Page 134 of The Moonborn's Curse

"You..." he breathed, voice ragged. "You did this."

Veyr didn't flinch.

"You took her." Hagan raged.

"She asked me to help." Very replied, undaunted.

"You took her away from me!"

"I didn't take her," Veyr said, eyes narrowing. "She left."

Hagan lunged.

Fists flew.

They collided in a blur of movement, two beasts barely contained in skin. Branches cracked. Blood spattered bark. Hagan's knuckles split on Veyr's jaw. Veyr's elbow cracked against his ribs.

Neither held back.

This wasn't training.

This was punishment.

They broke apart, panting, both bloodied and bruised, limbs shaking with restraint.

"She would've found a way," Veyr said, breathless. "With or without me. "

Hagan wiped blood from his mouth. "Where is she?"

Veyr didn't answer for a second.

" I don't know. She wouldn't tell me. She said it was better this way. She asked me to wish you well."

So, Hagan sent the trackers.

He mobilized the best of them. Pushed the network. Called in favours.

But it was too late.

She'd left in a car.

The trail was cold.

Her phone—switched off. That didn't stop Hagan from sending her hundreds of messages.

Her scent—washed away.

Every lead dissolved into dead ends.

And still, he kept looking.

One week after Seren's disappearance, his feet led him to the prison cells.

Airlia waited in the shadows behind the iron bars, her once beautiful face drawn and pale. The confidence and poise of before was gone.

He stepped in.

She rose, hopeful. "Hagan—"

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