Chapter 683: Where Is Your Sister?

At first, Queen Seraphira couldn’t believe her eyes. She must be dreaming.

And yes, she was dreaming indeed.

Except it wasn’t by her own will. Angus had pulled her into this.

"Hello, Seraphira," her former husband and mate said casually, standing before her in the dream space.

Once upon a time, Seraphira would have been a little delighted to see him. But now, her once-shocked face twisted into something ugly.

With a roar of pure fury, Seraphira thrust out her hand and Angus was ripped off his feet, dragged toward her as if seized by an invisible force. She caught him by the throat the second he reached her, fingers tightening with lethal intent.

Her amethyst eyes blazed with anger.

"How did you pull me into a dream?" she hissed, her tone venomous. "How dare you? After everything you’ve done?"

But infuriating, arrogant Angus didn’t flinch. He didn’t even pretend to be scared. Instead, he laughed and then lifted something between them.

It was a necklace.

"Properties belonging to loved ones are enough of a link to pull someone into the dream world," he said smoothly, "Magic follows blood and bond."

Seraphira’s eyes dropped to the necklace dangling inches from her face.

It was a tiny gold chain woven with tiny runes while at its center hung a crescent moon carved from pale crystal.

Her mother had given her that necklace, and she had once thought it was lost until now.

And Angus had kept it.

But for what purpose? Did he think she would run back into his arms simply because he held onto a trinket from her childhood?

Seraphira saw right through him. Angus hadn’t kept it out of love. He’d kept it for a moment exactly like this and was another tool for manipulation, nothing more.

Hot simmering rage coursed through Seraphira again, burning through every vein. Her eyes darkened as her fingers tightened the more around Angus’s throat. The veins in her hand glowed with power, and for a terrifying moment, she looked as though she would truly kill him, dream or not.

Angus must have realized it too, because he vanished instantly.

Seraphira spun, her purple hair whipping behind her. "Where are you?!" she roared, voice echoing violently through the dreamscape. "Come out, you bastard!"

Then Angus appeared behind her, hands raised, and speaking in his gentlest tone. "Seraphira—"

She didn’t let him finish.

Seraphira whirled and punched him across the face so hard Angus was thrown back, hitting the ground with a grunt of pain.

"My love, —!"

But she was already advancing, fury radiating from her like a storm that could swallow cities. With a lethal sweep of her arm, an invisible force slammed into Angus, flinging him sideways. He crashed hard, rolling to a stop as Seraphira shouted, her voice shaking with emotion,

"Eight more kids! Eight? Are you fucking kidding me?!"

Angus lifted a hand, dazed, "I can explain—"

"Oh, you will," Seraphira snarled, "but right now, I’m speaking."

She flicked her wrist again, and Angus’s body slammed into the ground with brutal force. He coughed hard but Seraphira wasn’t even close to being done.

"Wasn’t ruining Violet’s life enough for you?" she screamed at the top of her voice, "One wasn’t enough? You destroyed her entire childhood! Her entire identity! And yet—yet—you did it again. To eight more children!"

Angus flinched as if the words themselves were blows.

Seraphira’s chest heaved, anger pouring out of her in waves. "And you dare—" her voice broke, then rebuilt itself in fire, "you dare to murder your own daughter?! Your fucking daughter, Angus! Even animals protect their own!"

"But you —!" She pointed a shaking hand at him, her voice raw. "You are worse than a monster"

The truth finally settled in her heart. She had spent years excusing him, praying for him, and hoping that her mate would one day change.

Now, she saw him for what he truly was.

He could never be redeemed. Not now. Not ever.

Angus attempted to rise, but Seraphira lifted her hand, and his body jerked violently upward. She held him suspended midair, his limbs kicking uselessly. For the first time, panic flooded his face.

His hands clawed at his throat as she began choking the air out of him. His eyes bulged while his face reddened.

"Seraphira—stop—!" he rasped.

She didn’t.

Her voice dropped into a chilling whisper, dripping with vengeance. "Perhaps it’s a blessing we met like this. Now I can finally end your pathetic life."

Angus jerked helplessly as the invisible force tightened around his throat.

"At least," Seraphira hissed, "it’s one good thing I can do for Violet after failing her. This world will be a better place without scums like you. Goodbye, Angus."

There was murder in her eyes, and

Angus saw it too.

"Fuck!" he choked out, panic finally overtaking every ounce of arrogance.

Then, in a terrified rush, he was suddenly ripped out of the dream, the realm collapsing abruptly. Hence Seraphira’s hand closed on empty air as his presence vanished.

Angus jerked awake with a violent gasp, coughing so hard his entire body shook. His lungs screamed for air. His hand then shot to his throat and he winced as pain lanced through him. The ghost of Seraphira’s grip burned into his skin.

She really meant to kill him.

"Father!" Ziva rushed to his side. She grabbed his shoulders, steadying him. "I saw you choking and I pulled you out immediately. What happened in there?"

Angus finally sat upright, aided by Ziva’s hands. His heart pounded not from fear, but from pure disbelief. He had not seen that coming.

His mate. Sweet, soft, and foolish Seraphira had attacked him like a rabid beast.

Sure, he had expected anger, tears, and dramatic accusations, but murder? She had taken him by surprise.

The Seraphira Angus had once knew wasn’t capable of that. The Seraphira he knew folded like silk in his hands. She had chosen to run back to her precious realm with her tail tucked instead of fighting him for Violet. She had always been breakable, predictable, and naive.

Except the woman he met tonight?

That was not the Seraphira he remembered.

Ziva studied his face when he didn’t answer. She had opposed him reaching out to his ex-wife, the Fae Queen in the first place, but her father always did whatever he wanted. Unfortunately, she couldn’t openly disobey him.

Angus’ plan was simple. Reunite with Seraphira, bring her to earth, and rebuild the family. With Seraphira on his side, winning Violet over would be a cup of tea. Except he hadn’t expected how much Seraphira would change or rather how angry she would be.

Ziva frowned when her father wouldn’t answer her. Angus’ plan was clear to her name. He was trying to make their family complete. And that meant not just Violet, but her wretched mother too. And that didn’t sit well with Ziva. She was not going to share her father’s love with Violet, lest her mother. That would be over her dead body.

If only she could get hold of Hannah now. Then she could put her plans into place. But that bitch had disappeared on her. She was as good as dead once she got her hands on her.

Ziva forced innocence into her voice when she asked, "Father, did you see her? Did it go poorly?" she asked, tilting her head as if concerned.

Angus ignored her question as his gaze swept the room. The twins—Lauren and Layla—sat silently on the far side, tense, watching him closely.

And then it struck him.

Someone was missing.

He straightened. "Where is Hannah?"

All three girls froze.

Ziva’s jaw clenched. Lauren and Layla exchanged a panicked look.

Of course Angus had finally noticed.

His voice dropped dangerously low. "Where. Is. Hannah?"

Lauren jumped in first, stumbling over her own lie. "Hannah is just around the corner! If you need something done, Father, I—I can do it for her. Anything you need."

"Oh?" Angus drawled, his eyes sharpening like a blade. "Is that so?"

Lauren swallowed hard, knowing she was sinking fast but unable to climb out.

The room was suddenly too small when Angus said, "Then call her right now. I want to see her."

The silence that followed was deafening. And it was the kind of silence that told Angus everything he needed to know.

Angus turned to Ziva, his voice cold enough to freeze bone. "Where is Hannah?"

Ziva’s jaw tightened. "She’s not here."

His expression shifted instantly, darkening. "Where is she, then?"

Lauren and Layla held their breath, bracing for the explosion they knew was coming. Ziva hesitated only for a second before schooling her features and said, "Hannah ran away from the village."

The twins’ heads whipped around so quickly it nearly snapped. They stared at Ziva in shocked disbelief.

"What?!" Angus’ face was raw fury.

Ziva said, "I didn’t want to tell you because I thought I would find her on my own, but I can’t find her. She’s gone."