Lucien's POV
Asriel charged, hands clamping around Malvrik before he could take another step. "You keep crossing the line, time and time again," Asriel growled, voice low and lethal. "I will not spare you this time."
"Wait—" Malvrik croaked, barely able to breathe.
I stepped forward, a cold smile curling my lips. This was too good. "He's mine," I said smoothly. "Remember, Asriel—I promised I'd deal with him."
Asriel's eyes flicked to me, dangerous and calculating. "And how do you intend to deal with him?" he asked.
I let the words hang, slow and deliberate. "We'll use him," I said. "Make him our scapegoat."
Asriel considered me, silence stretching taut. Malvrik's wide-eyed fear said it all, but I gave nothing away.
"Yes—a scapegoat," I said, as the plan set wheels in my mind.
We closed in, the orb pulsing like a heartbeat in my palm. The trail tugged us deeper into the dark until the cave yawed open before us—huge, black-mouthed, swallowing the moonlight.
"Ready," I barked, voice hard as steel. My army tightened formation, wings folding, talons flexing.
"Now!" I cried.
We plunged. Magic braided with the wind as we tore a path through the cave's mouth, light shredding the dark. The air tasted of dust and old blood; echoes answered our charge. For a heartbeat the world narrowed to the roar of wings and the thud of my heart.
Then we broke through.
We burst into the chamber—surprise and violence uncoiling at once.
But to our absolute shock—no one was there.
Only silence.
The cave stretched before us, hollow and lifeless, our footsteps echoing off the cold stone. The air was thick with the scent of ash and something faintly metallic.
"Tread carefully," I ordered, voice low. "It could be a trap."
We fanned out, searching every corner and shadow—but there was nothing. No trace of battle, no lingering presence. Only the quiet.
Then I noticed it—the orb still glowing faintly, pulling me deeper into the cave.
"Follow me," I said, narrowing my eyes. We advanced slowly, deeper and deeper, until the orb suddenly stopped—its light dimming.
"What—?" I murmured, glancing down. And that's when I saw it.
The documents.
They lay at my feet, pristine, almost mocking. I picked them up, the enchantment pulsing faintly under my skin.
"Damn it," I hissed. "We've been tricked."
I angrily gripped the orb, teeth clenched. "They must have figured it out," I muttered under my breath.
I turned back to my army. "Let's head out and search the surrounding areas."
"Yes, Your Majesty," they chorused, and we took to the air.
The wind tore past us as we surged from the cave, eyes scanning the shadows. Then—just as we were about to leave—dark wings flicked at the edge of my vision.
There he was.
The man who had attacked Serena, struggling to stay aloft, trying desperately to flee the cave. My blood boiled at the sight.
"Not this time," I growled, wings tensing as I prepared to intercept him.
We chased him through the night. He tried to push himself faster, wings beating desperately, but he hadn't gotten far before we closed in.
I lunged, grabbing him by the wings. He screamed, thrashing weakly, but his strength had already been sapped by his injuries.
My hands glowed with magic, and with a sharp pulse, I rendered him unconscious.
"Take our little prisoner back to the castle for interrogation," I ordered a few of my soldiers.
The rest of us spread out. "Let's find the remaining fallen," I commanded.
They caught him, holding him securely as I watched them retreat into the night. Then I turned to my army.
"Let's move," I said, and we took to the skies once more, wings cutting through the darkness, ready for what awaited us ahead.
Lucien's POV
I flew behind Asriel as he led us to a new location, a smug smile tugging at my lips. Malvrik must be having the worst time of his life right now—Ciel had probably caught him already, I thought, relishing the chaos.
My thoughts shattered as Asriel's voice cut through the wind. "It was a good idea, planting the documents. This will give us time to escape."
He turned to flash me a sharp, approving smile.
"Of course," I said. "That was the best way to throw Ciel off."
"Yes," he replied, but then he gave me a lingering, strange look that made my stomach twist. I quickly turned away, pretending not to notice.
"It seems I made the right choice after all," he said.
Asriel's voice came again, calm but heavy with intention. "After we move to the new hideout, come to me privately. I have something for you."
Then he continued flying, disappearing into the shadows ahead.
I frowned, curiosity bubbling up. What could he possibly want to give me? But I didn't care—whatever it was, it had to be worth it.
Ciel's POV
My army and I searched through the night until the first light of dawn, but there was no sign of Lucien or the fallen—they were nowhere to be found.
I let out a frustrated sigh as we combed through the last possible locations. Where could they have gone? I wondered, my thoughts racing.
Then my mind drifted to Serena. She must have woken by now, I thought, hope and worry twisting inside me.
"Hmmm… let's end the search here for now. We'll resume at dusk," I told my army.
"Yes, Sire," they replied obediently, and we turned back toward the castle, the weight of the unanswered questions hanging over us.