Chapter 25: Elodie Disappeared

The message arrived with a location pin.

Then Elodie's phone went offline.

Rowan immediately contacted security.

The pin pointed to an abandoned lodge near Silvercrest's western border.

Knox was already heading toward his car.

"I'm coming."

"No," Rowan said.

"She's my girlfriend."

I looked at Knox.

"Is she?"

He froze.

"What?"

"You spent the last week chasing me while she stood beside you."

His face tightened.

"This isn't the time."

"Exactly. So decide whether you're going because you care about her or because you feel responsible."

He looked away.

"Both."

At least it was honest.

We drove toward the lodge with Nightvale security.

Cassian insisted on coming.

Adrian stayed behind to secure the Lunaris evidence.

I was ordered to remain in the vehicle.

I ignored that order.

Rowan noticed when I stepped out.

"Nessa."

"Don't start."

"Dangerous building."

"My problem too."

His jaw tightened.

"Stay behind me."

"We'll negotiate."

Knox muttered, "Good luck controlling her."

"I'm not trying to control her."

"You literally just told her to stay behind you."

"Protective suggestion."

"Both of you shut up," I said.

The lodge was empty.

Almost.

In an upstairs room, we found Elodie's coat.

Blood stained one sleeve.

Knox went pale.

"Elodie!"

No answer.

Then Rowan found a hidden basement door.

We descended carefully.

Elodie was tied to a chair.

Alive.

Her lip was split, and one cheek was bruised.

Knox rushed toward her.

"Elodie."

Her eyes opened.

"You came."

"Of course I came."

Something painful crossed her face.

"For me? Or because Nessa asked?"

Knox stopped.

I looked away.

Even now, his choices were hurting her.

Cassian cut the restraints.

"Where's Mara?"

Elodie swallowed.

"Gone."

"Why did she take you?"

"Because I gave Nessa the challenge document."

Her eyes found mine.

"My father found out."

"Your father ordered this?"

"No."

She shook her head quickly.

"Mara said Father was becoming weak. She said Silvercrest had forgotten what it was promised."

Rowan's gaze sharpened.

"Promised by Marcus Vale?"

Elodie stared.

"You know."

"Some of it."

She leaned back weakly.

"Mara said Marcus would restore the old agreement once Lunaris was removed again."

My skin went cold.

"Removed how?"

Elodie looked at me.

"She said the first purge failed because Selene escaped."

Mom.

My blood turned to ice.

"And now?"

"Now they only need the heir."

Rowan's Alpha power slammed through the basement.

Everyone froze.

"Where is Mara going?"

Elodie shook her head.

"I don't know."

Knox crouched in front of her.

"Think."

She stared at him.

"Don't pretend to care now."

His face changed.

"Elodie..."

"You humiliated me too."

"I know."

"The second you saw Nessa, I became invisible."

"I was confused."

"No. You were shallow."

The words hit him hard.

I recognized the irony.

So did he.

Elodie laughed bitterly.

"Maybe now you understand why what you did to her was so disgusting."

Knox lowered his head.

"I do."

"Too late."

Silence settled.

I approached Elodie.

"Mara must have mentioned something."

"A place? A person? Anything."

Elodie closed her eyes.

"She kept saying 'the Western Seat.'"

Cassian and Rowan exchanged a look.

"Councilor Vael," Rowan said.

One of the three names from Aurelius's recording.

"He's still alive?" I asked.

Cassian nodded.

"Retired from the Council ten years ago."

"Where?"

"Western territories."

Elodie's eyes opened.

"Mara said the old men would finish what they started."

Rowan took out his phone.

"Then Marcus isn't working alone."

I looked at him.

"He never was."