Fate

40: Spectral Of Light

Xanouth's POV

"Tea?" A soft, withdrawn voice breaks through the barrier of stress, pain and anger. My head flicks to one side, Floren's tired face greeting me. In his hands he hold a tray of silver, a teapot and teacups adorned with tulips and ivy sits upon the beautiful platter. He wobbles against the door frame and it is only then I see the true exhaustion in his features.

"Bloody hell, Flo, how hard have you been working?" I jump from seat to support him.

We have all worked tirelessly. Every second of every day is spent searching. Physically, or in Floren and I's case, supernaturally. One would think looking without leaving one's seat would be a breeze, but once you are gone with the shadows it isn't just your mind that leaves, your energy escapes too. 

His words never left my head. "She may not be mine by fate but she is mine by force." They dance round my brain in a never-ending waltz, words destined for a singular purpose. I am consumed by thoughts of her and what he is doing with her. 

But, I suppose, the worst thing of all is how long its been. 

I promise you, Astraea my love, I won't let the clock run out.

                                                         ✯¸.•'*¨'*•✿ ✿•*'¨*'•.¸✯

"You betrayed us." Floren sighs, "But we need you. Or, more specifically, we need Alistair."

Fylo's face is full of emotion; panic, guilt, stress. Then it settles on one, confusion.

"Why would you need Alistair?"

"When you kept Astraea, how-" Floren swallows, collecting himself, "How close was Alistair to Astraea?"

Fylo giggles nervously, then remembers his situation.

"Not at all, in fact Alistair despised her."

A few mutterings appear behind me.

"It's the scent, I can barely resist her when I smell her. Don't get me started on her blood. It all makes me feel weak, I suppose Alistair had his ego kicked." Valentine mumbles into Caspen's ear who chuckles gently. 

"Perfect." Floren smiles though Fylo looks even more confused, "I mean my plan will undoubtedly work."

"What plan? Brother, what is going on?" Fylo sighs greatly, eyes flickering around us. 

"A few weeks ago Astraea along with her bond-brother Aca were kidnapped. We know she is greatly injured," He rubs along his wrists. The close proximity between us and Astraea, if only for a short while, allowed the bond to grow and form the ability to feel one another's touch. Thus being able to feel her pain, "But we don't know where she is being kept. We've worked day and night, physically and using shadows and air. We have reason to believe strays of all supernaturality are working with Niko Greye."

Fylo's hand moves to his mouth, Alistair gasps gently.

"We know there are many werewolves, we've experienced a shadow-lord." Valentine takes the attention before pausing to let Floren begin again.

"The evening of the kidnapping we had all gone down to a pack leaders house due to her wife being in a false labor. During that evening, Astraea discovered, through Coco, that she is ours and we, hers and, in result, passed out. When we began travelling home, Astraea, who was with Aca, was kidnapped. We weren't able to stop them because a shadow-lord blinded us. Aca was severely injured with the impact, we think he was impaled whilst Astraea hit the ground at a supernatural speed. So even from the beginning she was injured." Floren pauses to collect himself, a sheen of sweat and tears catches the light. I move to put a comforting hand on his shoulder whilst Valentine steps forward, clearing his throat.