Page 58 of Lycan King's Claim
Hours pass, the world around me growing increasingly dark and cold. The silence is deafening, each moment without word from Vin driving me further into the depths of despair. In the back of my mind, I dread the conversation that looms ahead, knowing I still hadn't found Carina. Finally, as if summoned by my darkest thoughts, the phone rings. I answer immediately, my grip on the device painfully tight.
“Xandros,” Vin's voice slithered through the line, dripping with venomous satisfaction. “My sincere thanks for returning my mate to me.”
“Sienna,” I demand, fear clawing at my insides like a ravenous beast. “Where is she?”
“Ah, yes,” he replies, his tone mocking and cruel, “your precious Sienna. You know, it's funny how fate works, isn't it? She was never meant to be yours, and yet here we are. Since you didn't hand over my daughter as promised, I'm afraid that Sienna can now be considered… collateral damage.”
His words cut through me like shards of shattered glass, leaving me reeling with the realization that everything I have done—all the sacrifices I have made—might not be enough to save her. And as the weight of this cruel truth settles upon my heart, I know that our future together hangs in the balance, teetering precariously on the edge of oblivion.
“Wait!” I shout, my voice cracking with desperation as I try to cling to the last shred of hope. “Vin, please, just give me more time! I'll find Carina and?—”
But it was too late; Vin already ended the call, leaving nothing but a cold silence that echoes through the empty room. I stand there, my heart shattering like fragile glass beneath the crushing weight of betrayal and despair. My vision blurred as hot tears threaten to spill over, the raw pain in my chest making it difficult to breathe.
“Sienna… What have I done?” I whisper, my voice barely audible as it trembles with anguish. With every fiber of my being, I long to hold her once more, to feel the warmth of her body against mine, and to lose myself in the intoxicating scent of her skin.
29
LATER THAT AFTERNOON
Everything was moving fast, I messed up by handing over Anita, without Carina we had no leverage against King Vin. I am running out of time. Every time Vin has mocked and taunted me with Sienna, she's been unconscious and without the bond in full swing; I can barely feel her, and that's if I am feeling her, I am unable to differentiate my emotions from that of the frantic bond to Sienna's.
Ridion has King Vin's kingdom in lockdown, mine is in lockdown, and so is every town and city between the kingdoms, the Council has every available resource out, my father has even organized other kingdoms to join the search. Everyone with the same goal. Find Sienna and take down Vin. And I know, deep down, that I am running out of time.
Drone propellers cut through the dim evening, their infrared cameras scouring the sprawling metropolis below. The central plaza buzzes with activity, skyscrapers reflecting the bustling command center below. Satellite images shift on large screens, showcasing urban landscapes, subways, and dark alleyways. Javier flips through different feeds, his fingers a blur on the touchscreen.
“We've activated every available feed,” Javier's voice crackles with urgency.
“Every Interpol, every major intelligence agency is on this. Plus, we have influencers amplifying our message, keeping the public's eyes peeled.”
My phone buzzes in my pocket, its light cutting through the dim surroundings. Carina's name. Relief, sharp and immediate, courses through me. Finally, where the heck has she been.
I answer the phone immediately. “Xandros,” comes a voice that pierces through the chaos, snapping me back to reality. “What's going on? I heard rumors about Sienna being missing.”
“Carina,” I sigh with relief, my voice shaking with barely contained rage and desperation. “Sienna is gone. Kidnapped by your father, we've been trying to reach you for days.”
“Wh-what?” she stammers, her fear palpable even through the phone. “Oh gods, Xandros, I'm so sorry. What can I do?”
“Help me find her,” I plead, my voice cracking as I fight to hold back my emotions.
“I know you're afraid of your father, but we don't have much time….” I pause, deliberating how to tell her that her being gone only gets worse. “Sienna's pregnant, Carina. She's carrying our child.”
Her gasp is audible, “Oh, shit. I'm sorry, Xandros, had I known I would have come straight away,” she gasps, and her voice chokes. “I'll be there as soon as I can. We'll find her, Xandros. I promise.”
“Thank you,” I whisper, my gratitude mingling with my worry. As I end the call, I turn my attention to the search party I have organized. The faces of my guard and local authorities stare back at me. “Listen up,” I bark, my voice ringing out loudly.
Four hours Later
Everything is in place, and the convoy is about to pull out as we do a final search of this city before moving on. We've scoured six so far, and after finishing here I struggle to think of where else. About to climb in my car with Javier and my father, I hear my name called.
“Xandros!” stopping, I look over the roof of my car. It's Carina with Toby, I shut my door, and she rushes over, giving me a hug
“What is going on, where are we headed?” she asks, “last city, then the Council is taking over. I've breached many alliances forcing entry, they're worried it will start a war.” I tell her.
She nods and Toby comes over to stand by her, he gives me a nod, but I couldn't care less about his presence when my mate is missing, any extra hands and eyes are welcome. We need them.
“Okay, so they checked the city and bunkers, what about the old mill?” Carina asks, plucking the screen from my hand. She moves toward the tables and lights to go over the maps, while I am stunned into silence by her words. I glance at Javier over the roof. “What bunkers?” I ask, and she glances up at me from the table.
“My father's, of course, you've searched those? Honestly, I am shocked that isn't where he went, it has access to the entire city in his kingdom,” she says, tapping the screen. I move toward her.
