand over her mouth, tears streaming down her face. "We can't let them win. We can't let her suffer any longer."
Lucian's expression was steely as he turned to the Phantoms. "Double your efforts. I want every possible angle covered. We're going in, and we're bringing her home."
The room filled with murmurs of agreement, but the weight of the task ahead loomed large. The fight for Gray was far from over.