SOULMATES

IF ANYONE HAD TOUCHED MY SON..GOD HELP THEM.

PERCY'S POV

I groaned and dragged the blanket tighter over my head.Who the hell was blowing up my phone at this ungodly hour?
I refused to open my eyes. Refused to move. Maybe if I ignored it long enough, whoever it was would get the hint.The ringing stopped.

Silence.

Then it started again.

Persistent...Relentless.

By the sixth ring, I gave up. Swearing under my breath, I threw the blanket off and sat up. One hand reached blindly for the phone while the other rubbed the sleep from my face.The irritation vanished the second I saw the name on the screen.

Phoebe.

My heart slammed against my ribs.
She wouldn't call this early unless something was wrong.
A cold wave swept through me.
If anything happened to her—
If anything happened to Xavier—

My hands were already shaking as I called her back. Two rings felt like an eternity.

"Percy!! Where the hell have you been?!"

Her scream nearly blew out my eardrum. I pulled the phone away, wincing. It was six in the damn morning.

"I was—" My voice came out hoarse. I cleared my throat. "What's wrong?"

"Xavier is gone!"

The words hit me like a punch to the chest.

Gone?

"What do you mean gone?" I was already on my feet, yanking open my closet. "Gone where?"

"I don't know! I don't know!" she sobbed. "He was right outside the door. I asked him to wait while I grabbed his lunchbox from the kitchen. When I came back—he was gone. Someone took my baby, Percy!"

Her breathing turned frantic, almost choking.My brain refused to process it.

"My son?"

The words came out sharper than I meant.

"He was right outside the door? And now he's just... gone?"

I shoved on the first pair of pants I found, grabbed a shirt without looking, jammed my feet into my shoes. My hands were moving on autopilot.

"Phoebe, listen to me. Listen." My voice hardened. "Do not move. Don't go anywhere. I'm coming."

I grabbed my keys and bolted.

⸻

I drove like a madman.

Honking. Swearing. Running a stop sign I barely registered.

Who would take him?

Why?

My phone lit up again at a red light. Phoebe's name flashed across the screen. I hadn't even realized it was ringing.

"Percy!" she gasped the second I answered. "They texted me. They said if I want to see my son again, I have to come to a location. Alone."

My grip tightened on the steering wheel.

"I'm going," she continued. "Everyone says it's a bad idea, but I don't care. I have to save my baby."

Before I could argue, my phone buzzed.

Unknown number.

A message preview filled the screen.

*I have your son. Come get him.*

My stomach dropped.
Another message followed immediately.

Coordinates.

I swallowed.