The thugs dragged Seraphina's limp, bruised body from the back of their van, her movements sluggish, her chest barely rising and falling as if she were nothing more than a discarded doll. Her strawberry-red hair trailed behind her, matted with dirt and blood, and her clothes were torn, stained with the marks of her torment.
The night was cold—too cold—and the air felt sharp against their skin as they moved quickly, almost casually, as if they'd done this before. The park near her apartment was quiet, the few streetlights casting long shadows across the empty benches and paths. They were careful to choose this place—far enough from any prying eyes but close enough to leave a chilling message.
With little more than a grunt, one of the men dropped her onto the frosty ground, her body slumping at an unnatural angle as she landed in the grass. The cool air struck her skin with brutal force, but it didn't wake her.
She was unconscious, her face pale, bruises already blooming under her skin, and her body a mass of raw, fragile edges. The park around her seemed to hold its breath, the stillness of the early morning amplifying the horror of the moment.
The thug who'd spoken to Victor Vale earlier crouched beside her, his eyes cold and calculating as he stared down at the broken woman before him. He took a moment, almost savoring the scene, before pulling out her phone from her pocket. His fingers moved swiftly across the screen as he composed the message.
His gaze flickered toward the others for a brief moment before focusing back on the phone. He typed quickly, the words coming easy as though he'd done this too many times to count:
"Time's up."
He hit send and watched the phone flash once, sending the message off into the ether. As he stood up, the others lingered, scanning the area, their eyes sharp, searching for any signs of life—any sign that someone might have seen them, might be coming to stop them. But the park remained quiet, still, lifeless.
Another thug kicked a stray rock across the path, his boots crunching in the quiet. "We done here?" he muttered, his voice low, almost bored.
The first thug glanced down at Seraphina once more, making sure she wouldn't wake up. He nodded, satisfied. "Yeah. She won't be going anywhere."
Without another word, they turned and walked off, their figures disappearing into the shadows, leaving only the eerie silence of the park and the cold, lifeless form of Seraphina behind them.
The phone in her hand buzzed faintly in the stillness, its screen cracked, but it was still alive. Still holding a message that would change everything.
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Cassian's heart dropped as he stared at the message on his phone: Time's up.
It wasn't from Seraphina. The realization hit him like a sledgehammer—this was from the thugs who had taken her, the ones under his father's command. His blood ran cold as the pieces clicked into place. His father had gone too far. He had pushed things to a place where there would be no turning back. The warning had been clear enough, but now he was seeing the horrifying reality of what that warning meant.
His pulse quickened, and his breath came in short, panicked bursts. He knew where he had to go. Without thinking twice, he grabbed his coat and stormed out of the penthouse. He didn't know where she was, all he knew was he needed to find her.
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Seraphina's world was a blur.
She had been knocked out, but now she was regaining consciousness, the throbbing pain in her head sharp and unbearable. Her vision was hazy, and the cold air bit at her skin as she lay slumped against the hard ground. She couldn't even remember how she got here—only that she was somewhere dark and unfamiliar, abandoned in the cold and forgotten.
The park was silent and empty. As she tried to sit up, the pain in her body seemed to flare up all at once. She gasped, struggling to focus, her fingers trembling as they brushed against the ground to steady herself.
Everything was wrong.
Her phone—where was her phone?
Her hand reached weakly to her pocket, finding it torn, the phone missing. Her heart skipped a beat as the horrible reality hit her. The phone had been taken. But she had no idea who had it. Was Cassian trying to reach her?
She shivered, pulling her arms around herself, trying to shield her body from the cold night air. She needed to get up. She needed to get out of here. She couldn't stay like this.
Seraphina's fingers were trembling as she reached for the empty pocket again, her mind racing with panic. The absence of her phone only added to the disorientation. Where had it gone? Her breath hitched in her chest as she began to crawl, her body fighting against the pain, trying to gather enough strength to move.
Her head spun, and for a moment, she thought she was imagining things when her fingertips brushed against something hard on the ground. Her phone. It had fallen just out of reach, partially buried under the dirt and fallen leaves.
A surge of relief washed over her as she grasped the device, her fingers struggling to press the screen. The light flickered weakly as it turned on. She could barely focus on the numbers, but somehow, she dialed Cassian's number.
The phone rang once, twice—then a sharp intake of breath as Cassian's voice came through the line.
"Sera?" His voice was hoarse, frantic. "Where are you?"
Tears welled in her eyes at the sound of his voice, the warmth of it grounding her, reminding her that she wasn't completely alone. She forced herself to sit up, her vision still fuzzy, the pain in her head like a constant, unbearable drumbeat.
"I—I don't know…" Her words were shaky, her voice almost a whisper. "I'm in a park. It's dark. I—Cassian, I… I'm scared."
Her heart pounded in her chest, each beat louder than the next. The fear of being utterly lost, of being powerless to fight back, threatened to overwhelm her. But hearing Cassian's voice steadied her, gave her something to cling to.
"Stay with me, Sera. Just stay on the phone, okay? I'm coming for you." His tone was urgent, his words clipped, filled with the kind of intensity that made her feel like he was already on his way.
She let out a shaky breath, trying to steady her own emotions. "Please hurry. I—" She paused as her body trembled, the cold cutting deeper into her skin.
The line went dead for a split second, and Seraphina's heart skipped a beat, but it was just a brief interruption. His voice came back, more frantic, more desperate.
Cassian's grip on the steering wheel tightened as the distance between him and Seraphina seemed to stretch on forever. The sound of her voice, weak and trembling, still echoed in his ears, urging him to move faster, to do anything he could to get to her.
He slammed his foot down on the gas pedal, speeding through the dark streets. His eyes flickered to the rearview mirror, watching for any sign that his father's men were following him, but for now, all that mattered was getting to Sera.
"Seraphina," he spoke urgently into the phone, his voice low and firm despite the panic gnawing at him. "Listen to me. I need you to tell me what you can see. Look around. Anything that can help me find you. Are there any landmarks? Anything you can describe to me?"
There was a moment of silence on the other end, and he could practically feel her fading, her strength slipping away. But then her voice came through, small and fragile, as she tried to focus on what was around her.
"I-I'm in a park," she murmured, her breath shallow. "There are benches... um, and some trees. I can hear a fountain, but it's distant. The park's... empty, I think. I—I don't know. I'm trying to see. There are streetlights, but... I can't see much."
Cassian's eyes scanned the roads ahead, praying that he was getting closer. His knuckles were white against the steering wheel as he fought the desperate surge of fear clawing at his chest.
"Okay, okay, stay with me, Sera," he urged her, trying to keep his voice steady. "Are there any signs? Any buildings nearby? Anything that stands out?"
A faint rustling sound came from the phone, and Cassian imagined her weakly looking around, the cold biting at her exposed skin.
"There's... a small café," she said, her voice trembling with exhaustion. "It's not too far from me. I think I can see the sign, but it's blurry. It's a little dark here. But I... I can see the lake, just a little ways away. Some benches by it."
Cassian's heart sank at the way her voice wavered. But there was hope now—something he could latch onto. A small café, the lake, the benches. These were all markers that could help him pinpoint her location.
"Alright, Sera. Hold on. I'm getting close. Don't move. I'll be there soon," he promised her, his voice fierce with determination. "Stay on the phone with me. You're not alone."
As he sped through the streets, the city lights blurring past him, Cassian's thoughts were a whirlwind of fear and fury. Every second wasted, every delay was another threat to her safety. He couldn't let anything happen to her. Not now. Not after everything they had been through.
He pushed the car harder, adrenaline coursing through his veins, determined to reach her before it was too late.
He could hear the faint crackle of the phone, and her voice, though faint, still held on. "Cassian..." she whispered, a soft sob slipping through. "I don't know how much longer I can stay awake. Everything hurts..."
His heart ached with every word she spoke. He couldn't let her slip away. Not now. Not after everything they had shared. The thought of losing her, of not getting to her in time, made him feel as though the ground was slipping from beneath his feet.
"I'm coming, Sera," he growled into the phone, his words full of quiet determination. "Stay with me. You're not going to be alone. Hold on."
He floored the gas pedal again, weaving through traffic with practiced precision, the need to reach her growing with every mile. His eyes kept darting to the road ahead, but he couldn't help the way his mind kept spiraling—wondering who had done this to her, wondering who had hurt her. And why.
As he turned the corner, the park came into view. It was quiet, eerily still, just as she had described. He could see the faint silhouette of the small café she'd mentioned, a weak light flickering in the distance. But there was no sign of her. No sign of movement.
His stomach twisted in knots. She had said she was near the lake—had she moved? Was she still there?
Cassian pulled the car to the curb, parking with a screech of tires. He grabbed his jacket, not even bothering to shut the door as he stepped out into the cold night air, his breath forming white clouds in front of him. His eyes darted across the empty park, scanning the area, his heart pounding in his chest.
"Sera!" he called out, his voice louder now, desperation creeping into his tone. "Sera, where are you?"
He heard nothing but the sound of his own breath and the wind rustling through the trees. He took a few steps forward, scanning the park, the benches, the small paths. Nothing. His eyes moved over every corner, every dark shadow, every potential hiding spot.
"Sera!" His voice was raw now, and panic was creeping into his chest.
Just as he was about to turn back, he heard it. A soft rustling, a faint breath, a weak sob. He followed the sound, heart racing as he moved toward the lake.
There she was—lying against the tree on the cold grass near the edge of the water. Her body was limp, bruised, and broken, her head resting at an odd angle against the tree. Her strawberry-red hair matted with blood and dirt. Her clothes were torn and stained, and her eyes were half-lidded, barely focused.
Cassian's breath caught in his throat as he rushed to her side, his hands shaking as he gently cupped her face, brushing the hair from her forehead. His chest tightened, a mixture of relief and horror flooding through him.
"Sera," he whispered urgently, his voice low but filled with emotion. "Sera, you're going to be okay. I'm here. I won't let anything happen to you."
Her eyes fluttered open at the sound of his voice, and she blinked up at him, confusion clouding her gaze.
"Cassian?" she whispered, her voice barely audible, her lips trembling as she spoke.
"Shh, it's okay. Don't talk," he said, his hand moving to her shoulder, pulling her into his arms gently but urgently. His heart was pounding in his chest as he held her close, feeling the chill in her body, the way her muscles were stiff and unresponsive.
He wanted to scream, to tear apart everything and everyone who had done this to her, but right now, all that mattered was getting her out of here. Away from the park, away from whoever had hurt her.
"I've got you," he whispered fiercely. "I'm not going to let them hurt you anymore."
Cassian scooped her into his arms, holding her against his chest as he walked swiftly back to the car. Her weight was light in his arms, and he could feel her shivering, the cold seeping into her skin. But it was more than that—he could feel her fragility, her vulnerability. She was slipping away from him, and he wasn't sure he could bear it.
As he settled her in the passenger seat and closed the door, he couldn't stop himself from looking back at the park one last time, fury bubbling inside him. Whoever had done this to her would pay. He would make sure of it.
He slammed the car door shut and immediately drove off, his mind racing with a hundred questions.
But there was no time for answers now. All that mattered was getting her somewhere safe. Somewhere away from all the darkness and pain.
Cassian glanced over at Seraphina, her head resting against the headrest, her eyes closed, and his jaw clenched with frustration. He would get her the help she needed. And then he would make sure whoever had touched her would regret it.
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Cassian's hands gripped the steering wheel so tightly that his knuckles turned white. His heart hammered in his chest, each beat louder than the last as he sped toward the hospital, ignoring the traffic and the lights as he made his way through the streets. His thoughts raced faster than the car could go, his mind spiraling into a storm of rage, confusion, and helplessness.
The sight of Seraphina, broken and battered, burned into his mind. He couldn't shake the image of her limp form, her eyes unfocused, her body bruised beyond recognition. The way she had looked at him, so small and fragile, had shattered something deep inside him. He couldn't understand why anyone would want to hurt her—she had done nothing to deserve this.
The thought of it made his chest tighten, suffocating him. He wanted to find the people responsible, rip them apart with his bare hands, and make them feel the pain he felt watching her suffer. But that had to wait. First, he needed to make sure she was okay. He needed her to be okay.
As he pulled into the emergency bay of the hospital, he didn't even bother to park. He leaped out of the car and rushed to the passenger side, opening the door with a violent yank and gently lifting Seraphina from the seat. She was unconscious, her body limp in his arms. He didn't care who saw, didn't care about anything but getting her the help she needed.
"Someone help!" he shouted, his voice hoarse with panic.
Nurses and doctors rushed to meet him, taking Seraphina from his arms and placing her on a stretcher. They immediately began checking her vitals, wheeling her into the hospital as Cassian followed, his heart sinking with every passing second. His mind couldn't stop racing, replaying the moment he had found her in that park, her battered body lying in the grass.
The doctor led him into a small waiting room, his face grave as he pulled up a chair for Cassian to sit. He didn't speak at first, only sat across from him, the tension in the air thick and suffocating.
Finally, the doctor spoke, his voice calm but firm. "Mr. Vale, we've done a preliminary assessment. Your girlfriend has suffered multiple injuries—broken ribs, contusions, and several bruises all over her body. She's also showing signs of a mild concussion."
Cassian's breath caught in his throat. "How bad is it? Will she be okay?"
The doctor's gaze softened. "She's stable for now, but it will depend on how she responds to treatment. The broken ribs will need to be monitored, and we'll have to be careful with her recovery. She'll need rest, plenty of fluids, and pain management."
Cassian's hands clenched into fists at his sides. His entire body felt like it was vibrating with anger and frustration.
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Cassian sat in the sterile, cold waiting room, the harsh fluorescent lights overhead only adding to the sterile, suffocating atmosphere. His mind felt like it was spinning, unable to focus on any one thing. The doctor's words echoed in his head, a chilling reminder of just how vulnerable Seraphina was. Broken ribs, bruises, a concussion… It was far worse than he had imagined when he first found her.
But what really gnawed at him was the question he hadn't wanted to face: How could they do this to her? What had she done to deserve this? She had been nothing but kind, nothing but a breath of fresh air in a life that had been anything but that. She was the opposite of everything he had been raised to believe in—the fragile beauty of innocence, of someone who could be hurt by people like him, by the cold, calculating world his father controlled.
Victor Vale's threats resurfaced in his mind, sharp and unmistakable.
The words were still fresh in his mind, cutting into him with the weight of his father's authority. Cassian had always been loyal to the Vale legacy, but this was different. This wasn't business, this was personal—and he couldn't just let it go. He couldn't let his father think he could just take what he wanted from him. Not this time.
But then the doctor's words hit him with an unexpected force: Your girlfriend.
The term had never even crossed Cassian's mind. He had never thought of Seraphina that way—not because he didn't want to, but because he had always kept everything tightly controlled. Keeping emotions out, keeping the walls built high, had been his survival mechanism. But hearing the word from the doctor made something inside of him snap.
Girlfriend.
The word clung to his thoughts like a weight, unfamiliar and raw. It was like he had never allowed himself to think of her that way, yet somehow, it felt so right. So true.
Cassian's chest tightened, the weight of his emotions beginning to suffocate him. He stood up abruptly, pacing the small, sterile room, trying to focus on anything other than the terrifying thought that threatened to consume him.
He ran a hand through his dark hair, his breath quickening. He couldn't control this feeling. It was so overwhelming. The anger, the fear, the need to protect her—it all swirled together, knotting in his stomach, threatening to unravel him.
His eyes burned, and for the first time in as long as he could remember, tears pricked at the corners of his eyes. He blinked rapidly, forcing them back, but it didn't help. The emotion he had spent his whole life keeping buried was finally breaking free, and he couldn't stop it. He couldn't stop the flood of thoughts and feelings that overwhelmed him, that felt both foreign and undeniable.
No. Not now.
But it was too late. Seraphina had burrowed herself into his heart in a way he hadn't even known was possible. He couldn't explain it, couldn't understand it, but he knew one thing for sure—he couldn't lose her. Not like this. Not to the darkness that seemed to follow him everywhere.
He wiped his eyes quickly, his heart racing as he tried to regain some sense of control. He couldn't let his father win. He wouldn't.
His gaze turned to the door, as though it could lead him to answers. To her. He couldn't just sit here. He had to see her, had to make sure she was okay, had to be there for her.
Cassian clenched his fists, the pain in his chest still raw. She wasn't just some fleeting distraction. She wasn't a complication. She was the one person who had managed to breach the walls he'd so carefully constructed.
And now she was broken, lying in a hospital bed, bruised and battered. His chest tightened with a new wave of fury. He couldn't sit here and pretend like everything was fine. Not when she needed him. Not when it was his fault she was even here.
With a determined breath, Cassian walked to the door, pushing it open. His footsteps were steady as he moved toward her room. There was only one thing he knew for sure now—he would protect her. No matter what it took.
He wouldn't let anyone harm her again.
Not while he still had breath in his body.