𝐻𝐸𝐼𝑅𝑆 𝑂𝐹 𝑇𝐻𝐸 𝑇𝐻𝑅𝑂𝑁𝐸

𝐶𝐻𝐴𝑃𝑇𝐸𝑅 𝟏𝟐

-LYSANDER-

"WHAT?" I shouted in shock as I heard the news from Thalasia. Seraphina was missing and nowhere to be found. First Kael, now Seraphina. Panic and anger surged through me, and I struggled to process the information.

Thalasia's face mirrored my worry. "We've searched everywhere, Lysander. She just vanished. The last time anyone saw her, she was swimming outside the palace."

Seraphina was missing after the dinner, and I knew that Queen Orlagh would blame us for it. It was like it was planned—a perfect reason for her to make us look like the bad guys.

I clenched my fists, my mind racing with possibilities. This couldn't be a coincidence. First Kael, now Seraphina. Someone was orchestrating this, and I had a sinking feeling that Queen Orlagh was involved.

As I hurried through the palace corridors, I couldn't shake the image of Seraphina's face from my mind. The last time I saw her, she had seemed distracted, lost in thought. Now she was gone, and the guilt gnawed at me. If only I had pressed her harder to tell me what was going on.

I knocked on the door of the Shadow Court, feeling a sense of urgency and determination. The door creaked open, revealing the dimly lit chamber where my mother sat, her expression grave and serious.

"Mom," I began, stepping inside and closing the door behind me. "We have a problem. Seraphina is missing, and I suspect foul play."

"I know," she said, her gaze fixed on me with a mix of concern and determination. "Nicasia sent us a letter. She is worried, and Orlagh is furious."

My heart sank at her words. The situation was escalating quickly, and the pressure was mounting. "What did the letter say?" I asked, needing to know the details.

Jude handed me the letter, her expression grim. "Read it for yourself."

I unfolded the parchment, my eyes scanning the elegantly written words.

Cardan and Jude,

I write to you with great concern. Seraphina has gone missing, and despite our best efforts, we have been unable to locate her. Queen Orlagh is beside herself with anger, accusing Elfhame of foul play. I fear that if we do not find Seraphina soon, Orlagh will use this as an excuse to escalate tensions between our realms.

Nicasia

I looked up from the letter, my resolve hardening. "We need to act fast, Mom. If Orlagh blames us, it could lead to a conflict we're not prepared for."

"Who says we are not prepared? Lysander, I always knew that this day would come. Orlagh wanted an excuse to attack us," my mother said, her gaze fixed on the flickering flames with an intensity that bordered on madness.

Her words sent a chill down my spine. "You've been preparing for this?" I asked, both surprised and unsettled by the revelation.

Jude turned to face me, her eyes blazing with a fierce determination. "Of course. I've always known Orlagh would try something like this. We've been readying ourselves for her next move. But we need to act swiftly and decisively."

As I turned to leave, a shadowy figure emerged from the dimly lit corner of the room. The Roach, a former member of the Shadow Court and one of my mother's most trusted allies, stepped forward. His face, partially hidden in the gloom, was etched with concern.

"What if this is all part of their plan?" the Roach said, his voice a low, gravelly whisper. "Orlagh is cunning. This could be a trap to lure us into making a hasty move."

My mother's eyes flickered with acknowledgment of the Roach's caution. "You may be right," she admitted. "Orlagh is not one to act without layers of deceit. We must be vigilant."

I felt a surge of frustration. "So what do we do? We can't just sit here and wait while Seraphina is out there, possibly in danger."

The Roach nodded thoughtfully. "We act, but we do so with precision and caution. We need to gather more intelligence before making any major moves. Use the spies within Orlagh's court. They can confirm whether this is a distraction or a genuine attack."

Jude agreed. "And while we gather information, we continue our search for Seraphina with the utmost care. Avoid any obvious traps and keep our movements subtle."

As I exited the room, the weight of our mission still pressing heavily on my shoulders, I headed straight for the training grounds. I needed something to clear my mind, to focus my thoughts away from Seraphina's disappearance, her beautiful eyes, her smile, her beauty, her personality. Everything about Seraphina.

Grabbing a sword, I began practicing with fierce determination, each swing and parry a desperate attempt to channel my worry and frustration into something productive. The clang of steel against steel echoed through the training area, a rhythm that helped drown out the chaos in my mind.

With every precise movement, I tried to push away the thoughts of Seraphina's face, the way she laughed, the warmth she brought into my life. But the more I tried to forget, the more vividly her image burned in my mind.

Sweat dripped down my face as I pushed myself harder, the physical exertion a welcome distraction from the emotional turmoil within. Yet, despite my efforts, my thoughts kept circling back to her. I couldn't escape the feeling that I had failed her somehow.

I just hope she is in a good condition. I don't want anything to happen to her. I love her...

The last thought struck me like a bolt of lightning, as if someone else had spoken directly into my mind. I stopped in my tracks, the realization hitting me with a force I wasn't prepared for. I loved Seraphina.

The weight of uncertainty pressed down on me, each moment without her stretching into an eternity. My fingers clenched at the rough ground beneath me, the reality of her absence settling like a heavy stone in my chest. How could I have been so blind to my feelings for her until now?

Images of Seraphina flashed through my mind, her laughter, her fierce determination, the warmth of her smile. How could I have taken her presence for granted, not realizing how deeply she had come to mean to me until she was gone?

Grief and regret mingled within me, a tumultuous storm raging in my heart. I longed for the chance to tell her the truth, to hold her close and never let her go. But now, with every passing moment, the distance between us grew, and the possibility of never seeing her again loomed like a specter in the shadows.

"Seraphina..." The word escaped my lips in a whisper, a desperate plea to the empty air. I couldn't bear the thought of her being out there alone, in danger, and my inability to protect her gnawed at me like a festering wound.

But even in the depths of despair, a flicker of determination burned within me. I would find her. I would bring her back, no matter the cost. For she had become more than just a friend, more than just a companion. She was the missing piece of my soul, and I would not rest until she was by my side once more.

With newfound resolve, I pushed myself to my feet, the ache in my muscles a distant echo compared to the ache in my heart.

***