Page 48 of Demon Daddy's Baby Girl

"I saw her—the human woman who stays with you."

I grab his shoulder, fingers digging in. "Where?"

Marken winces but meets my gaze. "Eastern quarter, near the old temple. She was—" He swallows hard. "There was a demon lord with her. Tall, aristocratic. He was using shadow magic."

The blood in my veins turns to ice. "Did you see his face? His insignia?"

"Black and silver. Curved horns with gold tips. He had her by the arm, and she wasn't fighting, but her face—" Marken's expression darkens. "She looked terrified, Rolfo."

Kaelith. The name burns through my mind like acid. I've never seen the bastard up close, but the description matches what I know of the Shadowfall household colors.

"When?" I bark, already calculating the fastest route.

"Not ten minutes ago. They were heading toward the nobles' district."

Sephy howls louder, as if understanding the conversation. Her tiny body trembles against mine, and I tuck her closer, wrapping my cloak around her.

"She knows," I mutter, more to myself than Marken. "She senses it."

Marken's eyes widen as he looks at the baby. "What will you do?"

What will I do? The question hammers through me along with a thousand images of what that monster might do to Aurelie. The same monster who'd claimed her at nine years old. Who'd treated her as property. Who'd impregnated her against her will.

Sephy's cries soften to whimpers against my chest. Her violet eyes, still shimmering with tears, lock onto mine with an intensity that startles me.

"I know, little one," I whisper. "I'll bring her back to us. I promise."

But I can't risk this little girl who holds my heart in her palms. Both she and her mother have claimed pieces of mysoul. Which means I need to keep them both safe.

Without answering, I already know where I need to go. I race through the streets, clutching Sephy to my chest, her frightened cries growing hoarser with each passing minute. The crowds part before me—whether from respect for my uniform or fear of my expression, I don't care. My thoughts spiral into increasingly violent scenarios of what Kaelith might be doing to Aurelie.

"It's okay, sweet girl," I whisper against Sephy's silvery curls. "We'll find her."

But the words taste hollow and desperate on my tongue. I've failed her. Failed them both.

Dezoth's home appears ahead—a stark, imposing structure of black stone with silver filigree around the windows. No household staff to navigate, thankfully. Just the straight-backed, golden-eyed bastard I need right now.

I hammer on his door with my free hand, not bothering with the knocker. Sephy's wails escalate, as if she can sense my rising panic.

The door flies open, and Dezoth stands there, irritation quickly morphing to alert concern. His obsidian hair is pulled back in its usual silver cord, his training leathers suggesting I've interrupted his workout.

"Steelclaw? What?—"

I push past him, unable to stand still. "Aurelie's gone. Kaelith has her."

His golden eyes narrow to dangerous slits. "How?"

"Market. I was with the spice vendor. I didn't even realize that we got separated." My voice breaks. "I turned around and she was gone. Marken saw her being taken—eastern quarter, shadow magic."

Dezoth closes the door with deliberate calm that contrasts with the tension radiating from him. "He came here himself?"

"He must have known she would be there," I answer, pacing in tight circles as Sephy's crying softens to hiccupping sobs.

"I'm assuming he took her with him." He moves to a carved wooden cabinet, pulling out maps of the city. "His main estate is in the Obsidian District."

My free hand forms a fist. "We need to get there. Now."

"And do what, exactly?" Dezoth's voice remains measured, infuriatingly practical. "Storm the heavily guarded compound of one of Ikoth's oldest noble families?"

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